So what exactly does virtual networking look like?

It’s just over a week until the 2020 NZ Vocational Education and Research Forum (NZVETRF) and, as you will know, this year it’s all virtual – from the keynote speakers and discussion panels, to the networking lounges and breakout rooms.

But you might be wondering, what exactly does networking look like in a virtual space?

To start with, this year’s event will be hosted on 6Connex – this is a state-of-the-art virtual environment designed to look and feel just like a real-life space. What you see as you ‘arrive’, will be just the same as you would with an in-person conference. You’ll step into a virtual lobby and have all sorts of options to choose from. In one area, you’ll see  the auditorium, where all the event’s  keynotes will be held, while in other areas of the lobby, you’ll also see breakout lounges you can enter to listen to specific speakers, as well as an exhibit hall, resource centre and a networking lounge where you can pop in and chat with other attendees.

When it comes to the networking though, how exactly will that work?

The 6Connex networking function has some incredible features that make it really easy for you to still make those connections through networking. For instance, you can:

  • See who is in the room with you by using the ‘now attending’ button
  • Join pre-organised networking sessions with specific people/speakers/moderators
  • Used the filtered search function to find attendees by company, title, country, or role to network via video chat or messaging
  • Chat in groups
  • Translate chats to connect with people – even if they speak a different language.
  • Easily connect through to other attendees’ LinkedIn profiles to learn more about your peers and connect with them.

The platform also has an easy-to-use Help section, so if you are unsure what to do, you can access this to get tips on how to use all those features.

Wine Tasting

As one of the networking opportunities, part of the NZVETRF forum is a wine tasting session. This is hosted by four current and former cadets from New Zealand wine exporters, Constellation Brands.  This will be held in our networking lounge at the end of the night. Constellation Brands offers a superb and award-winning cadetship scheme through its stable of wineries. So, wind down from the event with a wine in hand while you learn about the cadetship pathways and the wines you’ll be tasting! You can even break off into smaller groups to discuss the wines and network together.