APM partners with The Open University to launch new online Project Management course available on FutureLearn.com

APM (Association for Project Management) has partnered with The Open University (OU), the largest academic institution in the UK and world leader in flexible distance learning, to launch a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). 

The course, titled Project Management: Beyond the Basics, is available via the online learning platform FutureLearn.com from 13 January 2020. It is aimed at people already working on or leading projects in their work, but who may not have previously considered themselves as professional project managers. The course also offers the opportunity for people to explore project management as a career.

Studied over four weeks, the course goes beyond the fundamentals of project management and improves learners’ knowledge and skills so they can better lead projects in the future. Topics covered include identifying and evaluating stakeholders, choosing the best approach for projects, and developing the leadership and management skills needed to grow effective project management teams. 

The course also includes references from the APM Body of Knowledge 7^th edition, the Association’s flagship publication for the project profession.

APM’s e-learning manager Carol Rayner, says: “The Open University is a world pioneer in distance learning and we are delighted to have partnered with them to develop this new course. The project profession adds £156bn* to the UK economy annually, and there is ever-growing demand for project-oriented jobs worldwide. We therefore expect the course to not only be popular with project managers here in the UK but internationally as well.

“Being free to sign up to, the course is really accessible and is certain to help improve and develop the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in project management.”

Project Management: Beyond the Basics, runs over four weeks on FutureLearn.com and includes approximately three hours of weekly study. The course leaders and authors are Dr Giacomo Carli, a lecturer in Strategic Management at The Open University Business School and Dr Matthew Moran, head of transformation and lecturer at The Open University Business School.

Liz Moody, director of executive education at The Open University Business School, said: “As a chartered professional body, APM recognises the importance of providing resources to support continuing professional development. This course will be key to supporting individuals who are seeking to broaden their professional knowledge and improve their capability, and will provide them with tools and techniques which they can adopt in their day to day roles.”

Sign up to the course