--- title: "Boost Your Conference With the Creativity of Universities" id: "35688" type: "post" slug: "boost-your-conference-with-the-creativity-of-universities" published_at: "2016-11-02T13:00:19+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T17:52:41+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/11/02/boost-your-conference-with-the-creativity-of-universities/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/11/02/boost-your-conference-with-the-creativity-of-universities.md" excerpt: "Nontraditional spaces can spark innovation and collaboration." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "brandconnection" - "conferences" - "Live Events" - "Meetings" - "universities" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Boost Your Conference With the Creativity of Universities Colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education are great venues for events at small to medium-sized conferences outside larger convention spaces. These hubs for learning, research, and innovation ooze intelligence and inspire creative thinking. In many cases, particularly when smaller, more intimate spaces prompt attendees to sit around circular tables or in small groups, university events spark collaboration among attendees. University spaces offer a variety of other benefits over larger settings, including presentation areas equipped with the latest technology, contacts for speakers, partnership opportunities, and more. In most cities, higher education institutions also sit on public transportation lines, making accessibility from hotels in the central business district a breeze. A city like Montréal, home to seven institutions of higher learning, four universities and a large body of international students and researchers, offers a good model. For starters, the city has established an organization to help universities and businesses partner for a variety of engagements, including events. That organization, the [Quartier de l’Innovation (opens in a new tab)](http://quartierinnovationmontreal.com/en/) (QI), creates bridges between public and private sectors. Four universities are members of QI: [McGill University (opens in a new tab)](https://www.mcgill.ca/) , [Université du Québec à Montréal (opens in a new tab)](http://www.uqam.ca/) , [École de Technologie Supérieure (opens in a new tab)](https://www.etsmtl.ca/) and [Concordia University (opens in a new tab)](https://www.concordia.ca/) . McGill played a key role in QI’s 2013 launch. Heather Munroe-Blum, who was the principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University at the time, helped establish its vision. “The QI will make Montréal an international leader in innovative cities, building on the experiences of other visionary cities such as Barcelona, Manchester and Boston,” [she said (opens in a new tab)](https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/news/district-dedicated-innovation-226747) in a news release. “Montréal’s Quartier de l’Innovation is truly one-of-a-kind as it embraces all aspects of innovation: from the social, cultural and urban dimensions to education, research and industry.” QI regularly works to attract events to college and university campuses. Damien Silès, QI’s executive director, said one of the biggest benefits of bringing outside conferences onto Montréal’s campuses is the knowledge transfer that happens—both inside and outside of the conference rooms. “Something about the learning environment just seems to excite people and inspire them,” he said of conference attendees. “Conventions and conferences always are about sharing knowledge, but when that takes place on an academic campus, in academic buildings, the results can be particularly special and can lead to serious innovation.” Silès noted that smaller and more private conferences work just as well in the higher education setting. With all these events, quality trumps quantity every time. “Events don’t have to be huge to be worthwhile,” he said. “All you need is for the event to have an impact.” (Concordia University) [ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/) Tags: [#brandconnection](https://associationsnow.com/tag/brandconnection/) [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#Live Events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/live-events/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#universities](https://associationsnow.com/tag/universities/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAshley Cobb Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/ashley-cobb-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoJenny Teeson, CHSE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/jenny-teeson-chse-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoKevin Hesser Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/kevin-hesser-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F11%2F02%2Fboost-your-conference-with-the-creativity-of-universities%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !