PPM Course Information

We regularly get positive feedback from people who did the Program in Project Management (PPM) but does this program also contribute to other objectives of the University such as research?

People who did the PPM and the APPM (Advanced Program in Project Management) are sometimes asked to participate in surveys that contribute to project management research in South Africa and beyond our borders. One such survey on project management maturity in the engineering and construction industries was recently published.

While previous studies attempted to determine how the success of South African Information Technology (IT) projects related to the project management maturity of the organisations that executed the projects, this study was conducted in the engineering and construction sectors. The paper reports on a structured questionnaire distributed to 1625 individuals mainly in the South African engineering and construction industries from which 255 responses were received.
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Information about the Programme in Project Management (PPM)

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Programme content

1. Project management principles, practices and scheduling;
2. The people side of project management;
3. Project procurement and contract management;
4. Legal aspects for project managers;
5. Project quality management;
6. Project risk management;
7. Financial principles and project cost management;
8. Project management in the business context.

Limited tailoring to the content has been made for in-house presentations at companies, specifically ones listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
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Watch these PPM videos to receive helpful tips for online learning and listen to our Overall Top Student testimonial to hear about highlights during her studies and how she will apply the skills and knowledge obtained into her career.
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The University of Pretoria, South Africa has been offering education and training in Project Management for more than 30 years and is the undisputed leader in project management education in Africa.

Project Management is a multi-disciplinary field that includes a variety of aspects such as scheduling, people-management, aspects relating to finances and cost, legal aspects, procurement and contracting, risk management, organisation structured, quality management, etc. As one of the largest multi-disciplinary universities in South Africa (with more than 1000 permanent lecturers) we are ideally positioned to address this multi-disciplinary field.

The lecturers who teach the core aspects of project management have decades of practical experience in industry. Some of the lecturers also perform project management consulting work in their private capacity. Hence we are in a position to offer very practical courses.
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Whereas the PPM is a practical, generic project management training that is attended by people form a wide range of backgrounds (including social work, services, general business, IT, consulting, as well as engineering) the Masters’ program in Project Management (MPM) is advanced education that is specifically aimed at engineers and scientists with at least a 4-year degree in either engineering (e.g. BEng) or natural sciences (e.g. BSc Hons).
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Anyone involved in projects – whether as project manager, project team member, planner or senior manager – will benefit from this program. The skills and techniques taught on this program are relevant to all sectors of business and government including services, engineering, social development and information management. In our experience, candidates with tertiary education have a higher chance of completing the program successfully. For people without tertiary qualifications, the minimum entry requirement is Grade 12 with a pass mark in either Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy) or Accounting.
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The Programme in Project Management (PPM) is a short learning program. Unlike many project management courses that only emphasise knowledge, this well-established programme has been designed to develop your project management skills and insight as well, and equips you with the tools and techniques necessary to succeed in project management.

The University of Pretoria boasts a number of lecturers who previously held senior project management positions in the industry and are actively involved in industry. Normally eight different lecturers with extensive practical experience and suitable academic qualifications teach on the Programme in Project Management.
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Delegates who successfully complete the Programme in Project Management and comply with the related assessment criteria are awarded by the University of Pretoria (at a certificate ceremony) certificates of successful completion.

In addition to the certificate, the Programme in Project Management is recognized by the following:

• PMI (Project Management Institute) – USA: The Department responsible for academic aspects of the PPM is an authorised training partner (ATP) of the PMI. Candidates who attend the PPM can claim PDUs (Professional Development Units) from the PMI.
• ECSA (Engineering Council of SA): Suitable PPM candidates can claim 5 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points from ECSA.
• SACPCMP (South African Council for the Project and Construction. Management Professions): Suitable PPM candidates can claim 96 CPD Hours. (Not applicable for the Online Short Course on Project Management Principles, Practices and Scheduling)
• SACNASP (South African Council for Natural Scientific Professionals): Suitable PPM candidates can claim 5 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points.
• PMSA (Project Management South Africa): On successful completion of the PPM, suitable candidates may be eligible to apply for the professional designation of Project Manager (PM) conferred by Project Management South Africa (PMSA). PMSA is the SAQA recognized professional body representing the interests of project managers across sectors.

Although some project management software is demonstrated during the lectures, the Programme in Project Management does not include hands-on computer training.

University of Pretoria, South Africa – the leaders in project management

This practical, well-established Project Management course has been designed to develop project management knowledge, skills and insight. It equips delegates with the tools and techniques necessary to succeed in project management. The course is based on international standards and best practices. The programme in project management is also filled with local content to ensure its relevance in South Africa. The department responsible for the academic aspect of this programme is a registered education provider (REP) of the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the USA.
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