What to Expect at DECA ICDC 2022

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Introduction

The International Career Development Conference (ICDC) hosted by DECA Inc. is one of the biggest events of the year for students interested in business. This year, students around the world are looking forward to traveling to Atlanta, Georgia to represent their state’s DECA Chapter. During this 3 day long competition, participants and advisors are able to compete in events, connect with others, and make memories.   

What is DECA?

Founded in 1946, DECA Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated towards preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in the business field. There are currently over 175,000 members and 3,200 high school chapters established around the world. For their competitive events, students are able to choose from six event clusters: Business Management and Administration, Hospitality and Tourism, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Finance, and Personal Financial Literacy. Additionally, competitors are allowed to choose between Roleplay or Written Events.

Aside from their competitive events, DECA also offers resources and scholarships to help students succeed. For example, their Emerging Leaders Series is a program that prepares students to become the next generation of leaders by utilizing 21st Century Skills. Additionally,  DECA’s scholarship program provides over $200,000 in scholarships to members at ICDC each year. 

What is ICDC?

The International Career Development Conference, or ICDC for short, is an international business competition where participants compete in the events and participate in other activities hosted by DECA. Each year, thousands of high school students, teachers, and advisors gather together for this highly-anticipated event. To qualify for ICDC, participants must have achieved superior performance at the district and association level.

This year’s ICDC

This year, ICDC will be hosted at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia from April 23rd to April 26th. As the first international conference hosted since 2019, the excitement is high among participants. In fact, more than 17,000 DECA students and advisors will be in attendance. ICDC will kick off with DECA Day at Six Flags Over Georgia and the Grand Opening Session later that day. There will also be a DECA Night at Pemberly Place and a DECA Concert. The Emerging Leaders Series will also be held at ICDC, where participants will be able to explore different leadership styles through interactive instruction. 

Although the competition itself is exciting, the major appeal of ICDC is getting the chance to explore the city and meet new people. With thousands of chapter advisors and students gathered in one area, there will be plenty of opportunities to network. Additionally, Atlanta is home to many wonderful attractions, such as the Coca-Cola factory at World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. 

How to get involved with DECA

DECA is a great opportunity for students to explore their interests, gain experience, and connect with other like minded individuals. High school students seeking to get involved with DECA should check if there is a DECA club at their school and there are also collegiate DECA chapters for college students. To attend ICDC, students must qualify through their State Career Development Conference (SCDC), where they will compete against members from DECA chapters across their state.