“The idea behind the Academy is to transport and pass down the know-how, the experience, and the administrative layouts necessary to ease the task of organizing an international JCI event,” said Wolfgang Winkler, creator of the COC Academy concept and director of the two past academies.

“Every year, at least five JCI Organizing Committees around the world start their work completely from scratch! They have to deal with problems and conflicts every COC has had…!”

To solve those problems, the COC Academy provided practical information to make the task of organizing an international JCI event easier, more effective and more enjoyable, as well as to ensure better organized and more productive JCI events.

COC Academy attendees receive class training and take part in outdoor exercises. They go through several modules consisting of teambuilding exercises, conflict management, hard and soft skills in presentation techniques, leadership, project management, time management, marketing and communications; in summary, all the skills necessary to organize a successful international event.

Keynote speakers from inside and outside JCI cover relevant topics, including how to enhance self management, empower team members, obtain sponsorships through effective negotiating skills, delegate, and optimize preparation and organization of events. Attendees also learn how to minimize preparation time and effort, build knowledge that could be used in the future, and improve leadership skills and conflict management.