The added value of Associations in a fast changing and connected World Alain Flausch Secretary General UITP Brussels 1

UITP as a global association Founded in 1885, More than 3400 direct members worldwide (94 countries), public and private, Main offices in Brussels, some 100 staff members, 11 regional and liaison offices around the World, Vision: the benchmark for collective transport, Missions: advocacy, knowledge center and network for the Public Transport community

One main office in Brussels 11 liaison and regional offices worldwide

UITP as a global association World Exhibition and Congress every 2 years Specialized and regional exhibitions, 2 Centers of Transport Excellence International and regional conferences, Workshops and seminars, Studies and publications of all kind, Trainings, Data and statistics, Public affairs and policies, Peer reviews & Benchmarking.

Members used to have time in their mother organizations to reserve some time for their associations work, Members did not have to be so accountable for their time and expenses, Travelling and meeting fellow members was not an issue and being a regular member of a « club » of old and nice gentlemen was normal The World is changing: why would Associations be saved from that?

Diagnose Our international gatherings which are mostly made of top- down academic lectures are no longer as successful as they used to be in terms of attendance; Our members do no longer have the time to work for their association. Attending meetings from time to time is frequently the most they can do! Our members behave like consumers: they wish to grab what you give them, but are no longer ready to coproduce output with you. Value for their due is becoming a leitmotive !

Changing UITP modus operandi Designing together with the most active members a long terme ambitious strategy for the 15 years to come: PTX2 or doubling the market share of PT by 2025, Aligning the Association work and output on that strategy, Reviewing the products portfolio, Revisiting the Association organization with a view to provide more value for all the members!

A new modus operandi Less academic international conferences, More workshops and seminars open to members & non-members and dedicated to concrete issues, A strong development of customer-oriented tools allowing members to access the Association electronic library, Less travels and more telcos & electronic work connections and collaborative platforms, A vast world-wide advocacy program based on a strong statistics and data basis. Engaging in social medias and tools like My UITP

What Associations can bring? On the advocacy level  Representing the sector general interest v/ individual interests  Thereby « appearing « as neutral and legitimate,  Building coalitions with others,  Speaking to the World media,  Developping tools and arguments few members have the capacity to elaborate.

What Associations can bring? On the knowledge level: The question may be raised for large international groups but remember that public transport is always a local-centric business… For SME, the exchange of good practices and know-how of others is some sort of a cheap and easy consultancy, New ideas and concepts are easy available for all.

What Associations can bring? On the Knowledge level (2) Internet search is of course fantastic and limitless but cannot compete with the efficiency and quality of a dedicated electronic library where data and information have been stored and organized for long by a knowledgeable staff (Acting as the filter of the sector) Large research projects developped by consortia of members and funded by third parties (EU funding)

What Associations can bring On the networking level: Being connected with colleagues through electronic devices, however fruitful and efficient it may be, shall never replace the value of an eye-to-eye contact during Associations gatherings Being able, when you are faced, with a problem to get in touch with colleagues around the world who are or may be facing the same issue is a huge asset for people who are basically local!

Conclusions In most businesses but probably particularly when your business is very local-centric, International Associations should be invented if they did not exist !!!