This course will develop in-demand project management skills to support you in planning, scoping, and managing a project, from business case to delivery. Whether you’re already involved in projects or looking to move into a project management role, this microcredential will help you uncover different project management tools, techniques, and frameworks and show you how to apply them to a range of organisations.
Key features
- Learn practical skills that you can apply straight away
- Benefit from case studies and insight from experienced project managers
- Interact with co-learners and a course mentor to further support your learning
- Created by qualified chartered project and programme experts from The Open University’s triple-accredited Business School (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS) with industry experts
- The course has a global focus and delivers transferable skills for diverse sectors and organisations
What you will study
This undergraduate microcredential will introduce you to the core principles, tools, and techniques needed to lead or successfully contribute to projects that add value and deliver positive outcomes. The materials are aligned with the Association of Project Management (APM) Body of Knowledge 7th Edition. However, please note it is not accredited by APM or intended as an exam preparation course.
During this 10-week course, you’ll cover the following topics.
- Defining projects and programmes, roles and responsibilities
- Project life cycles, projects in organisations and stakeholders
- Business cases and leading a team
- Teamwork and managing risk
- Defining scope and estimation
- Scheduling and planning
- The project management office, negotiation and the regulatory environment
- Procurement and information management
- Project reviews, earned value management, managing quality, control and configuration management
You will learn
By the end of this Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course, you’ll be able to:
- explain project management terminology and key concepts
- identify risks and issues and evaluate solutions
- collect, analyse and interpret data to inform project management decisions
- lead a project team for success
- assess and plan a project
- lead stakeholder and project team relationships.
Skills you will gain
- Stakeholder management
- Risk management
- Planning and scheduling
- Balancing scope, time and quality
- Project leadership and teamwork
- Preparing a business case
- Resource management
- Communication
Vocational relevance
Materials include real-world examples and industry insight, ensuring your learning is relevant to the workplace. The course will particularly benefit anyone currently working in a project management environment or in a role that contributes to projects such as:
- project managers and leads who lack formal qualifications
- professionals who are new to project management
- professionals who would like to broaden their business management skill set
- junior professionals who would like to progress to management level
- self-employed professionals looking to develop project management skills.
Created by leading academics from The Open University’s triple-accredited Business School
- Jean Gamester is the lead educator for this microcredential and is an associate lecturer in project management, leadership, creativity and practitioner-based research at the OU. She also serves as an International Director for Toastmasters International.
- Tom O’Shea is a project and programme management consultant and lecturer. He is an APM Chartered Project Professional with experience in diverse, complex change initiatives impacting operations, processes and people in commercial, technical and operational environments.
- Tariq Khan is an associate lecturer on the OU’s apprenticeship programmes (MBA, diploma, BSc). He has teaching and research interests in business intelligence applied in operations and project management.
- Jeffrey Tyrell is an associate lecturer in strategic management, technology strategy and technology management at the OU. He has many years of experience as a strategy and change consultant in the public and private sectors.
Entry
This undergraduate-level microcredential would benefit anyone working in or seeking to work in a project management environment.
You don’t need any prior experience or qualifications to enrol. All required skills and foundational knowledge are covered within this microcredential.
Please note
- The course material doesn’t assume learners are working. Past experiences will be just as relevant.
- All teaching is in English, and your English proficiency needs to be adequate for undergraduate study. As a guide, this corresponds to Level 5.5 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). However, you won’t need to provide a formal English language score to enrol.
Course length
This 10-week course requires approximately 10 hours of self-paced learning per week, totalling around 100 hours for completion.
If you have a disability
The course is delivered online and makes use of a variety of online resources. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet, you can contact us about the support that can be given to meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
Study materials
What's included
All learning materials, exercises and activities are delivered entirely online.
While certain content can be downloaded, some content is exclusively accessible online, requiring a reliable internet connection for viewing. Please consider this if you are travelling.
Teaching and assessment
Study support
- Learn 100% online on the OU’s learning platform with a mix of video, audio and written materials.
- Engage in interactive learning through self-assessment questions, polls, tasks and reflection.
- Share ideas and experiences in discussion with other learners, building skills, confidence and knowledge.
- Receive support from mentors who guide discussions and answer questions.
- Study at a time that suits you with the flexibility to access the course from your desktop, tablet or mobile device.
Assessment
You’ll take part in weekly tasks and discussions with co-learners to support and consolidate your learning. Towards the end of the course, you’ll submit a project or assessment demonstrating the skills you’ve acquired. This will be marked and graded by subject matter experts and make up 100% of your final mark.
What you will gain
10 UK credits at undergraduate level from The Open University*. Academic credits are awarded on passing the final assessment. These will be at undergraduate level 6 of the Framework for Higher Education (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) / level 10 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.
*Academic credit may be used towards selected OU qualifications. For more details, including eligible qualifications, visit Counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications. The credit awarded may also be used at another university, subject to the agreement of the receiving institution.