InfoComm International

November 2010

Asia-Pacific Update

Contact Andy
+65.62386478 email

A Message from Regional Director Andy Tan

Dear InfoComm Members,

Time flies, we are into the last quarter of 2010. I trust fellow members have taken full advantage of the many training programs, roundtable activities, Academy Day and classroom courses, both virtual and onsite specially arranged and organized to be more accessible for you. The association that proudly represents thousands of AV professionals will continue to serve our members and the professional AV communications industry worldwide through our tradeshows, education, certification, government relations, outreach and networking opportunities. We are and will be the primary source of information for the AV industry.

A new institution, the Bangalore Academy of Technology and Skills (BATS), was launched on 22 October in association with the Bangalore Management Academy (BMA). BATS, an India-based private institute, signed a curriculum licensing with InfoComm to teach Essentials of the AV Industry and the CTS Prep course. Focused on vocational and skills training, BATS was formed to better prepare students with technical knowledge for the work environment. There is a tremendous skills shortage in India, and BATS is looking to help train those who want to pursue a career in a job which requires a specialized skill. With a vision to provide globally accredited vocational training that is affordable and accessible, BATS will start its first program in audiovisual with InfoComm International®, the leading trade association serving the professional audiovisual and information communications industries worldwide.

The AV industry in India was invited to attend an InfoComm Academy® Day in Bangalore on 22 September. The Academy Day is an event designed to provide seminar-based education and networking. The seminar was targeted to the technical workforce within local AV companies. Designers, programmers, installers, account representatives, project managers, sales force, technology managers, certified and non-certified staff enjoyed a day of education. There were four 90-minute technical seminars presented by AMX India, Biamp Systems, Christie Digital Systems India and Kramer India — companies that were also the kind sponsors hosting the event. Students have remarked on the quality of education taking place. This training helps the distributor or systems integrator to raise its level of technical expertise and will produce many more satisfied customers. Bangalore Academy of Technology and Skills graciously hosted a reception toward the end of the Academy. Besides announcing the relationship of BATS with InfoComm International on the curriculum licensing, there was an excellent networking opportunity.

InfoComm’s goal is to provide unprecedented year-round opportunities in your region and globally for the AV industry. We welcome members who wish to participate or support any InfoComm activities. Please send me an email at atan@infocomm.org if you live in Asia or email my colleague Jonathan at jseller@infocomm.org if you live in the Oceania region.

Save the Date — InfoComm Asia 2010 in Hong Kong on 17-19 November will be Asia's largest technology event for information communications and systems integration. For more details please visit www.infocomm-asia.com.

A CTS Prep course will be held in Hong Kong on 15-17 November, a day prior to InfoComm Asia 2010. Anyone considering taking the CTS exam and CTS holders intending to acquire renewal units for their certification renewal is welcome to register. For enquiries and registration, contact Gracie Chiu at gchiu@infocomm.org.

InfoComm Academy’s virtual classroom is an interactive, online course combining real time and self-paced study — a class you can attend from any location. If you want instructor-led content, peer collaboration and schedule flexibility, you might like the virtual classroom and more of these classrooms will be offered next year. Check the course calendar to find out when these sessions are available.

Last but not least, renew your CTS credential before it expires. For more information, you can email Andy at atan@infocomm.org.

We look forward to seeing you at InfoComm Asia in Hong Kong.

Sincerely,
Andy Tan, CTS
Regional Director, Asia