Rationale of the program

The use of projects and project management is becoming more and more important for all kinds of organizations. Businesses regularly use project finance & management techniques to achieve unique outcomes under the constraints of resources, and now a day project management becomes one of the critical ways of achieving an organization’s strategy. 

The successful execution of these projects demands competent project managers who are required to manage complex, time- pressured projects and programs using advanced tools and techniques for maximum effect. However, the day to today observations of project accomplishments in Ethiopia reveal that there is a sever gap in project management skills among project managers. Despite the plethora of graduates in other fields of study, considerable number of projects are designed less professionally, not completed within the prescribed time frame, cost limit as well as quality parameters. Thus, the MA-PFM Program is intended to meet the demand for educated workforce in the field. It is designed to provide the competence that is needed in the identification of feasible projects, preparation of comprehensive project documents, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of different projects. In addition, it offers additional opportunity for the burgeoning of graduates at an undergraduate level coming out of various higher learning institutions and looking for further study opportunities in this field of study. It also has implications for careers whose demand will soar along with the implementation of the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) of the country, and the implementation of other mega projects in the years to come. Thus, this MA-PFM program will produce competent graduates who can contribute towards the successful implementation of those projects and the realization of the subsequent medium-term national plans. 

Furthermore, this program is expected to contribute towards the realization of the Government's policy of creating jobs for the youth as many of the graduates are expected to engage themselves in either hired employment or self-employment due to the nature of the curriculum that equips the candidates with and promotes entrepreneurial orientation. The program incorporates up-to-date contemporary thinking on the various themes in Project Management with solid foundation courses that are offered before other courses. From defining the scope of the project to developing a timeline to identifying costs and resources, this MA-PFM program particularly aims at the processes and strategies for successful attainment of the program objectives.

Objectives of the Program

In line to the above background and rationale the Project Management master’s program of the university have the following objectives; 

• To produce highly equipped/competent graduates in project management who can facilitate the successful planning and implementation of development and/or business projects of national and/or organizational significance; 
• To promote project management as a specialized field of study and create the needed sense of professionalism in project management in Ethiopia; 
• To open up opportunities for young and energetic Ethiopians to practice project management as their profession of their entire lives;
• To promote efficient and effective utilization of national and organizational resources by minimizing costs, limiting time lapse and boosting quality of project executions.