News & Knowledge Hub

The top 7 questions project professionals ask when applying for the Masters in Project and Programme Management

Written by Dr. John Lannon, Course Director of the Online Masters in Project and Programme Management at University of Limerick. In my role as Course Director for the Online Masters in Project and Programme Management at the University of Limerick (UL), I have interviewed hundreds of applicants for the course. Having been involved in the interview process for several years, I can reveal that there are very similar questions that crop up…

How experienced project management professionals can benefit from a Masters

A graduate of the MSc in Project and Programme Management from UL, Rob Wienand explains why he chose to pursue a Masters and how it has expanded his skill set, business knowledge and impacted his career. Having worked in various project management roles over the last 20 years for international mining companies such as MATSA, Global Mining Services and Dundee Precious Metals in Chelopech, Bulgaria, I’ve led several large-scale mining projects including…

Why Cross-Industry Project Management & Soft Skills are Invaluable

Project managers are high in demand, globally, across all sectors. Project management professionals with effective cross-industry and soft skills are particularly sought-after, as they are highly regarded and are more successful in completing projects. While there are many competent project managers with ‘hard’ skills such as industry knowledge, tools and techniques, there is a lack of experienced project managers with comprehensive cross-industry capabilities and soft ‘people’ skills. This demand has been verified…

Why I studied a Masters in Project and Programme Management – Martina Corbett, ON Semiconductor®

A graduate of the MSc in Project and Programme Management from UL, Martina Corbett explains why she chose to pursue a masters qualification in the field and how it has impacted her career. I’ve been employed in the semiconductor industry for almost my entire career to date and have been lucky enough to work for two of the most successful and innovative companies in Analog Devices and my current company, ON Semiconductor….

Should I do the PMP or a Masters in Project Management?

As Course Director for the Masters in Project and Programme Management at the University of Limerick, I receive several enquiries each week about the programme and there is one question that I see cropping up time and time again – Should I do the PMP or a Masters in Project Management? It is important to note that the PMP is only one such example of a professional qualification too. There are others…

The 10 Essential Project Management Skills

Effective project management involves more than looking at Gantt charts and ticking items off a checklist. In their PMBOK Guide, the PMI identify 10 knowledge areas essential for effective project management. John Lannon, Course Director of the online Masters in Project and Programme Management at the University of Limerick, explains each area and highlights the skills and approaches required by today’s project managers to successfully deliver a project. Integration: How It All Comes…

Making the Case for Employer Support

Securing the support of your employer is an important step in undertaking any masters degree, and obtaining financial assistance can be a deciding factor for many students. Since the knowledge gained and skills developed throughout the UL Online MSc in Project and Program Management directly benefits companies, many of our students gain financial support from their employers. Additionally, this Project and Program Management Masters programme includes an in-company project in first year,…

PMI Accreditation – What It Means and Why It Matters

When researching project management courses, you’ll notice that some programmes state that they are PMI GAC accredited, but what does PMI GAC accreditation mean and why does it matter? John Lannon, Course Director of the Project Management Online Masters at the Centre for Project Management (CPM) at the University of Limerick, explains all. What is PMI Accreditation? The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s leading professional membership association for project, portfolio and…

Why Project Management Career Opportunities Are Flourishing in All Industries

According to the Project Management Skills Report 2013 conducted by the PMI, total employment for project management professionals is expected to increase significantly across the globe by 2020. Career opportunities for project management professionals are even expected to grow by up to 60% in some regions. As far as skill sets go, project management is now seen as the top employee skill set by many industries. John Lannon, Director of the Online…

CPM Hosts Conference on Managing Projects in the Non-Profit Sector

On October 20th and 21st the Centre for Project Management and Kemmy Business School hosted a conference entitled Delivering Social Good: Managing Projects in the Non-Profit Sector. The conference was a stimulating and informative mix of practitioner and academic perspectives. Topics covered on the first day included strategy, stakeholder engagement and knowledge management, with a number of international development NGOs giving their perspectives. Case studies describing projects undertaken in Sri Lanka, Ghana,…