When I was working as the assistant project manager for a software firm in Kerala, I had a question in the back of my mind. What was the exact procedure through which a project should be moulded from its ideation stage to completion? I wanted to learn the proper way of managing deadlines and accommodating requests so that the overall project delivery was not affected. This is how my hunt for a master’s course in Project Management (PM) began.
I had carried out extensive research on institutions worldwide offering PM as a master’s programme and was confident in selecting Strathclyde University as my final choice mainly because of its dual degree programme and triple accreditation. Politecnico Di Milano is ranked 17 in the world. Being a dual degree programme, we got the best of both worlds. Italy and the U.K. were different in terms of work practices and cultures. Hence, I got a broader understanding of how experts in the field tackled different situations.
Heady mix
The first semester of the course was held at MIP Politecnico Di Milano where I studied for four months. Our class consisted of 28 students coming from 22 countries. MIP has highly-skilled professionals who have practised PM for more than 15 years and have intensive working knowledge of contemporary issues. The lectures were a perfect mix of practice and theory. The course covered topics such as strategy and organisation, project finance and accounts, PMI modules, risk management, innovation and more. There was never a dull moment and the class was a combination of lectures, workshops and group work. We had eminent speakers from the PMI institute and other senior project managers to cover some topics, apart from guest lecturers and other experts.
The second semester is conducted at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, the U.K., where I am currently in and will remain for the next six months. “People Make Glasgow” is a tagline used to promote the city. It is a historical city with a rich international culture and great opportunities for sightseeing.
The second half of the course covers topics such as leadership, portfolio management, commercial management, procurement management and more. As part of the course, we are expected to work on several group and individual projects on given topics. This gives us the opportunity explore our area of interest and provides scope for further research. Along with projects, professors work on soft-skills development. Additionally, we are required to do two electives over the spring or summer break. We also have the option to do the electives in international partnering institutions of MIP and Strathclyde University. This course module goes much beyond a PMI certification, as it involves an in-depth understanding of the concepts.
Sandhya Moni is pursuing M.Sc in International Master Project Management, jointly offered by MIP Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and Strathclyde Business School, Scotland, U.K.
