Three Reasons to Study Project Management

Business people working together on project

A Certificate in Project Management can open the doors to an in-demand career.

In today’s project-based economy, mastering the art and science of getting things done counts more than ever. Whether you are pursuing qualification as a Certified Project Management Professional® (PMP), or just want to strengthen your organizational skills, studying project management at Western Continuing Studies can help advance your career and boost your earning potential.

What is Project Management?

The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines project management as the “use of specific knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to deliver something of value to people.”

From designing a website to building an office tower, most professionals need project management skills to get the job done.

“Today, a lot of work is being driven by teams, so having a good mix of hard and soft skills – managing both resources and people – has become critical,” says Lameck Osinde, who teaches Project Management at Western Continuing Studies.

The interactive online course with real-time learning teaches students how to apply project management principles in order to successfully manage and complete projects. It can be taken as a stand-alone course or as a required credit towards the Professional Certificate in Project Management, offered through WCS.

Osinde, who holds a Masters Degree in Information Systems and is a certified Project Management Professional® (PMP), says Project Management attracts students from a wide variety of industries. “Construction and manufacturing have always been represented,” he notes. “But I am seeing professors coming in, researchers coming in, IT professionals coming in, as well as people who work for NGOs and in retail supply chain.”

Why study Project Management?

Whether you are self-employed or work for a large organization, knowing how to confidently steer a project from concept to completion can be the difference between success and failure.

Here are three more reasons why studying Project Management could be the right next step for your career

1. Project management skills are in high demand

Project management is already one of the most in-demand skills sought by potential employers. The average Canadian project manager earns around $77,000 per year and the demand for skilled professionals is expected to grow.

According to the PMI, most work will be project-based by 2027, with nearly 9,000 new project managers hired annually in Canada alone.

“Post-pandemic, employing project managers has actually become more crucial than ever,” says Osinde. “From managing remote teams to the availability of resources and mitigating risk, COVID has had a big impact on the way we work.”

2. Project management opens the door to a variety of careers

Project managers develop transferable skills, making it easy to grow a career working on many types of projects across different organizations and industries.

“You don’t have to be a subject expert to succeed as a project manager,” Osinde notes. “Instead, you can incorporate subject matter experts into your project and utilize their technical knowledge for you to translate into deliverables.”

3. Project management skills can set you on the path to leadership

In addition to learning how to plan and oversee projects, Osinde says that project managers need to be effective communicators, critical thinkers, and skilled negotiators. “You need to be able to manage people, manage resources, and reinforce the need to meet deadlines.”

These are all essential skills for leaders, which is why project management is often seen as excellent preparation for leadership.

Whatever your career goals, studying Project Management at Western Continuing Studies will help you develop the skills and confidence necessary for success.

Sources:

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Project_Manager%2C_(Unspecified_Type_%2F_General)/Salary

https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/job-growth-report.pdf