Projects in Practice

The Projects in Practice module (QUAL11021) provides an opportunity for students to test seminal concepts and frameworks in a real-life managerial context.

The module begins by distinguishing between key project management methodologies such as Waterfall and Agile, followed by an overview of PRINCE2/PRINCE2 Agile (Projects in Controlled Environments) and its application in several industrial contexts, alongside a taster of the PRINCE2/PRINCE2 Agile exam offered to industry professionals.

Students explore the significance of strategically fit projects, and practice establishing strategic alignment between high-level organisational objectives with relevant Projects, Programmes and Portfolios.  This is complimented with a facilitated ideation session to kick-start their group coursework, which is to plan, produce and evaluate the effectiveness of a real-life project of their choice.  Students are coached into effective presentation and communication skills and are asked to produce and present a business case for their project of choice, justifying its reasoning by considering key stakeholders and beneficiaries.

The module facilitates students through experiencing real life project planning, execution, and reflection, including business case justification, project governance, creating a project charter (terms of reference), performing estimation and a feasibility study, crisis and critical chain management, project monitoring and change control, stakeholder engagement, benefits realisation, project closure and project evaluation.

In the process, students experience leadership and team dynamics challenges, honing universal graduate skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, negotiation, time, and conflict management.

Throughout the module students consider how technology can be used at various stage of the project life cycle: creating schedules, defining, and organizing tasks, dependencies, resources and costs, planning options; project outputs, status reports, stakeholder communication, monitoring, control, updating, progress.

At the end of this module the student will be able to:

• Apply and critically evaluate the impact of project management standards and methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall, alongside PRINCE2 principles, themes, and processes.
• Identify and critically evaluate the use of different software and technology for the successful delivery of a project.
• Practice planning, execution, management, and evaluation of a real-life project. 
• Demonstrate competence in using project planning software.

This is an SCQF Level 11 module and upon successful completion, participants will be awarded 20 credits.

 

Delivery

This module will run at both Paisley campus (Trimesters 1, 2 & 3) and by Distance Learning (Trimester 1).

For Trimester 1, Paisley lectures will take place every Monday 12pm to 2pm and tutorials on alternate Fridays 9am to 11am or 11am to 1pm.

 

Course presenters

This module will be delivered by Ralitsa Arnaudova (Paisley campus) and Dr Hazhar Faris (Distance Learning).

 

Funding

This course may be available on a fully funded basis to some delegates.  Further details, including regarding eligibility, are available under Funding Support.

If you have any questions, please contact us at cpd@uws.ac.uk. 

 

NOTE: This is a university module and upon approval of your application, you will be invited to register and then supported to complete enrolment. To enrol on the university system, the first step involves security set-up using the Microsoft Authenticator app; you will need to ensure that you have a compatible smartphone.

Further information is available at the Student Information Portal.

To access this module via the CPD route, individuals should be ordinarily resident in Scotland.  If you do not meet this criteria, please enquire here.

 

Graduate Apprenticeship

In addition to being available on a CPD basis, this module is part of our fully funded Graduate Apprenticeship - BA (Hons) Business and Project Management.

The GA in Business and Project Management is brand new for 2024 and has been developed in collaboration with industry leaders to develop aspiring Project Managers who possess with the essential skills and knowledge needed to navigate large-scale and intricate projects across diverse sectors.

Creating limitless opportunities, it serves as a driving force to broaden your talent pipeline and unlock unparalleled professional development.

For further information, please contact apprenticeships@uws.ac.uk