An interview with BSc Project Management Programme director Mark Westcombe
Published 19 May 2009
We asked programme director Mark Westcombe what it is that makes the BSc in Project Management different from other degree schemes.
What makes this course special and different from other, similar courses?
“We’re equipping our students with the soft skills required to achieve on-the-ground project success.”
So students do a real project for a real client, play 10-week-long interactive business games negotiating contracts, and learn real communication skills. It’s also focussed on business projects, whereas most courses are about building and engineering.
It's about how you manage initiatives and change in blue-chip companies, the public and voluntary sectors and SMEs. We also use a lot of staff with backgrounds in industry. As Programme Director I’ve worked with and led a lot of project teams on some major infrastructure projects for over 10 years, and am still client project manager one day a week for a £4m zero carbon community housing group - which will be a first for the UK.
What makes it unique?
Our new ‘Project and Event Management’ course that we’re planning on offering in the first year in conjunction with a local voluntary sector agency. It’s a very practical, hands-on experience of managing a real community event with a real client, real project goals and impact, budget and deadline.
Instead of lectures and tutorials, the students will have team meetings led by the project team, reviews with management, and action learning workshops. Their coursework mark will depend on the success of the event and the opinion of the client. We’re modelling it on Lancaster’s unique and highly successful MBA Consultancy Challenge course. It provides students with a springboard into their year in industry and a great sales point for their CV. This is very much a unique Lancaster offering - it will be tough, but demonstrates our commitment to ensuring students' future employability and independence.
What does the course involve?
“Students develop the strong leadership needed to balance delivering project outcomes against the demands of time and cost, whilst ensuring long-term strategic impact.”
Who applies?
Students who want something more tangible and specific than a general business degree. We have interest from students in their mid twenties who have been working in project management for a few years. And a lot of international students that bring a rich cultural experience to the School.
How long does it last?
We strongly encourage our students to take a year in industry, making the course four years in total. This means they gain experience of the working environment and they can really leverage value from their final year, which focuses more on strategic and senior management issues, such as cultural change projects.
How is it assessed?
Assessment is innovative on this programme: clients will be involved, negotiation meetings and presentations observed and assessed, business game contracts evaluated, as well as the more traditional coursework essays, exams and tests. We also use a lot of reflective pieces so students learn to learn for themselves.
Which companies do you have links with, is it possible to arrange your own placements?
We have an incredibly successful placement programme in the School with access to many FTSE 100 companies, but also regional companies, the public sector and not-for-profits. We have strong links with the Coop, IBM, Ford, PWC, Fujitsu, Asda, Unilever, BT and many, many more, as well as very strong ties to regional SMEs.
What are the career opportunities once the course is completed?
Students should be exceptionally well-equipped to enter any graduate managerial post or training scheme. We concentrate on developing the skills employers seek. Some students will go on to work in project teams for large organisations, others will lead projects for smaller organisations and many will go on to set up their own business or help run a family enterprise.
What type of students are you looking for?
We have high academic standards, and are looking for at least ABB at A Level. But we also want students who can demonstrate that they can juggle all the demands of working with people in a dynamic environment. It’s a rewarding, but also a demanding course.
What makes a good project manager?
That’s a tough one! There are so many roles now for project managers. They need to be firm decision makers, with strategic insight to anticipate the changing environment. At the same time they need to be self motivated, multi-tasking, quick witted, and people orientated – with the ability to stay calm and grounded in a crisis!
