Transcript Slide 1

GAC Accreditation Process
Leslie Higham, CAE
Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center
for Project Management Education Programs (GAC)
PM Degree Programs - History
1994
• Primarily construction management degrees
• Identified 2 Bachelor, 9 Master PM degrees*
Today
• Wide range of degrees – Business, IT,
Engineering, Construction, Healthcare, etc.
• Identified 640+ PM degree programs at 450+
institutions worldwide**
* PM Network® survey, July 1995
** PMI census based on UNESCO’s World Higher Education Database
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GAC History
• Initial PMI Accreditation Program founded
in mid 1980’s – limited success
 Only two institutions’ programs completed process
• University of Quebec, Western Carolina University
 Small number of degree programs available
 Limited resources to support program
• 1990’s - PM degree programs increased
• 1997: PMI Board assigned Accreditation
Action Team: study feasibility of reviving
accreditation program
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GAC History
• PMI Global Accreditation Center for Project
Management Education Programs (GAC)
 Chartered November 2001
• First programs accredited - December 2003
• Steady increase in accredited programs
 6 programs in 2003; 85 programs in 2012
• 2005 - Membership in the Association of
Specialized and Professional Accreditors
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About GAC
• Independent Governing Body
 Created by the PMI BOD in 2001
• Mission:
 To advance excellence in project management
education worldwide, through
• Collaboration with and support of academic institutions,
• And accreditation of academic programs
• Activities:
• Maintains policies, procedures, standards for
accrediting academic project management degree
programs at bachelor’s, postgraduate, and doctoral
degree levels.
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GAC Objectives
• Primary Objective:
• Ensure that “GAC Accredited” educational programs in
project management adequately prepare students to meet
the current and anticipated needs of business and
government organizations for qualified professionals
working in the field of project management
 Secondary Objectives:
 Ensure that high-quality academic programs in project
management are available for all stakeholders
 Confirm and acknowledge the quality of a program
 To help improve a program’s project management curricula
 To encourage appropriate education and career
development in the profession
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Accreditation Concept
• Two types of accreditation – Institutional
and Programmatic
 Institutional accreditation focuses on entire university or
specific departments
 Programmatic accreditation focuses on programs
preparing students for a profession or occupation
• GAC conducts programmatic accreditation
• Non-government, non-profit accrediting
organizations growing internationally
 Driven by mass education movement in the US in1960s
and in Europe in 1990s
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Value of Accreditation
• Defines higher education
• Encourages self-study, planning, and
continuous improvement
• Promotes and facilitates communications
across institutions/programs
• Assists users to make better decisions
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Value of GAC Accreditation
• Promotes the PM profession
• Promotes excellence in PM curricula
• Provides external quality standards for
planning and improvement efforts
• Provides recognition by GAC
• Facilitates communications among programs
& faculty
• Accredited programs graduates receive 1500
hours experience credit toward PMP® and
PgMP® certification
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GAC Accreditation Overview
• Rigorous accreditation process
• a commitment to excellence in project management
education on the part of the applicant program
• Time line: Can take 12+ months to
complete
• Four steps
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Letter of Intent/Executive Summary
Prepare Self-evaluation Report
On-site Visit Evaluation
GAC Decision
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Letter of Intent Criteria
• Process begins with submission of a
Letter of Intent to the GAC. The letter
includes an “Executive Summary” of the
applicant program(s) including:
 Title and short description of program
 Names & descriptions of degree(s) conferred
 Statement that program has existed for 2 years
minimum and has graduated at least one class
 Statement verifying the institution’s accreditation
 Reason for seeking GAC accreditation
 Submission of application fee
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Self-evaluation Report
• Applicant program reflects and reports on
its purpose and effectiveness
• Most labor intensive aspect of GAC
accreditation process. Involves:
• A report of 100 to 150 pages, demonstrating
meeting/congruence with GAC Accreditation Standards
• Includes appendices with faculty resumes, course and
program assessment instruments, samples of curricula,
strategic plan, etc.
• Submission of Accreditation Fee
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Self-evaluation Report (Continued)
• Program presents evidence demonstrating
it meets GAC Accreditation Standards,
including:
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Mission and Objectives, Assessment of Anticipated Outcomes
Academic Community/Faculty and Staff
Student Support Services/Information in the Public Domain
Student Selection
Program Outcomes/Project Management Core Learning
Outcomes
 Student Performance Criteria
 Library/Learning Resources
 Financial Resources, Facilities and Equipment
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On-Site Visit Evaluation
• After Self-evaluation Report is reviewed
and approved by GAC Board, On-Site Visit
of the applicant program by On Site
Evaluation team scheduled
• Visit is 2 to 3 days - expenses borne by
applicant
• On-Site team consists of 2-3 members,
mutually agreed upon by GAC and
applicant program
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On-Site Visit Evaluation (Continued)
• During Onsite Visit, the team:
 Verifies the findings of the Self-evaluation
Report
 Interviews key program representatives
 Follows up on GAC questions from Selfevaluation Report
 Presents the team findings (not
recommendations) during the exit interview
• Team submits report with
recommendations to GAC Board
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GAC Decision
• GAC Board evaluates On-Site Report and
recommendations at its next scheduled meeting
• GAC accreditation decision is based on
the collective evidence provided by
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Letter of Intent/Executive Summary,
Self-evaluation Report
On-Site Visit Report and recommendations
• Decision can be to confer, defer or deny
• Initial GAC accreditation is conferred for a
maximum of seven years
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GAC Continuing Accreditation
Requirements
• Annual Requirements:
 Submission of Accreditation Maintenance Fee
 Submission of an annual continuous
improvement report. Includes:
• Highlights of changes/improvement to the
program since the prior report
• Assessment of Anticipated Outcomes for
the previous year
• Detailed additions/deletions of faculty/staff
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Resources to Get Started
• www.GACpm.org
• designed for those who are just starting a program or the
GAC accreditation process
• Use this site to:
 Find a mentor program who is already GAC accredited
 Partner with a Registered Education Provider to develop a
program
 Download whitepapers and case studies that describe how
to develop a world class project management program
 Find out about academic events and conferences focused
on project management
 View some profiles of GAC accredited programs
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More Resources
• Download the GAC Handbook of Accreditation
of Degree Programs in Project Management
 The GAC Handbook is a prime resource for programs either
developing a program or planning for GAC accreditation
• Templates for GAC Accreditation Processes
 Download the GAC Letter of Intent/Executive Summary Template
 Download the GAC Self evaluation Report Template
 Download the GAC Accreditation Standards Learning Outcomes to
use to develop or improve your project management curriculum
• Contact the GAC Offices with any questions
• Ms. Donna Thompson, GAC Developer
• Ms. Leslie Higham, Accreditation Programs Administrator
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GAC Operations/Activities
• GAC Board - 11 volunteer members
• 85 GAC accredited project management
degree programs at 38 academic
institutions
• 19 applicant programs
• 30 programs expressed interest in accreditation
• 30 volunteer “On-Site” Team Members
• PMI Staff within PMI Academic Relations
Department administers program
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GAC Board 2012
John Cable, R.A., PMP,
GAC Chairperson
University of Maryland, USA
Andrew Gale, PhD, Professor –
Vice Chairperson,
The University of Manchester, UK
Lynn Crawford, PhD, Professor
Vice Chairperson,
Bond University, Australia
Robert Hulsey (public member)
President – American National Banks of Texas,
USA
Rolf Lundin, PhD, Professor
Jönköping Int’l Business School, Sweden
Christine Watson, PMP, Consultant – Pell City,
Alabama, USA
James Szot, PMP, Program Director,
University of Texas at Dallas, USA
Shaopei Lin, CEng, Professor – Shanghai Jiao
Tong University, P.R. China
Christina Barbosa, PMP, Executive
Director – By Conn – Connecting
Excellences, Brazil
Thomas Stauffert, PhD, Professor - University
of Applied Science, Landshut, Germany
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Miles Shepherd
Director, MSP Ltd., United Kingdom
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Contacts
John H. Cable, RA, PMP, GAC Chairperson & Director, Center
for Excellence in Project Management, University of Maryland
Phone +1 301 405-8935
Email: [email protected]
Saul Spivack, PhD, Manager, PMI Academic Relations
Phone +1 610 356-4600 Ext. 1070
Email: [email protected]
Leslie Higham, PMI Accreditation Programs Specialist
Phone +1 610 356-4600 Ext. 5003
Email: [email protected]
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GAC Accreditation Session
Thank You !
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