es are spread in more than 30 countries worldwide and it became the leading institution in the area of further education of top managers. The program of the special conferencies and seminars are prepared in Vienna according to the needs of the Czech market and Czech managers, the conference language is Czech. The Austrian office is the centre of conference activities in Central and Eastern Europe. There are fifteen employees preparing the conferences in Czech Republic. It is important to highlight, that also customers from Slovakia make use of the company‘s services. We asked the marketing manager of the Institure for International Research Renata Kliková about the organization of conferences.

* What does the Institute for International Research offer?

„Every year we prepare more than 50 expert conferences, seminars and workshops.The program of the conferences and seminars is prepared on the basis of market‘s needs investigation. The range of the topics is very wide. We make every endeavour, to allow well known specialists and top managers give their lectures on conferences and discuss the relevant topics. Our priorities are set up on the fact, that these people should convey their experiences from the practise efficiently and in a high-qualitative manner. We want the participants to find exactly the information they need from their special field during the conference or seminar. It means, well structured, exactly investigated and logicaly composed information on issues, that are topical and happen during his workday.“

* What does determine the subject of the conferences?

„All conference topics we launch are already well-tried. The market investigation helps us to prove if the prepared information are relevant and interesting for our potential participants and if they correspond with their needs. This is the only way to provide them with the latest and practise-relevant information. In the centre of interest at our institute are mainly the latest developments of strategic management, law, finance, information technology, telecommunications, marketing, business, energy industry and financial services.“

* Who are primarily the participants at your conferences?

„IIR conferences are mainly visited by top and middle mana-gment of the Czech companies and institutions, members of the boards of directors and of the supervisory boards. We present the selected technical information to the participants of the conferences. As independent supervisor of the conferences, we take care mainly of the qualification and expertise of the presented topics. Furthermore our conferences give the opportunity for the exchange of experience and for contactmaking with future business partners. More than 7500 top managers have taken part in the activi-ties organized by our institute in Czech Republic so far.“

* Do Slovak managers participate at your conferences?

„Since we started our business in Czech Republic, we have organized more than 150 conferences, seminars and workshops. More than 7500 managers participated in these events. One third of these managers came from the Slovak Republic.“

* Strong similarities in both languages, similar business problems, as well as similarities in the development stages, might be a reason for Slovak managers to decide for your conferences. How do you see this?

„Yes, we believe the trends in the economy, both in Czech and Slovak Republics to be akin, so the managers of the Slovak companies are pleased to participate in our conferences and seminars. Of course, with the exception of conferences dealing with themes like law matters, when the Czech norms differ from the Slovak ones.“

What do you think about organizing of conferences in Slovakia?

Proceeding on the fact, that Slovak companies are interested in conferencies held in the Czech Republic, we consider to organize conferencies in Slovakia as real.

* How does the program after the conference look like? How long does the conference usually last?

„Usually the profile of the conference has the duration of two conference days, while during the third day the acquired know-ledge can be applied to the practise in the form of a workshop. When the first day is over, all participants are invited to a coctail, which is actually part of the conference and serves as an informal exchange of experience and opinions. During several activities with large number of participants, that can be regarded as congress - we organize ceremonious dinners, fashion shows, or forums with top managers from Czech and foreign companies.“

If you need more information on the conferencies in the near future, their topics, or the possibility for enrolment through internet - you can do it at the webpage of the company www.konference.cz.