Better Career Advancement with Internationally Accredited Master of Project Management

APU is among only five universities in Malaysia and one of 17 institutions in Asia to earn this accreditation from PMI

Project management is a profession that has been growing rapidly and developed significantly over the past two decades. According to the consultancy firm Bain & Company, most work will be project-based by 2027. More industries understand the impact of well-managed projects on a business, and this reflects on the importance of a project managers’ role. 

Project Management Institute (PMI), a U.S.-based not-for-profit professional organisation for project management, reported the demand for project managers has been growing more rapidly. 

The main reason for this is – a well-trained and experienced project manager will utilize various methodologies and tools in applying processes and techniques to initiate, plan, manage and deliver specific projects to achieve their goals on schedule and budget. 

Aspiring Project Managers who intend to lead in the development and maintenance of projects based on international standards may opt to elevate their professional skills by obtaining a Master of Project Management (MPM) degree. 

Effective 1st August 2021, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) is officially an internationally accredited MPM programme provider. This was announced by PMI’s Global Accreditation Center (GAC), after an exhaustive review and accreditation process. GAC is the accrediting branch of the PMI. 

The MPM programme offered at APU combines the concept of Business Administration, Marketing and Economics. It also emphasizes providing students with good communication skills so that graduates can expertly coordinate work and effectively delegate tasks to fellow team members. 

“With the recent accreditation, GAC has confirmed that APU’s MPM programme has been carefully assessed and that its scale, scope, and quality meet comprehensive, global standards for accreditation.

“The accreditation body also highlighted the deep commitment of APU and our faculty to ongoing evaluation and continuous quality improvement,” explained Ts. Jerry Chong Chean Fuh, Senior Lecturer of Technology Management, School of Technology at APU.

According to Chong, APU is among only five universities in Malaysia and is also one of 17 institutions in Asia to earn this accreditation. With GAC-PMI accreditation, APU can access certain PMI works for use in related course materials thus providing graduates with up-to-date information and knowledge.

The wide coverage of key aspects and knowledge areas of project management - paired with practical application of knowledge to any industry, will set APU’s MPM graduates apart from others.

“The Accreditation further strengthens the recognition of the APU’s MPM Programme and its commitment to foster excellence and continuous improvement in project management principles and practice, leading towards the delivery of successful projects,” said Chong. 

As a consequence of this accreditation, students who opt to study their MPM at APU will benefit from fewer certification requirements. This means graduates of the GAC accredited MPM programme will be granted substantial credit toward the experience requirement when they apply for all PMI certifications. The reason being, core project management modules are pre-approved for PMI Contact Hours or Professional Development Units (PDUs).

“Contact Hours” is the measuring unit used to quantify approved learning before sitting for a PMI credential. Any applicant will need to comply with certain contact hours before applying for PMI certification; similarly, “PDUs” are a measurement used to quantify approved learning and professional service activities before sitting for a PMI credential. 

Students enrolled in the GAC-PMI accredited MPM programme can now submit modules completed at APU as PDUs. Those who have APU’s MPM need not attend the required workshops to sit for the Project Management Professional (PMP) examinations, and the number of hours required for working experience in projects is also reduced. Students can sit for the PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exams at any time. 

The MPM degree programme at APU comprises 13 coursework modules including Research Methodology and a project. There are 11 compulsory core modules like Project Quality Management, Project Planning and Scheduling, Project Cost Estimation and Budgeting, where students will have to choose another 2 electives from those listed. 

Nur Hazwany Syafiqa binti Husri, 26, who is currently pursuing a Master of Project Management degree on a full-time basis at APU, aims to augment her core qualification of a bachelor degree in architecture with project management skills and knowledge. 

“I want to broaden my architectural knowledge and expertise. The MPM offered at APU matches my requirements. The modules in this programme offer a broad range of knowledge from various fields,” said Nur Hazwany Syafiqa. 

She continued, “It is certainly a wise decision to further my studies in this Master’s programme as it provides me with all that I need to strengthen my industry knowledge and skills. What I like most study at APU is that I gain a lot of knowledge from the lecturers through the experience sharing session which makes this journey easier for me.” 

Reem Abdelrahman Sidahmed Mohammed, 23, who is also an Architecture graduate, finds that there is a growing need for specialists in architectural project management. 

“I chose to study this Master’s programme at APU as it will ensure that I acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with the technological challenges in the building industry. Therefore, I will be able to manage both the design and construction stages of a complex project. Most importantly, it will fuel me with relevant experience to embark on a fulfilling career,” explained Reem. 

“The architectural management I seek to explore is about creating a culture – the awareness on sustainability by taking care of the environment and ensuring the basic needs of the world can be satisfied. Studying for a Master’s Degree in Project Management will aid in achieving this goal, as it will be the solid ground and the foundation I will stand on to make my goal come true,” he reiterated. 

Besides developing and strengthening critical analysis, independent scholarship, and intellectual empowerment through a structured research-informed programme and research-informed teaching in the MPM programme, students will have the option to also opt-in for a Charted Management Institute (CMI) L7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice. 

Besides, MPM students will have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU Dual Degree Scheme. Under this Scheme, students will receive two sets of Degree Certificates & Transcripts upon graduation: One from Asia Pacific University (APU), Malaysia and another from De Montfort University (DMU), UK.

The faculty lineup for APU’s MPM programme is made up of experienced lecturers, including academicians who with more than 15 years of experience in managing information technology projects and multiple projects in various industries like banking, healthcare, oil and gas and others.  

With vast real-world experiences, these academicians are transforming their expertise into transmittable knowledge in grooming upcoming project managers, project engineers, IT project managers, business project managers, technical project managers, Project Management Office (PMO) managers and other related professionals.

“PMI-GAC accreditation will certainly enhance career and employment prospects as our programme is accreditated and recognised by PMI,” assured Dr. S Mohanarajah, APU’s Senior Lecturer of Project Development and Scope Management. According to the latest Annual Graduate Tracer Study by the Higher Education Ministry, 100% of APU graduates were employed upon graduation. This is a significant symbol of APU’s success and pride in nurturing professionals for global careers.

To find out more about APU's Master of Project Management degree programme, do join us at Postgraduate Open Day on 27-28 May 2022, from 10 am to 5 pm. Visit www.apu.edu.my for more information.