Netherlands: Project Identification, Development and Management

Successful management of the project cycle
Do you want to learn how to identify and manage stakeholders throughout the project cycle and how to identify, design, manage, monitor and evaluate development projects, which actually meet the needs of beneficiaries? Do you want to be challenged by colleagues from all over the world to think about the success and fail factors of complex development projects?

The PDM program will train you how to effectively identify, design, manage, monitor and evaluate development projects to guarantee success every step of the way.

By exchanging views with a variety of experts in the field of project identification, design, management and monitoring and evaluation, our PDM program provides you with insights across the entire project cycle. You will learn all about Project Cycle Management (PCM) methodology and tools such as Stakeholder Mapping, Problem Tree, Logical Framework and specific M&E tools. You will develop crucial project management skills in the field of communication, leadership, team work and negotiation in interactive workshops and discuss the different views and current debate on development cooperation with experts and classmates.

Reasons to follow this course
1: Start off the program with your own project identification via the distance education component of the program
2: Gain the analytical, technical and managerial insights, and tools for the development and management of development projects
3: Get insight in and enhance you project management skills in the field of leadership, communication, team work and negotiation
4: Share your (critical) ideas on on the development debate and hear about stories in development projects (best and worst practices) from all over the world5: Receive personal coaching on your individual integration assignment which you will pitch during the dynamic and stimulating poster presentation round

Why this program?

Governments, NGOs and private organizations in the developing world are increasingly engaged in development projects. These projects are often funded by donor agencies who are becoming more demanding in terms of capacity requirements and therefore, often impose complex and bureaucratic procedures to ensure that project interventions lead to the desired outcomes and make a real impact. Project managers and their teams are responsible for the successful handling of these often complex and demanding projects and dealing with the demands of donor agencies and other key stakeholders.

As a project manager in the development field, you need to have the latest knowledge on various aspects of the project cycle. However, successful project management is not only about technical aspects – you also need the right personal management skills to motivate and lead a cross-functional project team to achieve your ultimate objectives. The PDM program will train you how to effectively identify, design, manage, monitor and evaluate development projects to guarantee success every step of the way.

Learning objectives
Upon completion of the course, participants:

• Are equipped with a combination of analytical, technical and managerial insights and tools for the identification, design, management and monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Have insights into their own personal project management skills and how to further develop these skills to successfully manage the challenges in development projects;
• Have a broad understanding of project success and failure factors in development projects;
• Have been challenged to think critically about how the current debate on development cooperation plays a role in their own projects at home;
• Developed their individual project and received coaching;
• Interacted with and built a network with development professionals from around the globe.

What to expect?
Focusing on the exchange of experiences and best practices from real-life project situations, the interactive PDM program will explore various elements of the project cycle: identification, design, planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, and evaluation. During interactive workshops, you will learn how to enhance your personal management skills to successfully lead and manage cross-functional teams. Different views and current debate on development cooperation and aid will be discussed in class with experts and classmates. Throughout the program you will work on applying the PCM methodology to a project of choice with help of a dedicated coach.

Your profile
The program is designed for:

• project decision-makers dealing with various aspects in project design and development of (inter)national development projects;
• project managers, team leaders and senior project staff engaged in the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of (inter)national development projects;
• trainers, lecturers and consultants wanting to expand their own (teaching) skills in this area.

Fees

Tuition fee*: € 2,500
Lodging expenses (approx. € 35 / night): € 525
Food and living expenses (approx. € 20 / day)€ 280***MSM Tuition fee includes all course materials and fieldwork expenses, study materials and basic medical insurance.
Limited availability. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information. (All fees are subject to change)

Alumni, corporate partner and other corporate discounts are available

• 30% discount for Maastricht School of Management registered Alumni
• 10% discount for employees of Corporate Partners
• Multiple participants from one organization receive discount according to the following scheme:
  15% discount for 2 or 3 participants*
  20% discount for 4 or more participants*
  *For corporate partners these discounts can be combined

Please call +31 (0) 43 38 70 830 or email admissions@msm.nl for more information.

General admission requirements
Candidates applying for an MSM Executive Program should meet the following criteria:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
• Have at least 3 years of (relevant) working experience;
• Work in the development industry, or have an intention to be employed in this industry in the future;
• As all our Executive courses are taught in English, it is very important that the candidates have an adequate level of spoken and written English;
• Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose previous education has been in a language other than English, must demonstrate their proficiency in English with either:

Standardized test results (such as TOEFL and IELTS). Minimum scores required are:
IELTS: 6.0
TOEFL Paper: 550
TOEFL Computer: 213
TOEFL Internet: 80

or
– results from a local standardized and recognized test in English language proficiency

or

– a signed recommendation/statement by the sponsoring partner or (previous) employer of sufficient English language proficiency.

General application procedure

Privately sponsored candidates should apply directly to MSM before the application deadline for admission to the Executive Program of their choice. Candidates should use the official MSM online application form: http://www.msm.nl/specialpages/apply-online/.