Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC)

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Global Accreditation Center for Project
Management (GAC)

• Advancing Project Management in Higher Education
• John Cable, PMP, RA
• Chair of the GAC Board
• September 2007
• Bournemouth Conference on Teaching Project
  Management

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PMI Global Accreditation Center (GAC)

• A semi-autonomous governing body, created by the
  PMI BOD in 2001
• Mission To advance excellence in project
  management education worldwide, through
  collaboration with and support of academic
  institutions, and accreditation of academic
  programs
• Maintains policies, procedures and standards for
  accrediting project management degree programs at
  the bachelors, masters and doctoral degree
  levels.

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GAC AlignmentPMI Vision/Strategic Goals

• PMI Vision Worldwide, organizations will
  embrace, value and utilize project management and
  attribute their success to it
• Superior practice of project management
• Thought Leadership
• Professional and Organizational Development
• Global acceptance of project management
• Partnering
• Advocacy

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PM Degree Programs - History

• 1994
• Primarily construction management degrees
• 2 Bachelor and 9 Master level PM degrees
• (PM Net survey July 1995)

• 2007
• 300 PM focused programs at 250 institutions
• China Ministry of Education has authorized 102
  universities to offer master level PM degrees

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Distribution of Degree Programs
EMEA

• 45 Asia Pacific
• 35 US/Canada
• 18 EMEA
• 2 Latin America

EMEA
Asia Pacific
US/Canada
US/Canada
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GAC History

• First PMI Accreditation Program implemented in
  mid 1980s failed
• Small number of degree programs available
• Limited resources to support program
• Number of PM degree programs increased throughout
  1990s and 2000
• 1997 PMI Board assigned Accreditation Action
  Team to study feasibility of reviving an
  accreditation program

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GAC History

• PMI Board chartered GAC November 2001
• First two schools accredited December 2003
• Steady increase in accredited schools seen from
  2004 through 2006
• 1 in 2004
• 3 in 2005
• 4 in 2006
• Estimate 5 in 2007
• Membership in the Association of Specialized and
  Professional Accreditors - 2005

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Accreditation Concept

• Two types of accreditation Institutional and
  Programmatic
• Institutional accreditation focuses on the entire
  university or specific departments
• Programmatic accreditation focuses on programs
  preparing students for a profession or
  occupation
• GAC conducts programmatic or specialized
  accreditation

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GAC Accreditation Overview

• Rigorous accreditation process shows a commitment
  to excellence in project management education on
  the part of the applicant school
• Four steps
• Time line Can take 12 months to complete
• Letter of Intent
• Prepare Self-study Report
• On-site Visit Evaluation
• GAC Decision
• Initial GAC accreditation is conferred for a
  maximum of seven years

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Letter of Intent Criteria

• Schools begin the process by submitting a letter
  of intent to the GAC Area of PMI. The letter
  includes
• Title and short description of program
• Degree(s) conferred
• Statement that program has existed for 2 years
  minimum and has graduated at least one class
• Statement verifying the institutions
  accreditation by a recognized agency
• Reason for seeking GAC accreditation
• Submission of 1500.00 Application Fee

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Self-study Report

• Requires the applicant to reflect and report on
  the purpose and effectiveness of its programs
• Presents evidence demonstrating that it is
  meeting the GAC Standards of Accreditation.
  Includes
• Mission and Objectives
• Assessment of anticipated outcomes
• Academic Community/Faculty and Staff
• Student support services
• Student selection
• Curriculum and Learning and Performance
  Objectives
• Student performance criteria
• Library/Learning Resources
• Financial Resources, Facilities and Equipment
• Submission of 2000.00 Accreditation Fee

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On-Site Visit Evaluation

• After the Self-study Report is reviewed and
  approved by the GAC Board, arrangements for an
  On-Site Visit of the applicant by an evaluation
  team are scheduled.
• The visit is two to three days - expenses borne
  by applicant
• The On-Site team consists of two to three
  members, mutually agreed upon by the GAC and the
  applicant school
• During the visit, the team
• Verifies the findings of the Self-study Report
• Interviews key program representatives
• Follows up on GAC questions from Self-study
  Report
• Presents the team findings (not recommendations)
  during the exit interview
• Team submits report with recommendations to GAC
  Board

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GAC Decision

• The GAC Board evaluates the On-Site Report and
  recommendations at its next scheduled meeting
• The GAC decision regarding accreditation is based
  on the collective evidence provided by the Letter
  of Intent, the Self-study Report and the On-Site
  Visit Report and recommendations
• The decision can be to confer, defer or deny

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Continuing Accreditation Requirements

• Submission of an annual continuous improvement
  report at the time of annual maintenance fee
  submission. Includes
• Highlight of changes to the program since the
  prior report
• Assessment of Anticipated Outcomes for the
  previous year
• Detailed additions/deletions of faculty/staff
• Submission of yearly 1000.00 Accreditation
  Maintenance Fee

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Global Accreditation Center (GAC)

• Primary objective is to collaborate with colleges
  and universities to
• Ensure that high-quality academic programs in
  project management are available for members and
  non-members
• Confirm and acknowledge the quality of PM
  program
• To help improve an institution or programs
  project management programming
• To encourage appropriate education and career
  development in the profession

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Value of Accreditation

• Defines higher education
• Encourages self-study, planning, and continuous
  improvement
• Promotes and facilitates communications across
  institutions
• Assists users to make better decisions

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Value of GAC Accreditation

• Promotes the PM profession
• Promotes excellence in PM curricula
• Provides external quality standards for planning
  and improvement efforts
• Provides recognition by PMI and GAC
• Facilitates communications among schools and
  faculty
• Graduates of accredited programs receive 1500
  hours experience credit toward PMP certification

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GAC Current Status

• Currently, GAC Board is comprised of 8 volunteer
  members
• 13 academic institutions with GAC accredited
  degree programs
• 15 candidate institutions
• 15 schools have expressed interest in the
  accreditation process
• 20 volunteer On-Site Team Members

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GAC Board

• John Cable, R.A., PMP, chairperson
• Program Director - University of Maryland, USA
• Lynn Crawford, PhD, vice chairperson
• Professor The Mirvac School of Sustainable
  Development, Bond University, Australia
• James Joiner, PMP
• Program Director at University of Texas at
  Dallas, USA
• Ron Kempf, PMP
• Director of Project Management Competency -
  Hewlett Packard, USA
• Christine Watson, PMP
• Consultant Atlanta, Georgia, USA
• Thomas Stauffert, PhD,
• Professor - University of Applied Science,
  Landshut, Germany
• Wang ShouQing, PhD
• Professor - Tsinghua University, P.R. China
• Robert Hulsey (public member)
• President American National Banks of Texas, USA

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PMI GAC Organizational Structure
PMI Board of Directors
Volunteers elected by PMI members
Global Accreditation Center
CEO

• Chapters
• Specific Interest Groups

• Standards
• Research
• Knowledge and Wisdom Center

• Conferences
• Seminars
• Publications
• Journals

• Accreditation
• Certification
• Career Path Development

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GAC Accredited Programs

• University of Texas Dallas USA
• Master of Science in Management and
  Administrative Science (Project Management
  emphasis)
• Master of Business Administration (Project
  Management emphasis)
• Groupe ESC Lille ISGI France
• Master of Science in Project Programme
  Management
• Specialized Master in Project Programme
  Management
• Executive EM.B.A. in Strategy, Programme
  Project Management
• University of Maryland USA
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Project
  Management Major)
• Master of Engineering in Project Management
• Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
  (Project Management Major)

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GAC Accredited Programs

• Boston University Metropolitan College USA
• Master of Science in Project Management
• Master of Science in Administrative Studies and
  Master of Science in Computer Information
  Systems.
• University of Management and Technology USA
• Doctor of Philosophy in Management
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Information Technology
• Master of Science in Management
• Eastern Michigan University USA
• Master of Science in Construction Management
• University of Technology Sydney Australia
• Master of Project Management and the Master of
  Business Administration with a Concentration in
  Project Management

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GAC Accredited Programs

• Western Carolina University USA
• Master of Project Management (Online)
• University of Quebec Canada
• Masters in Project Management (general and
  directed studies options)
• Masters in Science in Project Management
• Masters Level Short Program in Project Management
• Specialized Graduate Diploma in Project
  Management
• Stevens Institute of Technology USA
• Master of Business Administration (PM
  Concentration)
• Master of Science in Management (PM
  Concentration)
• Master of Science in Technology Management (PM
  Concentration)
• Master of Science in Information Systems (PM
  Concentration)

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GAC Accredited Programs

• Fachhochschule Landshut University of Applied
  Sciences Germany
• Master of Business Administration in Project
  Management
• Saint Marys University of Minnesota - USA
• Masters in Science in Project Management
• University of Alaska Anchorage, USA
• Master of Science in Project management

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GAC Candidate Schools

• Jiao Tong University Shanghai PRC
• George Mason University USA
• University of Pretoria South Africa
• La Salle International Graduate School, Ramon
  Llull University Spain
• Colorado Technical University USA
• New England College USA

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GAC Candidate Schools (contd)

• The University of New South Wales at the
  Australian Defence Force Academy Australia
• Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry
  University USA
• Athabasca University Canada
• UCD Quinn School of BusinessUniversity College
  Dublin Ireland
• University of Limerick, Kemmy Business School,
  Centre for Project Management Ireland

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GAC Candidate Schools (contd)

• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
  University (RMIT) Australia
• University of Houston, College of Technology,
  Department of Information and Logistics
  Technology USA
• University of Sydney, Department of Civil
  Engineering
• Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon
  University Scotland

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PMI GAC Advocacy Activities

• Campaign to increase visibility of project
  management and GAC Accreditation Program in
  college curricula
• Series of advertisements in BizEd Magazine
• Circulation 15,000 business school deans)
• PMI/GAC showcases at Academic Conferences
• ASPA Conference in Chicago March 2006
• PMI/GAC at AACSB-EFMD Conference in Paris April
  2006
• PMI/GAC at ACBSP Conference
• in Chicago June 2006
• in Orlando June 2007
• PMI/GAC at AACSB Conference in Tampa, FL April
  2007
• Memberships in related quality assurance
  organizations
• Association for the Accreditation of Colleges and
  Schools of Business
• European Foundation for Management Development
  (EFMD)

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PMI GAC Advocacy Activities

• Developing Database of Degree Programs
• New GAC Academic Network
• A networking and mentoring program
• For faculty and schools interested in project
  management
• Over 60 participants as of June 2007
• Monthly GAC Update Newsletter sent to all GAC
  program contacts and Academic Network
  Participants
• GAC Community Site
• Developed specifically to encourage mentoring and
  best practices in project management education in
  the academic community.
• Face-to-Face GAC Academic Forums
• Beijing November 2005
• Montreal July 2006
• Sydney September 2006
• Budapest May 2007
• Atlanta October 2007

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Summary

• PM Degree programs expanding globally
• GAC accreditation is supporting quality assurance
  and growth of degree programs
• PMI and GAC advocacy efforts are helping to
  increase awareness of project management in
  higher education

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Contacts

• John H. Cable, RA, PMP, GAC Chairperson
• Phone [phone]
• Email jcable_at_eng.umd.edu
• Michael Price, PMI Manager Accreditation Programs
  
• Phone [phone] Ext. 5004
• Email mike.price_at_pmi.org
• Leslie Higham, Accreditation Programs
  Administrator
• Phone [phone] Ext. 5003
• Email leslie.higham_at_pmi.org

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Thank You