The conference has been designed to provide you the flexibility and convenience of attending either in-person or virtually. Truly the best of both worlds! Week one is virtual for all (April 15, 17, and 19). Live-streamed presentations and discussions allow all presenters and attendees to participate without leaving home. In the second week, choose to join us in-person or continue attending sessions virtually. The live content sessions will be streamed to those who are remote. Week 2 begins with the Meetup Dinner Wednesday, April 25 and ends with the Closing Session on Friday, April 26.
It's a flexible and inclusive experience, ensuring everyone
can benefit from valuable knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities. See
you there!
All content sessions offered at our conference will be available online to virtual attendees. In case you miss some, they will be recorded and available for 3 months. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to consider "Reinvention 5.0." You can learn so much with such a small investment. These sessions begin 30 minutes later than our webinars normally begin.
Of course, there is so much more to an in-person conference than content sessions. To experience what southern India has to offer, come to Trivandrum, Kerala, India. Registering for the In-Person conference includes all of the Content Sessions offered virtually, plus the Meetup Dinner, Reception and Cultural Performance. We also offer two cultural tours as Optional Extras. Many people from India are attending, eager to talk with you about career development practices in other parts of the Asia Pacific region. Notice that the first in-person event which is included in registration is the Meetup Dinner on Wednesday evening -- your opportunity to get acquainted with others attending the conference and to find lunch partners for the rest of the conference. Dr. Brian Hutchison, our first keynote speaker, will be with us for the full conference and available to talk with you about his presentations.
Optional Extras
Two Professional Development Institutes (PDIs) are offered which are not included in the basic registration. They are available both virtually and in-person. The first PDI by Dr. Brian Hutchison is called Human-centric Career Design: A Devotion to Worker Welfare through Career Development on Wednesday, April 24. The second PDI will be held on Saturday, April 27 and is called The Science of Leading Others Through Change. You may register for these PDIs when you register for the conference, or send an email later to add them to your registration. The other Optional Extras are tours, which are only available in-person.
The conference will be held in TechnoPark, which is about 10 kilometers northeast of the center of Trivandrum. There are many elegant hotels in Trivandrum. A short sample of hotels with ratings and prices (in USD) selected from Booking.com include:
The hotel closest to TechnoPark is the Ginger Hotel. It is a 3-star hotel (clean and comfortable, but not elegant) and charges 3500 Rupees per night ($38) for a “Deluxe” room. It is walking distance to the conference from the Ginger Hotel.
APCDA's annual conference is fast approaching, and this time, the spotlight falls on India. A nation steeped in history, culture, and innovation, India has emerged as a great destination for individuals across the Asia Pacific region to gather, learn, and network. As a member of the organizing team, it's my pleasure to introduce you to the charm of India and why it's the perfect locale for next year's conference.
The conference will take place in Technopark, Trivandrum, Kerala's capital city. Trivandrum, also known as Thiruvananthapuram, is a city that seamlessly marries modernity with heritage.
India's unique blend of tradition and progress has always captivated visitors. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the serene backwaters of Kerala, every corner of India offers a distinct experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a culture that celebrates diversity, spirituality, and intellectual curiosity.
Trivandrum, situated in the southern state of Kerala, is an epitome of India’s cultural richness. The city is a canvas painted with the hues of classical dance forms like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, which convey stories as old as time itself. Its historical landmarks, such as the Padmanabhaswamy Temple with its intricate carvings and towering Gopuram, stand as a testament to the artistic brilliance of ancient Indian craftsmen.
As you wander through Trivandrum's bustling markets and quiet alleys, you'll find the threads of tradition woven into everyday life. The scent of fragrant spices wafting through the air, the vibrant textiles adorning shopfronts, and the melodious strains of traditional music create an immersive experience that resonates with the essence of India's cultural soul. Other iconic attractions being the Napier Museum, Indian Space Center, and the picturesque Kovalam Beach, amongst many others.
April is one of the most appealing months to visit Trivandrum, as the weather strikes a perfect balance between warmth and comfort. Average daytime temperatures typically range from 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F), offering a delightful warmth without the intense heat that characterizes the peak of summer. This makes it an ideal time for outdoor exploration, beach activities, and sightseeing without feeling overwhelmed by the heat.
Trivandrum International Airport provides exceptional connectivity to major cities in the Asia Pacific region. As a modern airport, it offers top-notch services. Moreover, the city has a well-established transportation network, ensuring convenient and hassle-free mobility.
As you contemplate joining us in Trivandrum, Kerala, consider this not just an event on your calendar, but a chapter in your life's journey. The annual conference is your invitation to step out of your comfort zone and into a world where cultures converge, ideas flourish, and memories are etched. It's a chance to explore India's soul-stirring heritage and Trivandrum's tranquil landscapes, all while connecting with fellow explorers from around the world.
Houseboat CruisesHave you ever gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? If you haven't, make sure you do. This is easily amongst the most remarkable and unique experiences that Kerala has to offer. Present day houseboats are huge, slow moving exotic barges used for leisure trips, and are in fact a reworked version of the Kettuvallams of olden times. In Malayalam language Kettu refers to ‘dwelling structures’ ‘Vallam’ means boat. These are boats with a thatched roof cover over wooden hulls. A portion of the Kettuvallam was covered with bamboo and coir to serve as a restroom and kitchen for the crew. Meals were cooked onboard and supplemented with freshly cooked fish from the backwaters. Today, appropriately called houseboats, they have furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, living rooms, kitchenettes and even balconies for angling. Sections of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm leaves open out to provide shade and allow an uninterrupted view of the backwater country. The houseboats are either poled by local oarsmen or powered by engines. All of them have a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and a guide. While converting kettuvallams into houseboats, care is taken to use only natural products. Bamboo mats, sticks and wood of the areca nut tree are used for roofing, coir mats and wooden planks for the flooring and wood of coconut trees and coir for beds. Nowadays, Solar panels are preferred for lighting. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen, some are powered by a 40 HP engine. What is truly magical about a houseboat ride is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers, while you float in a relaxed way right through it. House boats are available at Trivandrum, Kollam, Kottayam, Allappuzha, and Ernakulam. Please contact District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) for more info. For a shorter experience, motor boats and kayaks are also available for viewing local villages and wildlife in the waterways near the ocean, at places like Kuttanad, Munroe Island, Asramam Adventure Park, Akkulan Adventure Park, Kakkathuruthu, Sambranikodi, and Poovar Island. Visit Kerala Tourism for more information. Two of our members have written about their houseboat cruises in Kerala. See Touring Kerala by Houseboat by Linda Reardon and Memories of Traveling in South India by Renee Friedman. |
Hill Stations and Wildlife SanctuariesThe mountain ranges in Kerala are known as “the Kashmir of South India.” In addition to the beautiful mountain scenery, cooler temperatures, and multitude of accommodations, the area is covered with tea and spice plantations and nature reserves. WanayadWanayad is located 700 to 2000 meters above sea level in northern part of Kerala (north east of Kozikode). Wanayad Wildlife Sanctuary is rich in flora and faura. It was established in 1973 to conserve and protect the biological heritage of the region, which includes elephants, tigers, leopards and egrets and offers tourists camping sites, trekking, waterfalls, caves, bird watching, plants and trees. Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is the biggest wildlife area in the Malabar region of Kerala. It offers an elephant safari to view the animals, which include elephants, deer, tiger etc. Edakkal Cave was formed by the splitting of a huge rock, resulting in a rich pictographic gallery.
MunnarMunnar is a hill station located directly east of Kochi and approximately 1,700 meters above sea level. At Munnar Farm Spices, see these spices growing: Pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Clove, Coffee, Allspice, Cocoa, Vanila, Curry leaf, Chilly (photo shows nutmeg).
Thekkady (Kumily)Located about 100 kilometer south of Munnar and about 300 kilometers from Trivandrum is town of Thekkady, the Periyar Tigar Reserve, and elephant reserve, and Periyar National Park. Surrounded by plantations for coffee, tea, and spices, Thekkady offers a rustic atmosphere, sophisticated tourist facilities, and a wide variety of things to see and do. Boating on Periyar Lake, a very large reservoir, is a great way to spot elephants, tigers, Indian bison, and various species of birds. Tourist facilities in the Periyar Tiger Reserve are described here.
Neyyar Wildlife SanctuaryNeyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, just 32 kilometers from Trivandrum, is in the Sahyadri mountain range and covers a total area of 128 km2 (49 sq mi). The diversity of its flora makes the sanctuary an ideal gene pool preserve. Mammals include tiger, leopard, sloth bear, elephant, sambar, barking deer, bonnet macaque, Nilgiri langur and Nilgiri tahr. 176 Species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibians and 40 species of fishes have also been found and a Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre and Neyyar Elephant Rehabilitation Centre complex are within the area.
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Arts of South India: Carnatic SingingCarnatic music originated in southern India in the 9th century. Kerala has a rich tradition of Carnatic music. Carnatic music owes its name to the Sanskrit term Karnātaka Sangītam which denotes “traditional” or “codified” music. It is one of two main subgenres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu texts and traditions, particularly the Samaveda. The other subgenre being Hindustani music, which emerged as a distinct form because of Persian or Islamic influences from Northern India. The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in gāyaki (singing) style. Carnatic music is taught and learned through compositions. It is performed by a small ensemble of musicians usually accompanied by violin, mridangam and tambura. Some performers use ghatam, kanjira, morsing, venu flute, veena and chitraeena. This YouTube video can intoduce you to Carnatic Singing: https://youtu.be/spRQEectgB8 We are hoping to host a Carnatic ensemble during the reception at our 2024 conference in Kerala, India! Photos: yahoo.com ![]() Srīgananātha (Gītam) – Malahari rāga – Rūpaka tāla contributed by Sreevidhya Chandramouli >> Lyrics, notation and translations >> Practice Rupaka tala here >> |
Kathakali Classical Dance in Kerala, IndiaKathakali is a classical form of Indian dance. It is ancient and classical in nature and holds centuries of tradition and culture. It is not simply a dance-drama but an act of devotion featuring the universal struggle between good and evil. Kathakali is based on Hinduism and evolved from temple art forms in the 17th century. It is a highly charged powerful drama that combines devotion, drama, dance, music, costumes and make up to produce one of the most impressive forms of sacred theatre in the world. Kathakali brought humanity into Hinduism to express emotions that go beyond words. The temple rituals, first performed in secret, evolved into a vibrant drama that embraces the essence of what it is to be human. Kathikali is traditionally performed by male dancers. The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its décor, part of which is the kireetam (huge ornamental headgear) and the kanchukam (over sized jackets), and a long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions. The artists completely immerse themselves and the audience into the story they're describing. Margi is an organization in Trivandrum that revived Kathakali and performs both in Trivandrum and internationally. Photos: yahoo.com |
Again this year, APCDA has contracted with Whova to provide the software for our conference. Because this conference is Hybrid, we need a really good Mobile App so that in-person attendees can participate equally with virtual attendees. ALL questions for presenters, whether you are in the room or remote, should be submitted by typing them into Whova. Whova provides both a Web App and a Mobile App to make this easy. We expect In-person Attendees to use the Mobile App and Virtual Attendees to use the Web App, although they may want to use both so they can easily submit questions to the presenter while watching the session in full screen mode.
Here are instructions for using this new software.
Video Instructions:
Written Instructions:
All survivors of the 2023 September NiV outbreak at Kozhikode have completed their double incubation period (42 days), which means that the Kozhikode outbreak can be formally declared as over. Ms. George said it was indeed a matter of pride for the State’s health system that it had managed to find the index case during the outbreak itself and that all containment measures that had been adopted were successful. Credit was also due to the health system for having managed to keep the mortality down and bring down the case fatality rate to 33.3%, instead of the usual 70-90%.
The virus is most often spread by fruit bats and it can spread through direct or indirect contact. "People can become infected if they have close contact with an infected animal or body fluids such as, for example, the fruit bat saliva on fruit, and a person eats the fruit." it's a reminder of how habitat destruction has led to animals transmitting diseases to humans.
Contests at the 2024 APCDA Hybrid ConferenceBy Grace KoamesahWe have two kinds of contests at this year’s conference, the Leaderboard and the Fun Fact Contest. For each contest, we will pick 3 winners to receive valuable prizes. Every winner has the liberty to choose one prize from the list as their reward.
About Fun Fact Contest The Fun Fact contest is called a Photo Contest in Whova – you can access this contest in Win a Prize, or under the Photos feature. The purpose of this contest is to give you an opportunity to think of and share with us something interesting that could make you a person that others remember after the conference is over. Your Fun Fact could be related to your life, career experience, local career services, APCDA, or about your country – any fact that you would like to share with others. Photos are encouraged. Since you will be meeting other new or known fellow attendees during the conference, revealing some fun facts about yourself can be a great icebreaker. It may be when you share these interesting tidbits of information that you become more human. It doesn’t have to be funny, just interesting. Just share a good secret. We all have secret longings, fears, and dreams. Here are a few examples,
All of the fun facts shared by attendees will be immediately available for other attendees to read and vote on. The top three winners will be announced and recognized on May 26, 2023 during the conference closing. Post your Fun Facts early to other attendees can vote on them – and can reach out to you if they are inspired by what you post. To see more detailed instructions, click on View photo contest. To join in the competition, click on Upload Photo. Choose a picture you’d like to post, decorate it with a photo frame if you want, and write your description in the caption box. Click on “Post” once you’re ready for it. About Leaderboard Leaderboard is a scoreboard that bases your score on how active you are in using the Whova App. The more engaged you are in this conference, the more points you gain. To get to the top of the leaderboard is to collect as many points as you possibly can in Whova. You can access this contest from the Win a Prize feature in Whova, then choose the Leaderboard. You will then see the current rankings, and also your own scores at the moment. There is also a list of things that you can do to get more points. Some examples are completing the session feedback survey, add a topic or social group in Community, share an article, add sessions to personal agenda, complete your profile, etc. |