Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development: Programme and Project Management (APM accredited)

Fees | Course length |

Why choose this course?

• It's a work based programme for organisations looking to develop programme and project management skills in new or existing employees
  
• The content can be customised to meet your organisations individual needs.
  
• Learners will base their studies on current organisational issues, delivering real and immediate business impact.
  
• It is accredited by the Association of Project Management.

About the course

In an increasingly competitive marketplace there are growing demands on new employees and those who manage multiple stakeholder relationships. It is becoming more important to equip these individuals with a broader range of skills to deal with what can often be the conflicting demands they face in the workplace.

Programme and project management are core skills that are being seen as increasingly important in a commercial marketplace. This programme introduces programme and project management so that it can be applied directly to the management of major formal projects within an organisational context, and so that the learning underpins key informal projects and stakeholder management activities as a core management skill.

It enhances the knowledge, capability and competency of individuals who have been employed by their organisation in programme, project management or leadership roles, but who may have received little programme or project management specific development.

Learners will:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which are at the forefront of programme and project management, or is informed by it.
• Be able to utilise knowledge obtained through professional practice and/or academic study to develop their own ideas and practical theories to formulate innovative responses to complex situations, particularly in the area of programme and project management.
• Be able to critically analyse personal and professional knowledge to formalise and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of programme and project management, within their area of professional workplace practice.
• Exhibit creativity, flexibility and originality of thought in the application of knowledge to new or unusual situations.
• Express ideas, theories and arguments in a clear coherent manner and present written work in a manner that is consistent with the conventions of scholarly writing.

It's a work based programme; learners study part time and will be learning while they are working, applying everything they learn to current organisational issues through projects and assignments. This brings real value to your organisation and supports the personal and career development of your employees. The programme structure provides an overarching framework, whilst the content can be customised to meet your organisations aims and objectives.

The programme is aimed at employees working in this field where project management is a key component of their skill-set requirement. It is also aimed at employees who are new to the field of programme and project management who wish to develop or enhance their practical skills in this area. 

What's covered

The programme framework consists of two modules:

Professional Programme and Project Management (20 credits)
This module covers the fundamental principles of programme and project management, in an applied context. It provides a comprehensive introduction to programme and project management methodologies, as well as the practices required for programme and project planning, management, implementation and evaluation. Content is aligned to meet the requirements of the Association of Project Management Body of Knowledge (6th edition).

Areas covered:

• Definitions and characteristics of projects and programmes
• Project vs programme management
• Different project management tools, techniques and methodologies
• Typical project lifecycles
• Initiation and planning of projects
• Project planning and implementation
• Stakeholder management
• Resource and budget management
• The project team
• Risk, issues and exception management
• The business environment and commercial factors
• Boundary management and interface issues
• Governance and closure
• Project management methodologies in context - why certain sectors have a tendency to use specific methodologies

Work Based Study (40 credits)
Combining knowledge of their own area of professional practice with current academic practice and professional thinking, learners will diagnose a current organisational issue, apply their learning from the Programme and Project Management module and draw conclusions from their reading and personal analysis to recommend a solution, demonstrating real personal and business impact.

Studies may include the design, development, planning, initiation and closure of a project or programme of an appropriate size, scale and level of complexity within the context of the delegate's role in the organisation. The subject matter can be determined by negotiation with their line manager, and may include areas such as IT projects; infrastructure or resource projects; change management; research and analysis or communications.

How you'll learn

The programme is work based and studied on a part-time basis, participants will be learning while they are working as the job and the course are inextricably linked.

The Professional Programme and Project Management module is studied online via an e-learning platform and some face-to-face delivery. Learners are supported by a tutor throughout.

The Work Based Study module is an applied work based project undertaken in the workplace drawing on specific internal projects identified through conversation with line managers. Learners are supported by study days, workshops, mentoring, shadowing and tutor support as appropriate.

Employers are encouraged to provide support for learners wherever possible in order to establish a community of practice which provides further learning opportunities.

Anything else?

University credit

This is a Level 7 qualification. On successful completion learners will achieve 60 credits and earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development: Programme and Project Management. They can choose to put this credit towards achieving additional higher education qualifications at the University.

Having achieved the Postgraduate Certificate, learners can attend an additional three day residential assessment centre to gain the status of APM Practitioner (IPM level C), becoming a full member of the APM upon successful completion of this qualification. A five day APMP (IMP level D) is also an option if required.

Work based learning

Work based learning is better for business. Unlike traditional 'training courses', it allows you to tailor what your managers learn to the needs of your company. Your employees develop skills that directly help them in their role, and it leads to knowledge that is put to use straight away.

Using this programme framework as a base, we will work with you to develop customised content that directly addresses your needs. All that's required is a minimum group of 12 learners.