Overview

This course is designed for educators and education professionals seeking the skills and tools to succeed in dynamic international project environments. It supports professionals who are already managing projects informally, those looking to enter the international education project management field, and individuals preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam. Participants will learn core project management principles and practical strategies to plan, lead, and deliver education projects more effectively across diverse contexts. By strengthening these competencies, learners will increase their effectiveness, confidence, and professional marketability.

Why Should I Take This Course?

As early childhood professionals working in international education, we are increasingly called to operate in dynamic, multi-country project environments. This course equips you with the essential skills and tools to design and manage complex education projects, build effective cross-border partnerships, and confidently navigate international project management settings. Whether you are entering the international education project management field, preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, or seeking to strengthen your understanding of core project management principles, this course provides a strong, practical foundation. By applying these concepts to real-world early childhood contexts, you will enhance your effectiveness as a project leader while elevating your professional portfolio and career readiness.

Learning Objectives

This course will cover the fundamentals of the lifecycle of education projects, from planning to execution. You will learn to: 

• Lead an international education project from beginning to end

• Setup an international education project for success

• Identify education project objectives

• Manage stakeholders (Donors, Governments, Communities and Staff) 

• Create a project plan and schedule 

• Identify and manage risk

• Control budgets

• Motivate and lead your project team 

• Manage team to execute project plan

• Close out projects and capture lessons learned

Learning Outcomes 

After completing this course participants will be able to:  

• Understand the necessary elements of successful international education project management 

• Understand the importance of each element, and how to approach it in a real-world context 

• Develop practical plans for implementation of a management strategy in a real-world context 

• Build skills aligned with the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, the global standard for project management excellence.

Course Format

This course is delivered over 12 weeks through live online classes held on Sundays, beginning March 8, 2026. Each session will run for two hours and will include lectures and interactive class discussions. While recordings will be made available, active attendance is expected. Participants will complete weekly individual and group assignments and collaborate in groups on sample Action Research projects.

Course content is provided by the Global Center for Innovation and Learning.

Training Structure

Training includes twelve (10) two-hour online modules, one per week

• Module 1: Project Definition and Setting Scope of Work

• Module 2: Role of Project Manager and other Key Staff 

• Module 3: Project Time/Resource Allocation 

• Module 4: Precedence Relationships of Project Parts

• Module 5: Project Sequencing

• Module 6: Staffing/Skill Identification, Utilization, and Evaluation

• Module 7: Cost Estimating, Budgeting, and Controlling

• Module 8: Communications within the Project Team and to External Stakeholders

• Module 9: Project Documentation

• Module 10: Quality Evaluation, Testing, and Reporting

• Module 11: Project Procurement and Contracting

• Module 12: Risk Management and Reduction and Project Post-Mortem(s)

Offline Study & Project Implementation

• One hour of offline study per week for Modules 1-6

• Two hours of offline implementation per week for Modules 7-12

Course Materials

• All materials will be provided in electronic format, including ebooks and PowerPoints.

• Class recording will be available within 24 hours of each course session.

• A private WhatsApp group will be created for registered participants. A link to join the group will be sent with registration confirmation. This group will serve to connect with classmates and trainers for discussion and questions.

References

1. Project Management Institute. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). 5th ed. Project Management Institute, 2004.

2. Kerzner, Harold. Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. 8th ed. Wiley, 2003.

3. Portny, Stanley E. Project Management for Dummies. Wiley, 2001.