Academic accreditation –

where project management fits in

Bob Fielden

Background

Business degree students more than doubled in last 6 years

> 50% of Year 2 students opted for the Project Management

module, Over 50 students from joint degrees with other Faculties

They recognise that Project Management skills apply to any sector

Many organisations run operations as “projects”

Module based on professional body practice

Increasing competition for graduates entering the job market

Employers not just looking for higher grades

Differentiate students by gaining professional body recognition

Faculty strategy coincided with emergence of APM Academic

Network and Accreditation initiatives

Design

Pre-project

Concept

Implement

Handover

Operational

support

Decommission

•Why is the project happening? •What are the deliverables? •How are the jobs to be done? •When has it to happen? •Where is it to take place? •Who has responsibility? •How and when do you decide to carry on, modify or cancel the project?

Project Life Cycle Balancing Time, Cost,

Quality and Scope

Q C

T

Why is the project happening? Professional recognition of courses

enhance students cv’s, making the

module more attractive to students and

potential employers.

What are the deliverables? Gain accreditation of degree level

modules.

How are the jobs to be done? By the module leader, liaising with teaching

team and colleagues on other subject

areas.

When has it to happen? During 2008 / 2009, then 2009 /2010

Where is it to take place? Canterbury and Broadstairs campuses

Who has responsibility? Project Manager (Module leader), module

team, Project Sponsor (Dean)

How and when do you decide to carry on, modify or cancel the project?

Availability of accreditation guidelines,

workload, benefits analysis

Initial review of Compatibility with the APM

Breadth - 2nd year of degree with a common first year. How does this

fit with the APM BoK?

Depth - how do their studies / assessments benchmark against the APM

Competence Framework

Achievement - accreditation is a step towards gaining exemption.

Accreditation enhances the faculty profile and student career prospects.

Commitment - undertaking the module / degree is a cpd process.

Students can run their studies as a project. Many undertake research projects

Accountability - ensuring the module meets APM standards.

(students accountable for their performance – plagiarism, turning up,

working, meeting standards etc)

Cross referencing with the BoK

Section 1 Project Management in context

Section 2 Planning the strategy

Section 3 Executing the strategy

Section 4 Techniques

Section 5 Business and commercial

Section 6 Organisational and governance

Section 7 People and profession

Cross referencing with the BoK

All students will take these year 1 subjects:

– People Management in the 21st Century

– Contemporary Business Issues

– Accounting & Finance for Business

Most will also have covered the following:

– Marketing Principles & Practice

– Applied Statistics for Business and Management

– Economics

Assessment – Real cases, what happened?

theory and practice.

“Real life” small scale projects (teamwork)

Simulated APM Introductory Certificate test

Scope, Time, Cost, Quality,

Accreditation possibility identified Aston 2008

Initial talks 2009

Process started March 2010

Forms submitted July 2010

Assessor visit September 2010

Accreditation September 2010

Risk

Becoming an Accredited Academic Centre was the first stage

in becoming a Accredited Provider.

This led to becoming an Accredited Examination Centre.

This was in parallel to gaining exempt status for our assessments from

the APM Introductory Certificate Exam.

The APM assessed our module content and delivery against the BoK.

The assessment methodology was scrutinised, including examples of

students’ work to ensure the APM criteria were being met.

May 2012

Accredited to

deliver Introductory

Certificate by APM

Examination

or

by successful

completion of

degree module

assessments

Some of the first students to receive their APM certificates

Student Feedback

• Really enjoyed group work with chance to use knowledge

• Really enjoyed assignment 2 - want to have career in pm

• Gets involved with interesting

aspects of business

• Enjoyed assessments

especially group = realistic

• Particularly enjoyed assgt 2 - giving

confidence in managing and real life

• Good, gained a lot of knowledge

• Useful in real life

• Learned a lot from ilx

• Tough but helps with the

learning process

• Good assessments covering

all aspects

How did it turn out?

What has happened since?

August 2013 successfully trialled the APM

IC online Exam process

APM IC is now part of the staff development portfolio

Project Management has become a compulsory

subject on several degree pathways

Finalising module compliance with 6th edn BoK