Why project management?

Here at The University of Winnipeg Professional, Applied and Continuing Education (PACE) we specialize in industry-aligned professional programs that are designed to get our grads jobs by cultivating our students’ skills and abilities in a variety of in-demand job functions.

Amongst our most popular programs is our Project Management Diploma. It goes without saying, (but we’ll say it anyway) project management skills cut across all industries. From construction to communication and every industry in between, the ability to effectively manage a project from inception to completion contributes to the long-term success of a company, non-profit, or even government department.

While some individuals might learn through trial and error on the job, mastering the analytical framework and essential project management tools for budgeting, procuring, scoping, modeling, measuring, and reporting in a formalized way can set you apart from your peers.  This is exactly what the full-time Project Management Diploma develops in our students.

Roland Diognson, originally from Manila in the Philippines, says he sought out the Project Management Diploma at UWinnipeg as a way to build on his skills and experience as an architect working in the construction industry in the Philippines.

“I wanted to see projects outside our country, like here in Canada,” says Roland. “We’re learning things like risk management, people management, effective communication, leadership. It really helps us because we look at projects in different ways and at different scales.” 

Whether overseeing small-, medium-, or large-scale projects, project managers have to juggle multiple work-streams and stakeholders on a daily basis. From mastering agile project management approaches to developing solid strategic planning skills, the program equips aspiring project managers with the competencies to manage competing priorities and interests at every stage of the project.

The Project Management program is aligned with the knowledge requirements of the Project Management Professional (PMP)® and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® industry-recognized certifications awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The PMP is the gold-standard for project professionals around the world and according to PMI, can provide a significant advantage when it comes to salary and earning potential. Among survey respondents to PMI’s Earning Power Salary Survey, those with a PMP certification on average earned a salary 20%  higher than those without a PMP certification. The program prepares students to challenge the certification tests with excellent results.

“PACE gives you a unique learning experience that propels your career,” says Teslim Akindele, Assistant Project Manager at Winnipeg Housing and graduate of the Project Management Diploma in 2018. “I found that activities, assignments, and projects assigned seemed like real-life projects. This made me comfortable in my field and also allowed me to ace my PMP a month after graduation.”

Beyond the technical project management skills, graduates of the Project Management Diploma program also earn a Management Certificate. Packaged together with the hard-skills required for project management, the Management Certificate allows students to cultivate the much-needed soft-skills to make a successful manager. The Management Certificate is also a nationally accredited program, students graduating from the Management Certificate have an accelerated track to earning their Certified in Management designation (CIM), and gaining access to management networking opportunities, professional workshops, conferences, job opportunities, and connection to the local CIM chapter in Manitoba.

“I chose PACE because it offered both project management and soft skills learning opportunities. It was the perfect content to complement my professional experience,” says Juan Cristobal Narvaez, Project Manager at Manitoba Hydro International (MHI).

Completing our full-time Project Management Diploma, we also offer a variety of certifications for working professionals who don’t have the time to take a year to dedicate to full-time studies to enhance their proficiency in project management. Our Applied Project Management Certificate, is an entry-level program that consists of five courses that prepares new professionals being tasked with project management as one of their roles to lead and manage projects. Students are systematically taken through the project management lifecycle using a variety of assessments and case studies gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage projects of any size.

Meanwhile, we also offer executive level project management training with the Masters Certificate in Project Management, the undisputed industry standard for advancing senior-level careers in project management, in partnership with Schulich School of Business at York University. The Masters Certificate in Project Management is for project managers in any industry that wish to move up to a higher level—typically, mid and senior-level project managers who will be leading more complex projects.

With 10 modules delivered over 18 days, the program covers everything from planning and control to agile and scrum. The program is designed to elicit learning not only from the industry experts from across North America but also from your peers.

““The requirement to effectively work as a team throughout the course and in the final simulation was essential to solidify and enforce the knowledge learned. An extremely beneficial experience,” says Dr. David W. Hatcher, Research Scientist/ Program Manager Wheat Enzymes & Asian Products for the Canadian Grain Commission.

So whether you’re a budding project manager looking for formalize your training to enhance your skillset or a mid- to senior-level manager looking to consolidate your skills and advance your career, we offer a project management programs that are designed to give you an edge in your workplace and manage projects that stay on time, on budget, and within scope.

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