PMI Academic Sponsored Research Program Request for Proposals
Application Dates: 7 January – 15 March 2022
We invite proposals from scholars both within and outside the field of project management, and/or its sub-fields, whose themes and perspectives have direct application to some aspect of the project management body of knowledge or its practice.
While this is an open call for research in the field of project management, special consideration will be given to proposals that address the following topics:
- How organizations have adapted/changed with the emergence of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)
- Building decision-making, critical thinking, and confidence among individuals in their early career stage.
Research proposals submitted for consideration must:
- Address the extent to which the outcomes of the project are “practitioner-ready.” The research needs to demonstrate the direct contribution to practice, not simply a discussion of implications.
- Have a theoretical framework which must be explicitly identified in the proposal.
For more information contact the PMI Academic Research team at sponsoredresearch@pmi.org.
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA STUDENT COMMUNITY PROJECT: PROJECT MENTORING
Background
The Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) at the University of Pretoria signed an MOU with PMI SA to carry out mutually beneficial activities to support and promote the art, science and benefit of project management. Since 2018 PMI SA Chapter members have been mentoring tertiary students on the fundamentals of project management. The PMIef provides all the UP students with Project Management Skills for Life Training. In addition, some of the most deserving groups are also allocated project mentors to increase the impact of the project. This mentoring is required for 6-9 months in order to assist the student group to plan and execute their community project and in so doing successfully pass one of their B.Com modules.
In 2018 the student projects addressed various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres (see the video from one of the successful projects below). This year, the student projects will address various aspects of food security and the sourcing, construction and utilisation of ECO bricks in Mamelodi.
A project mentor has the following responsibilities*:
- A minimum of one face-to-face meeting to meet the group & visit the project site (site visit if applicable)
- Help the students refine their project planning deliverables so that the project will be implementable (if necessary). The students will be required to submit a scope statement, WBS, RAM, schedule & budget.
- Ensure the equitable distribution of work between the students, accountability & realisation of deliverables
- Engage with the group on a regular basis regarding their progress (suggestion: weekly email or phone call)
- Direct learners to suitable resources (if applicable)
- Assess the group’s project deliverables and final report. Provide the group with constructive feedback
- Share in the difference you and the group will be making in the community!
*The students will also be required to attend lectures where their responsibilities and conduct with respect to the project and their mentor (if allocated) will be clarified
An example from 2018 of one of our student/PM mentor success stories can be viewed as a video by clicking on the following link: (Group Exordia, mentor Teslim Yusuf) https://drive.google.com/file/d/11Gv0pEa4JAJkrOvN1ZRwnPi2v5Rt7rGo/view?usp=sharing
Project mentors that are members of the PMI SA Chapter will earn PDU’s for time spent mentoring their group(s). Please contact Lebogang for more information in this regard.
For any project related questions please contact Dr Taryn Bond-Barnard 083 631 2274 or taryn.barnard@up.ac.za