Certificate in Project Management

South Africans face an overwhelming need for fast and effective service delivery. The public sector, NGOs as well as donor and aid agencies are increasingly emphasising outputs-based funding with clearly articulated time-lines.  Without effective Programme and Project Management, achieving acceptable and effective service delivery is unlikely, and achieving targets set by donor agreements becomes almost impossible.

P&DM's Project Management Course is designed to enhance the development knowledge and skills of Project Managers in all areas of development management. The course is structured to facilitate actual project development of existing public and private sector projects and to facilitate and support Project Managers in their professional careers. This course is one of the very few that specialises in public sector and development applications. The curriculum reflects the emphasis on where project management in the public sector environment substantively differs from engineering and other types of private sector approaches. This focus includes policy and planning, programme management, public finance, planning instruments such as the MTEF, public private partnerships, EIAs and other areas. Of particular note is the case study development component where large and small public and development projects such as the Maputo Corridor Tracking System, the Primkop airport and other projects are analysed and lessons learned.

The course is designed to:

• Advance participant's theoretical, conceptual and practical understanding of project management and development facilitation processes, providing them with the tools to act as project leaders and managers in the public an development management sector
• Support the building of development oriented capacity in the public sector to manage development programmes and projects in strategic, policy and operational contexts. Graduates from this course are able to critically engage in strategic and operational debates with regard to project and programme management.
• Access international expertise and solicit comparative lessons of experience which can be applied to the South African experience.
• Support participants in their professional career development as project managers and enhance public and development management at national, provincial and government level, strategically and operationally.
• Equip participants with an understanding of the full spectrum of project management, and the ability to evaluate and forward-plan project initiatives.

This programme is offered in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

Course Modules

Module 1
Approaches to Programme and Project Management

• Introduction and orientation to the course
• Conceptual approaches to programme and project management
• Discussions with project management practitioners
• Project management in context: project phases; life cycles; stakeholders; and knowledge areas.

Module 2
Project management body of knowledge and the nine knowledge areas.

• Project management of time, cost and scope
• Project quality management
• Project management of procurement, integration, risk, human resource and communication.

Module 3

Policy management, planning and project management

• Policy management and institutional development
• The planning and project management interface

Module 4

Financial aspects of project management

• Perspective on public finance and financial systems in the South African Government
• Contracting of consultants
• Project management and financial management for non-financial managers

Module 5

Information and communication technology (ICT)

• Overview of approaches to Information Communication and Technology dimensions
• GIS in the Premier's Office

Module 6

Leadership management and development facilitation

• Leadership and strategic management - Leadership and transformation

Module 7

Project management and environmental impact assessment

• An introduction to environmental considerations. The concept of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Module 8

Financial investment and public/private and community partnerships

• Financial management and programme arrangements for project financing
• Participants will do a project visit

Module 9
Legal dimensions to project management

• Contractual agreements. The project description and Terms of Reference.

Module 10
Project Monitoring and Evaluation

Module 11

Case Development

• From module 7 onwards through the course, participants work on a case study of project and programme management. This process culminates in the final module where participants finalise their cases and do a presentation to an external panel of experts.

Certificate of Competence

Participants' progress will be assessed by means of examinations and assignments. Successful completion of the modules will lead to the award of the Certificate in Programme and Project Management.

Requirements for Entry
Students are required to have completed a minimum of a matric, and to have a clear track record of experience in the public or private sector projects environment.

Course Duration
The Certificate is offered on a block-study basis, with participants required to spend from three days to a week per month in lectures.

 Fees
The fees change annually. Fees cover tuition, text books, course materials, lunch and teas during the periods of study.

Please contact the Executive Management Office for current fees (edith.lefine@wits.ac.za).

Fees cover tuition, text books, course materials, lunch and teas during the periods of study.

Course Duration
The Certificate is offered on a block-study basis, with participants required to spend three days per month in lectures for seven months.