A Master Program in Project Management : Experiences from combining hard and soft skills

• Project management skills are needed in a growing number of areas, all with specific requirements regarding technical and social competencies. Still, the majority of project management training is focusing on technical tools and techniques, emphasized in standards suggested by global professional project management associations. Uncertainties and unique social settings require a managerial approach different from the linear, rational and analytical view of the world provided by international standards such as the PMBOK Guide. A new approach to project management education is needed that deals with the complexity of today’s project environments. This paper describes a one year master program in project management at the KarlstadUniversity in Sweden. The program is general and focuses on issues regardless of business area or project type, and mix both technical and social skills. The program was initiated in 2002 and more than 200 students have until today been part of the program. In addition to the mandatory courses in the program, several students have, on voluntary basis, passed the IPMA D-level certification. The paper also presents the results from two different types of evaluations showing that the majority of the students have great use of their education in their current employment.Keywords: project management education; project management knowledge; soft skills; hard skills; pedagogic

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