Certificate in Advanced Project Management for the ICT Professional

Course details

DBS is offering participants of Springboard the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Advanced Project Management for the ICT Professional. This programme is designed with the ICT professional in mind, who already has a foundation in basic project management skills and wishes to refresh or up-skill in this area to improve their employability. This programme provides the participant with an advanced understanding of the project management function within organisations and assists them in adopting an appropriate project management perspective with regard to the management of projects within organisations.

Project managers in the ICT sector are extremely difficult to recruit. In particular IT professionals with the ability to deliver objectives, control processes and manage people in new regulatory environments. PMI’s ‘Project Management Talent Gap Report’ has estimated double digit growth in demand for project management professionals at all levels and across all industries. Demand for advanced project management staff can be met by cross training experienced management staff from other industries and sectors.

Programme Aims and Objectives

The programme aims to provide the participant with an advanced understanding of the project management function within organisations and assist them in adopting an appropriate project management perspective with regard to the management of projects within organisations. Project Planning Techniques aims to further develop the participant’s technical skills and knowledge with regards the adoption of appropriate management techniques to the management of projects. It will enable them to assess the nature of risk in the project context and to apply configuration management and change control techniques to business projects. Project Management & Evaluation will assist learner in adopting the relevant evaluation techniques with regards the management of projects.

On completion of the programme participants should have acquired the skills to:

• Analyse methods, tools and techniques for planning, monitoring and controlling projects and for managing risk
• Analyse the skills and competencies required of the project manager and project team
• Display and use transferable personal skills in a variety of business and ICT contexts
• Display a methodical and rational approach to business problem solving and decision making, as well as the capability to apply acquired knowledge and skills to practical business situations
• Organise information, arguments and conclusions and present them in a clear and coherent fashion.

Programme Content

• Project Planning Techniques
• Project Management and Evaluation

Teaching & Assessment

The proposed teaching, learning and assessment methodologies are intended to facilitate springboard participants to take ownership of and responsibility for, their own learning in partnership with the academic faculty.

Specific methods adopted will include:

• Conventional lectures
• Lab practical sessions
• E-Learning
• Workshops
• Tutorials
• Projects
• Seminars
• Assignments
• Analysis of case studies
• Group research and project work
• Guest lectures

Students will be actively encouraged and assisted to manage their own studies outside of lectures. This is facilitated by the teaching styles and methods adopted and by placing greater emphasis on practically focused assessment. A particular focus of this programme will be for students to work in collaborative teams with their tutors on a variety of projects. Through this process they will learn key life skills of good teamwork towards achieving a common goal. In addition, the E-learning platform, Moodle, will also provide lecturers and students with a virtual learning environment to complement and enrich the more traditional learning environment.

Assessment Methods

The programme assessment strategies have been developed to help learners acquire the transferable skills relevant to the workplace. These include working as part of a team, report writing, presentation skills etc.

Methods will include:

• Problem solving exercises
• Practical projects incorporating a variety of competencies and skills
• Case studies
• Research-based projects
• individual assignments
• Management reports
• Group projects
• Group and individual presentations
• Exams and other time constrained assessments (open and closed book)

Entry Requirements

To be eligible to apply for a place on this programme, all applicants must hold a minimum 1 year Project Management experience AND

• Hold a Level 5 NFQ award or equivalent OR
• If you are over 23 years of age as on 1st January in the year of entry and do not meet the minimum course entry requirements you may apply as a Mature Student. Mature students are assessed on the basis of age, work experience, general education standard, motivation and commitment to the programme.

In addition, an IELTS score of a minimum 6.0 or equivalent is required, where full-time study has been conducted in a language other than English or for applicants whose first language is not English.