CUNY SPS Commemorates International Project Management Day

This November 5 is International Project Management Day, a global commemoration that recognizes the work, dedication, and efforts of the more than 17 million project managers who ensure successful delivery of projects and services worldwide.

At the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS), this day offers a chance to celebrate the School’s Advanced Certificate in Project Management and those whose hard work and commitment have helped build it into a successful online program.

If project management were a religion, Dr. Barbara Edington would be its greatest evangelist. Edington, who co-founded the CUNY SPS Advanced Certificate in Project Management online program in 2005 with Beth Ouellette, CEO of the Ouellette Group, believes learning the skills behind project management can benefit anyone.

“Your life is a complex series of projects,” said Edington. “Your career is one of the most important. You start by managing your personal projects and you will see how easy it is to extend that mindset to your professional life.”

Since the launch of the CUNY SPS program, hundreds have earned the online certificate in order to further their careers. The certificate program develops students’ knowledge and ability to apply project management standards, techniques, and practices while studying within a rigorous academic framework.  Additionally, the program helps graduates pursue careers as project managers in fields such as information technology, financial services, construction, management consulting, government, non-profit, and health care.  

Edington, who is currently an adjunct professor at CUNY SPS and a former executive director at Goldman Sachs in New York and London, believes the skills you learn in the certificate program teaches you how to get work done more effectively.

“Project-based work is a huge component of the way companies think about their business. Developing new products and services, redesigning systems and business processes all require a project manager to integrate what needs to be done, and manage that work across silos,” added Edington, who is also the director of the Center of Excellence in Project Management and professor in the Management and Information Technology Department at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. “A project manager must be able to conduct an entire orchestra in order to integrate that workflow. We teach them how.”

The Project Management Institute expects 22 million new project management job openings through 2027.

“Project management skills are in high demand,” said Vicki Caruana, academic program manager of the Advanced Certificate in Project Management. “There are a lot of companies that are looking for people with these skills. This is something people can add to their resume to move up in their career or move over to a different one.”

By teaching students to apply globally recognized project management standards, techniques, and practices, the program seeks to respond to employer demand for people who can deliver projects of a specified scope on time and within budget, as well as to prepare students for roles as project managers in a variety of fields.

“To me, the field of project management is more than just being a robot and getting from point A to point B,” said Alan Kok, an alumnus of the certificate program. “It’s building those relationships so you can get the project completed quickly and effectively.”

“In one way or another, we are all project managers,” said Amy Perez, executive director of the CUNY SPS Office of Professional Education and Workplace Learning (PEWL). “The CUNY SPS Advanced Certificate in Project Management provides the tools to ensure projects of any size and scope are strategic and organized—transferrable skills that are highly valued across all sectors and positions.”

About the Advanced Certificate in Project Management

The CUNY SPS Advanced Certificate in Project Management develops students’ knowledge of and ability to apply project management standards, techniques, and practices while studying within a rigorous academic framework. The program helps graduates pursue careers as project managers in fields such as: information technology, financial services, construction, management consulting, government, non-profit and health care.

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies

For over 15 years, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) has been leading online education in New York. Offering the most online Bachelor’s and Master’s degree options at the City University of New York, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who are looking to finish a bachelor’s degree, progress from an associate’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers.

The School’s growth has been remarkable, with twenty-four degrees launched since 2006. Enrollment has risen by more than 30% in the last four years to over 4,000 students in the credit-bearing programs and thousands more who are enrolled in non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs. In addition, the School has an active Alumni network and has established the CUNY SPS Foundation, which offers multiple scholarship opportunities to current students.

CUNY SPS has been ranked in the nation’s top 5% by U.S. News & World Report for the past six years, most recently in its list of the 2020 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs, making CUNY SPS the highest nationally listed program in New York State and New York City.

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Andrea Fagon
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andrea.fagon@cuny.edu