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NCPM joins the Business School

The National Centre for Project Management (NCPM) has joined the University of Hertfordshire’s Business School, as it aims to set the national agenda and establish project management as a major profession and discipline in the UK.

What is the NCPM?

It is the leading inter-disciplinary centre of excellence specialising in all aspects of managing projects, regardless of sector. Now based at the University, it operates in collaboration with industry, government, third sector organisations and academic societies. It is dedicated to the development and promotion of excellence in project management. It provides training and offers a society for sharing research, knowledge and understanding with a wider audience which includes industrial participants and sponsors.

Project management has grown beyond its roots in the construction, engineering and aerospace industries to transform the service, financial, computer, and general management sectors. This is a direct result of recent business trends such as fewer management layers, greater flexibility, and more project-based work, and it is now more important than ever for business projects at all levels to succeed.

Glen Matthews, Regional Service Manager at Toshiba TEC UK Imaging Systems Ltd, said: “Project management is the essence of making things happen by leading teams on a journey through events, overcoming all of the obstacles, trials and tribulations that are met along the way. NCPM is in a great position to expose teams to the latest thinking, which is needed in all sectors.”

Led by experts

Led by Professor Darren Dalcher as Founder and Director of the centre, Darren has had a long career in project management and is a published author in the field. He is Professor of Project Management at the University of Hertfordshire, Visiting Professor at the University of Iceland and Adjunct Professor at the Lille Graduate School of Management (SKEMA).

He received international recognition in 2009 being appointed as a member of the PMForum International Academic Advisory Council, which features leading academics from some of the world’s top universities and academic institutions. He has also chaired the national conference of the Association for Project Management (APM) since 2009.

In October 2011 Professor Dalcher was awarded a prestigious Honorary Fellowship from the Association for Project Management for outstanding contribution to project management.

Organisational development

A key objective of the NCPM is to deliver high quality education and training and degree qualification programmes for the development of excellence in project management performance. To this end the NCPM has developed specific project management programmes that are innovative and respond to the need to enhance capability and competence in organisations to successfully deliver projects in modern environments.

Study with the NCPM

At the NCPM, individuals can become better project managers with a range of project management degree-level courses on offer. These can be run within a company, enabling project staff to gain a University qualification while they work.

Courses include:

The Project Management Practice (MSc) is a unique master’s developed by the NCPM, which is aimed at experienced managers who are moving into project work, or practitioners who have some experience and are planning to take on more responsibilities. It offers a multidisciplinary introduction to the theory and practice of managing and leading projects effectively in the workplace. Throughout the course participants gain exposure to new perspectives, approaches, frameworks, ideas and new advances, and are supported in applying their new skills to their professional practice. Assessment is focused on how they apply learning to their professional practice.
The Project Management Practice PG Cert, is ideal for individuals who are new to projects or planning to move into a leadership role. If you want to go on to further study, the programme structure allows successful PgCert graduates to progress to the full MSc.
The PhD Project Management allows students to generate an original contribution to knowledge in new ways. Many of the centre’s PhD students focus on practical problems and the application and relevance of techniques and approaches such as maturity models, success factors and knowledge management in project organisations.

A range of short courses are also available, focusing on key project management skills and competencies, which can be tailored to suit the requirements of any company or organisation. Real-life projects can benefit from the centre’s unique practice-based approach. Courses include project management fundamentals and project risk management.

Attend the launch

To celebrate the NCPM’s new home at the University of Hertfordshire; a free launch event will take place on Tuesday 4 June 2013 in the Tower Hotel, London, from 19.00. As an excellent opportunity to make new business contacts and network with likeminded professionals, attendees will hear talks from Professor Darren Dalcher, Director of NCPM, Ian Mason, Head of Policy at the London Chamber of Commerce, Shane Suter, Commercial Development Manager, Mitsubishi Electric and Peter Swordy, Senior Operations Manager, Wembley National Stadium.

Please register your attendance online or email events@herts.ac.uk or telephone 01707 284121.