European Master in Social Work

Module Project management

Hanze University Groningen

Bert Gijsbers, l.m.gijsbers@pl.hanze.nl

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Introduction
This module will be devoted to give to the student a professional knowledge of project management
concepts and techniques. Furthermore, it will provide with professional competences linked to
practical project management, using individual assignments, peers evaluation and participation in
collaborative activities. Content will be related to the most needed practical knowledge about project
management, such as planning a project, research for funding, how to organize a project, software
tools and evaluation of projects. Finally, personal assessment of the project results is included to
ensure that the student know how to learn from previous projects.

Module aims / Learning Outcomes

on completion of the module, the student will be able:
To understand and use the concepts of project management in a professional way.
To know the essential tools of project management.
To manage time, resources, cost, etc related to a project in an integrated way.
To know planning and evaluation techniques for projects.
To know software tools to plan, manage and evaluate projects.
To know how to apply for Public/private funds for financing.

Competencies
How can the ESMW take his professional role in project management. Which competencies can
contribute on this role and how do they contribute?

Competency 1. Diagnose
The EMSW is able to adequately signal / identify and analyse complex problems of client
groups in relation to the social environment and in the context of social trends /
developments in Europe as a base for making choices for a project and creating a project
plan

Competency 2. Evaluate
The EMSW is able to evaluate quality, efficiency and effectiveness of measures based on a
thorough knowledge of methods for project management. The EMSW is able to evaluate
national and international developments in different types of organisations at distinct levels.

Competency 3. Manage
The EMSW is able to operate in a planned, policy and project oriented manner for a variety
of organisations, both local and international, so that solution strategies are developed and
carried out efficiently, effectively and responsibly. In a project plan these learning outcomes
has to be visible and measurable.

Competency 4. Innovate
The EMSW is able to carry out assignments for organisations based on disciplinary expertise
in relation to the developing, introducing and implementing of innovations such as new
products, programmes for new target groups and new methods. The EMSW arrives at
answers to local problems using knowledge from the European environment. The EMSW is
able to track, creatively translate, develop and introduce relevant national and international
trends, policies, practices and social concepts so that the quality of professional practices can
be improved. Project management is by itself aiming to develop, introduce and implement
innovations such as new products, programmes for new target groups and new methods.

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Competency 5. Advise
The EMSW is able to advise on a national and international level how to improve quality and
enhance professional practice by doing research and writing a project plan

Competency 6. Research
The EMSW is able to use a range of methods and techniques of practice oriented / practice
based, research and knows how to apply them in an effective manner. The EMSW is able to
justify his policy advice or proposals based on valid judgements derived from evaluations and
/ or from research results by writing a project plan

Competency 8. Cooperateinternational
The EMSW is able to cooperate inside and outside his own organisation in a intercultural and
international context.

Literature

Required
Grit, R. (2008): Project Management. A practical approach. Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff.

Optional
Lester, A. (2007): Project management, planning, and control: managing engineering, construction
and manufacturing projects to PMI, APM and BSI standards. Amsterdam; Boston; London:
Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann.
Lewis, J.P. (2008): Mastering project management: applying advanced concepts to systems
thinking, control & evaluation, resource allocation. New York: McGraw-Hill
Morris, R.A. (2008): Project management that works: real-world advice on communicating, problem
solving, and everything else you need to know to get the job done. New York: American
Management Association.
Noles, S. (2007): The definitive guide to project management: the fast track to getting the job done
on time and on budget. Harlow, England; New York: Prentice Hall/Financial Times.
Perrin, R. (2008): Real world project management: beyond conventional wisdom, best practices,
and project methodologies. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
Verzuh, E. (2008): The fast forward MBA in project management. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H. (2009): Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and
Controlling. John Wiley & Sons; 10th Edition edition (2 April 2009). ISBN-10: 0470278706.

Organizational aspects of the module:

Project management is a part of the core module to serve the students the instruments to create
innovation in their jobs and institutions. In that way it is a basic module for this master programme,
compulsory for every student.

The required literature will be prepared in the first and second week of the core semester.

Lectures and a workshop about project management will be delivered in Groningen (NL) in the third
week during one day. Topics are:
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1. Concepts and elements of a Project: time, resources, costs, objectives.
2. Project life cycle.
3. Planning and programming of Projects.
4. Research for financing.
5. Organization of Projects. Project Manager and Project team.
7. Software tools to plan, manage and evaluate projects.
8. Evaluation of Projects.
9. Personal assessment of projects activities and results.

For the workshop students have to bring with them good and bad practices as examples from project
management.
At the end of that day students can bring in proposals to the teacher about their project they want to
study about.
In a virtual classroom students have to communicate about quality and progress in their project with
each other and the teacher. In week 6 and week 10 the teacher will reflect on the students
individual product to advise the student about quality and progress.

Study load
Project management has a study load of 3 ECTS or 84 hours work load for the students.

Assessment (weighting and compulsory information)

1. Assessment Methods
1. Written project: 60% of the grade.
a. Proposal. Individual written proposal of a project based on their own institution. This
proposal will be approved by the teacher within one week.
b. Whole project. Individual written project based on their own institution
2. Peer based evaluation: Written peer-evaluation and assessment of executive summaries
of individual small projects via the online platform. 20% of the grade.
3. Online evaluation: discussion of learning materials/video and research about EU financing
framework. 20% of the grade.
2. Assignments
1. Written project:
a. Proposal. The minimum content will be: brief description of the institution, two aims of
the project, three proposed activities, proposed initial planning and initial budgeting
and financial aspects. All written in a maximum of 3 pages.
b. Whole project. This individual written project will have at least the following parts:
general description of the institution, aims of the project, activities, planning, project
team, budgeting and financial aspects. All this information should be submitted via the
platform in Text and in a short Executive Summary Presentation (MSWord/Powerpoint
or OpenOffice will be fine as formats for both documents).
2. Peer based evaluation: each student will grade other students participation in online
activities. These activities will be proposed by the teacher and will be a minimum of three
activities.
3. Online evaluation: all learning materials/video will have a forum to participate and give
comments.
3. Criteria
1. Written project:
a. Proposal. The main aspects to evaluate will be: well written technical document,
adequate description of objectives, well-balanced activities included in the planning,
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description of the project team and a well documented description of financial sources
for the project (both national and international).
b. Whole project.
2. Peer based evaluation: each student will grade other students participation in online
activities. These activities will be proposed by the teacher and will be a minimum of three
activities.
3. Online evaluation: The number and quality of the students comments will be evaluated by
the teacher.
4. Resit
1. If the student fails the assignment he/she will be given a second chance that will consists
on writing a complete summary of the Module, stressing the relevance of all materials to
social work.

Further Details
The written project should be written in English and using a specific professional style. The project
should be sent using the online platform.
The peer assessment and the online activities should be written in the specific forums provided in the
online platform.

Criteria for evaluation and weighting by the teacher

Compulsory attendance to the on-site sessions
Individual written project:
Are these topics covered by the written report of the student?
1. Concepts and elements of a Project: time, resources, costs, objectives.
2. Project life cycle.
3. Planning and programming of Projects.
4. Research for financing.
5. Organization of Projects. Project Manager and Project team.
7. Software tools to plan, manage and evaluate projects.
8. Evaluation of Projects.
9. Personal assessment of projects activities and results.
10.References.

Peer assessment and the online activities

How many times was the student participating in internet discussions and what was the
quality of his input (how was the argumentation? Was it helpful or was it denied?)

We use a 10 point rating scale for the complete valuating of all products.
If the students have 5.5 or more they succeeded in their tasks.
If the students have between 4.9 and 5.5, the students can improve their tasks within a month.
If the students have 4.9 or less, the students can improve their tasks within 3 months.

Feedback during the working process

After the meeting week in Groningen posted information by the students will be reflected by the
teacher once a week.

Teacher
Bert Gijsbers, l.m.gijsbers@pl.hanze.nl

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