How a short course in Project Management can kick-start your career

This article was originally published in 2019 and has recently been updated to include more relevant information.

A career as a project manager can be challenging without the required knowledge, and this is why a short course in project management could go a long way in enjoying success. Of course, you are always likely to start at the bottom of the ladder when your career gets underway, but having the added advantage of having completed a business course can help you quickly ascend to the top.

Whether you’re looking for a career within project management, or you’re looking to boost your current position as a project sponsor with added project management skills, we’ve got the information you need.

What is project management?

According to the 7th edition of the APM Body of Knowledge, project management is the “application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.”

Project management differs from the traditional “management” as it usually involves a final deliverable and a limited period. Management is centred around an ongoing process with no end date.

Project management skills that will aid in career development

No matter your current career, the principles and skills found in project management fundamentals are tones that you’ll use forever, in both a professional and personal capacity.

In any leadership position, where you are dealing with various teams and people, communication is key. Being an effective manager, or handling a project means you need to be able to articulate instructions in various ways. Clear communication with both internal and external stakeholders is of the utmost importance.

Time management skills are crucial for any career. It is the process of organising and planning time spent on various activities for a desired result or outcome. Understanding how to manage your time effectively will allow you to work smarter, not harder, especially when time is tight and the pressure is high.

Organisation is another highly valuable skill that ensures all deadlines are met and every project is running smoothly. Project management holds its own organisation structures which can be highly effective when mapping out and managing a project from beginning to end.

It’s likely that every once in a while, you’re going to encounter issues. In a project management environment, problem-solving is the process of gathering the information, weigh up the odds, and finding the best solution along with a structured approach to make it happen.

Teamwork makes the dream work, right? Team management skills include the ability to effectively hand out responsibilities, deal with any conflicts, evaluate all performances and mentor team members to improve their skills.

One of the most important responsibilities for anyone in project management is dealing with budgets. Tracking costs, putting together spreadsheets on allocations, making decisions on where or what budgets are spent on and ensuring that you don’t land over-budget is a massive responsibility, one which working as a project manager means you’ll need to deal with regularly.

Project management makes sure that what is being delivered gives real value to the business. Project management is the art of structuring all parties goals to fit within a strategic framework. This means that all parties need to be on the same page, understand roles and responsibilities and align with the overall business objective.

Register for our project management course

Our project management short course will equip you with knowledge and skills to successfully scope and deliver projects within the modern business world:

• Understand the critical importance of factors such as time, quality, and costs.
• Learn about the project management life cycle, including communicating, planning, organising, implementation, and managing resources and tasks.

What will I learn in the course?

This short course contains 6 substantive units and is stacked with learning. Unlike other short courses, we ensure that the learning is adequate to facilitate skills building and is not just a superficial overview of the subject matter.

Module 1: Project Management Fundamentals

Module 2: Feasibility Study

Module 3: Project Planning: Work Packages and Scheduling

Module 4: Project Planning: Resourcing and Budgeting

Module 5: Project Implementation

Module 6: Project Monitoring and Close-out

Download The Course Prospectus

How long is the course?

This course can be completed in 6 months. The course follows a teaching and learning plan guided by your lecturer with weekly learning activities. Students can complete the course in a maximum of 12 months but teaching and learning support will only be provided for 6 months.

What certificate will I receive?

Once you’ve completed the project management course, you’ll be awarded an iQ Academy Short Course Certificate. Your certificate demonstrates that you have acquired industry-relevant skills which can enhance your promotional and employment opportunities.

Remember, all our Short Course curricula are developed by leading academics and experts in the field and are internally quality assured and approved by iQ Academy’s Academic Board. We are also registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a Private Higher Education Institution. Our Short Courses are institutional learning programmes and are non-credit bearing.

Find out more about iQ Academy’s short course in Project ManagementView courseEnquire Now