October 5, 2016The Growing Importance of Project Management Skills

Although an MBA is regarded as a critical credential for business professionals, the vast majority of MBA programs have yet to recognize the growing importance of project management skills.

In recent years, employers have sought out MBA graduates who have some knowledge and experience in project management either through formal in-class or on the job training. At a recent Rutgers University conference on Innovations in Graduate Business Education, employers talked about the importance of hiring workers with good soft skills, with many noting that technical competency alone is not enough for success in today’s marketplace. In addition to having good communication and leadership skills, employers are looking for graduates who can take the complex and make it simple, adapt quickly to different cultures, and who posses good organizational, planning and problem solving skills.

It is not hard to imagine why soft skills are so popular today. As corporations increasingly favor a matrix organizational structure over the traditional hierarchical structure, teams collaborating across the globe are doing more and more of the work. But collaboration breaks down without an infrastructure and chain of command that holds everyone accountable for their respective contributions. That’s the genius behind project management and the reason why it is in such high demand.

Project management is one of those unique skills that can be seen across a wide spectrum of industries, from startups in Silicon Valley to world-renowned Fortune 500 firms. Once relegated to manufacturing projects, project management is just as likely to be deployed by technology, healthcare and financial services firms.

In fact, the Project Management Institute (PMI) forecasts that as many as 1.2 million project management jobs will be created every year until 2021.¹ Yet, even with this growing evidence, very few graduate business programs offer project management as either a core component or even an elective within their curricula. And this includes many of the top ranked programs in the US and Europe. A 2015 research project published in the Financial Times showed that out of the world’s 100 highest-ranked MBA programs, “only two teach project management as a core course,” and neither of those is ranked among the top twenty-five.²

According to the study’s author, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, “Projects are the best way to create significant value to an organization.”² In other words, a company’s value is directly impacted by the projects it selects for investment and how successfully it completes them. Indeed, projects allow firms to increase their efficiency levels, reduce the costs of operation, and grow revenues, or perhaps accomplish all three simultaneously. To an even greater extent than ever before, businesses throughout the world “demand that their high potential employees have basic project management and execution skills.”² In short, project management is fast becoming one of the most critical determinants of business success.

Ramapo College has acknowledged the demand for competent project managers and now offers second-year MBA students the option of taking two project management electives. The program is designed in such a way that graduates completing the PM electives will be prepared to sit for either of the certification exams administered by PMI: Certified Association in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP). In addition to the MBA project management option, Ramapo College offers a separate program for professionals seeking a certificate in one of North America’s fastest-growing business disciplines.

Professionals interested in learning more about Ramapo’s MBA project management elective are encouraged to visit https://www.ramapo.edu/mba/project-management-option-pmp/ for more information.

¹ Source: U.S. News and World Report. “MBA Programs Focus on Project Management” by Brian Burnsed. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduation-schools/top-business-schools/articles/2011/03/30/mba-programs-focus-on-project-management.

² Source: LinkedIn Pulse. “Why top Business Schools don’t teach Project Management to their MBAs?” by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez. Retrieved from http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-top-business-schools-dont-teach-project-mbas-nieto-rodriguez

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June 15, 2016The Perks of Taking Summer Classes

The summer season is typically a time for college students to pursue internships, work a seasonal job, or otherwise enjoy themselves, perhaps traveling on vacation with friends and/or family members. However, it is also a time for students to potentially discover new avenues for learning, through opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Students can take summer courses in many areas in order to gain an upper hand once the fall semester begins, or even to graduate in less time than it would usually take or even explore an alternate subject of interest.

GET AHEAD:
Taking summer courses is advantageous for several reasons. First of all, if students enroll in a class or two during the summer semester, this may give them the flexibility to lighten their course load when fall comes. At many schools, students have the opportunity to take courses that fulfill “general education” requirements. Students who intend to pursue a double major – such as mathematics and education or international business and a foreign language – could especially benefit from enrolling during the summer because double majors may require additional course requirements and the preparation provided to them will prove invaluable down the road¹. In this respect, summer courses provide students with ample time to develop the skills and expertise needed to succeed in a future career.

ONLINE COURSES:
Online courses, designed for the ultimate in flexibility and convenience, are an ideal option for those who wish to continue their studies during the summer without interrupting their work schedules or sacrificing leisure time with family and friends. Although there are several benefits of online learning for students, two of them in particular deserve mention. The first advantage of online learning, regardless of the student’s education level or the time of year, “is the lack of physical setting and a time schedule”³ In other words, students have more flexibility than ever before to take classes at a time that works best for them³. Students who have part- or full-time jobs can complete academic coursework after work, or on their days off. Another advantage of online learning programs is that students have access to “all materials concerning a course” at any given time when it is convenient for them³. These two factors allow students in online courses to make the most of their summer by completing class assignments at their own pace and convenience while effectively balancing studies with work and leisure time.

STUDY ABROAD AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING:
An additional perk of taking summer classes is the opportunity for students to pursue learning experiences beyond the classroom. Colleges and universities across the country have partnered with institutions around the world to offer summer programs that not only encourage students to broaden their horizons, but more importantly allow them to develop a global worldview that is more critical than ever in an increasingly globalized twenty-first-century society. There are a wide range of programs designed to enhance students’ learning in settings that may seem rather unusual at first but provide the chance to develop knowledge that cannot just be learned in a classroom environment. For example, students can enroll in “an art class in Rome, a literature course at the University of Oxford, or a science class in Hawaii.”² Many locations provide unique environments for experiential learning opportunities that take the student out of the classroom and out of their comfort zone.

EXPERIENCE A NEW COLLEGE SETTING:
Students can also explore other styles of learning by taking a course at a college other than their home institution where they are an enrolled student. Many students return home for the summer and can pick up classes, perhaps even with their former high school friends, at local area colleges. This provides a different experience and may also offer specialized courses, facilities or a location not available at the student’s home school. Credits earned at other institutions are often able to be transferred to the student’s home institution and count towards their degree requirements.

COURSES FOR WORKING PROFESSIONALS:
Summer courses can provide options for working professionals who want to learn a skill or explore a new area but aren’t interested in applying for a degree program. During summer sessions, many colleges allow non-matriculated students to take courses. A non-matriculated student is someone who has not applied to or been accepted to a degree program at the school or has not yet officially started their degree program (incoming Freshman may be considered non-matriculated students the summer before their first official semester starts in September). Regardless of the situation, many colleges make it very easy for non-matriculated students to take summer courses by filling out a basic registration form. This provides many opportunities for people to take just one class locally or online in a subject area of interest or to learn new skills that can be applied to their jobs.

CAMPUS TOURS:
Summer is also an ideal time to visit colleges. If you are a high school student doing research on college options or a current college student who may be considering transferring to another college, summer is a good time to check out your options. Many colleges provide summer tours – both at regularly scheduled times and by request. At Ramapo College, you can visit and take a guided tour all summer long Mondays through Thursdays at 10:00am or 1:00pm. Learn more and sign up for a tour at: https://www.ramapo.edu/visit/.

Recognizing that there are numerous opportunities for students to excel during the summer semester, Ramapo College offers a variety of courses geared toward students at both the undergraduate and graduate degree levels. Classes are small and faculty are supportive to ensure that students make the most of their experience. In addition to on-campus courses, Ramapo offers many online courses designed to allow students both maximum flexibility and convenience. Also, there are hybrid courses that integrate on-campus learning in a traditional classroom setting with an online component that is convenient and flexible. There are international programs for those who wish to apply their knowledge while experiencing an entirely new world: The Public Health in Ghana trip and the International Business Experience in Peru are faculty-led courses of study in which students have the opportunity to develop a global perspective. Also, Ramapo offers courses for visiting students from other colleges and universities, as well as those who wish to enroll at Ramapo to experience the College’s rich variety of academic programs. In short, Ramapo College offers a wide variety of programs designed with students’ needs in mind.

Those interested in learning more about Ramapo’s summer session and registering for courses can visit www.ramapo.edu/summer.

¹Source: Benefits of Taking A Summer College Program: http://enlightenme.com/benefits-of-taking-a-summer-college-program/

²Source: Time – How to Make the Most of Summer College Courses by Brian Witte: http://time.com/3924431/summer-college-class-tips/

³Source: Benefits and Challenges for the Online Learner by Héctor Álvarez-Trujillo: http://ponce.inter.edu/cai/Comite-investigacion/Estudiantes-Invitados/Benefits_Challenges_Online_Learner.pdf

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