Project management for scientists

Description:

This diploma program is designed to equip scientists with the essential project management skills needed to lead and contribute effectively to scientific projects. The curriculum emphasizes practical application through case studies and real-world examples tailored to the scientific context. The capstone project provides students with the opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge gained throughout the course.

Duration: 4 months

Mode: Online and in person

Degree: Diploma

Cost: $2550 (financial assistance available)

Curriculum:

Week 1-2: Introduction to Project Management

• Overview of Project Management for Scientists

  • Introduction to project management principles and methodologies.

  • Relevance and application of project management in scientific research and development.

• Key Concepts and Terminology

  • Understanding project scope, objectives, deliverables, and milestones.

  • Overview of project constraints, risks, and stakeholders.

Week 3-4: Project Planning and Initiation

• Project Planning

  • Defining project requirements and creating a project plan.

  • Work breakdown structure (WBS) and Gantt charts.

• Project Initiation

  • Identifying project stakeholders and establishing project goals.

  • Developing a project charter and obtaining approvals.

Week 5-6: Time and Resource Management

• Scheduling and Time Management

  • Techniques for scheduling tasks and managing project timelines.

  • Critical Path Method (CPM) and PERT analysis.

• Resource Management

  • Allocation and optimization of resources in scientific projects.

  • Balancing resource constraints and project requirements.

Week 7-8: Risk Management

• Risk Identification and Assessment

  • Identifying potential risks in scientific projects.

  • Quantitative and qualitative risk assessment.

• Risk Mitigation Strategies

  • Developing risk mitigation plans for scientific projects.

  • Contingency planning and risk response strategies.

Week 9-10: Communication and Team Management

• Effective Communication in Scientific Projects

  • Importance of clear communication in scientific project management.

  • Communication plans and strategies.

• Team Dynamics and Leadership

  • Building and managing interdisciplinary project teams.

  • Leadership skills for scientists in project management.

Week 11-12: Project Monitoring and Control

• Monitoring Project Progress

  • Techniques for tracking project progress and performance.

  • Earned Value Management (EVM) in scientific projects.

• Change Management

  • Managing changes in project scope and requirements.

  • Assessing and adapting to changes in scientific projects.

Week 13-14: Project Closure and Evaluation

• Closing Out a Scientific Project

  • Formal project closure processes and documentation.

  • Handover of project deliverables and lessons learned.

• Project Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

  • Evaluating project success and performance.

  • Identifying areas for improvement in future scientific projects.

Week 15: Capstone Project

• Capstone Project

  • Applying project management principles to plan, execute, and present a scientific project.

  • Presentation and discussion of capstone projects.

Assessment:

• Individual Assignments and Quizzes

  • Assessing understanding of project management concepts.

• Group Project

  • Collaborative project applying project management principles to a scientific scenario.

• Capstone Project Presentation and Report

  • Evaluation of the application of project management skills in the capstone project.