Managing an enormous program with 54 themes | International Congress on Mathematical Education 2024

Fast facts

Event: International Congress on Mathematical Education 2024 (ICME-15)

Dates: 7-14 July 2024

Location: ICC Sydney

Background:

The International Congress on Mathematical Education is the largest of its kind in the world. This quadrennial event is organised under the auspices of the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction and explores current global trends in mathematics education research and mathematics teaching practices at all levels.

 

Challenges:

Designing an eight-day complex program with focused streams centred around 54 Topic Study Groups. Arinex was appointed just one year prior to the congress, requiring rapid familiarisation with stakeholders and establishment of efficient program management processes within a condensed timeframe.

 

Solutions:

  • Communication: Regular meetings were established with the Organising Committee (OC) and other key stakeholders
    to set up lines of communication and establish deadlines and processes.
  • Collaboration: Arinex worked closely with the OC to understand their desired end goal for the program. They then assisted in realising this vision by outlining the necessary milestones and requirements to shape the program according to expectations. Representatives from the 54 Topic Study Groups led their program streams, leveraging their expertise and industry connections.
  • Technology: Arinex used custom speaker management software to handle complex program and stakeholder relationships. This streamlined presentation uploads and provided access for each Topic Study Group. A tailored submission portal assigned abstracts to reviewers by theme and subject group. Its cloud-based nature enabled collaborative viewing and editing across multiple locations.

Outcome:

Through efficient collaboration, clear communication processes and robust program management technology, the comprehensive final program was successfully released on the website and app well ahead of the congress. Featuring over 60 international mathematical education thought leaders across 11 program components, covering 54 themes and running concurrently across 28 rooms, this release allowed delegates ample time to plan their participation in the diverse array of sessions on offer.