Global Accreditation
Center for Project
Management (GAC)
Advancing Project
Management
in Higher Education
John Cable, PMP, RA
Chair of the GAC Board
August 2007
September 2007
Bournemouth Conference on
Teaching Project Management
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PMI Global Accreditation Center (GAC)
 A semi-autonomous 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
 Maintains policies, procedures and
standards for accrediting project
management degree programs at the
bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree
levels.
August 2007
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GAC Alignment
PMI Vision/Strategic Goals
 PMI Vision: Worldwide, organizations will
embrace, value and utilize project
management and attribute their success to it
 Superior practice of project management
 Thought Leadership
 Professional and Organizational Development
 Global acceptance of project management
 Partnering
 Advocacy
August 2007
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PM Degree Programs - History
1994
 Primarily construction management degrees
 2 Bachelor and 9 Master level PM degrees
(PM Net® survey July 1995)
2007
 300+ PM focused programs at 250+ institutions
 China Ministry of Education has authorized 102
universities to offer master level PM degrees
August 2007
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Distribution of Degree Programs
EMEA
EMEA
45% Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific
US/Canada
US/Canada
August 2007
35% US/Canada
18% EMEA
2% Latin America
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GAC History
 First PMI Accreditation Program implemented
in mid 1980’s failed
 Small number of degree programs available
 Limited resources to support program
 Number of PM degree programs increased
throughout 1990’s and 2000
 1997: PMI Board assigned Accreditation
Action Team to study feasibility of reviving
an accreditation program
August 2007
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GAC History
 PMI Board chartered GAC November 2001
 First two schools accredited December 2003
 Steady increase in accredited schools seen
from 2004 through 2006:
 1 in 2004
 3 in 2005
 4 in 2006
 Estimate 5 in 2007
 Membership in the Association of Specialized
and Professional Accreditors - 2005
August 2007
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Accreditation Concept
 Two types of accreditation – Institutional and
Programmatic
 Institutional accreditation focuses on the entire
university or specific departments
 Programmatic accreditation focuses on programs
preparing students for a profession or occupation
 GAC conducts programmatic or specialized
accreditation
August 2007
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GAC Accreditation Overview
 Rigorous accreditation process shows a
commitment to excellence in project
management education on the part of the
applicant school
 Four steps
 Time line: Can take 12 months to complete:
 Letter of Intent
 Prepare Self-study Report
 On-site Visit Evaluation
 GAC Decision
 Initial GAC accreditation is conferred for a
maximum of seven years
August 2007
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Letter of Intent Criteria
 Schools begin the process by submitting a
letter of intent to the GAC Area of PMI. The
letter includes:
 Title and short description of program
 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 by a
recognized agency
 Reason for seeking GAC accreditation
 Submission of $1500.00 Application Fee
August 2007
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Self-study Report
 Requires the applicant to reflect and report on the
purpose and effectiveness of its programs
 Presents evidence demonstrating that it is meeting the
GAC Standards of Accreditation. Includes:
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August 2007
Mission and Objectives
Assessment of anticipated outcomes
Academic Community/Faculty and Staff
Student support services
Student selection
Curriculum and Learning and Performance Objectives
Student performance criteria
Library/Learning Resources
Financial Resources, Facilities and Equipment
Submission of $2000.00 Accreditation Fee
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On-Site Visit Evaluation
 After the Self-study Report is reviewed and approved
by the GAC Board, arrangements for an On-Site Visit
of the applicant by an evaluation team are scheduled.
 The visit is two to three days - expenses borne by
applicant
 The On-Site team consists of two to three members,
mutually agreed upon by the GAC and the applicant
school
 During the visit, the team:
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Verifies the findings of the Self-study Report
Interviews key program representatives
Follows up on GAC questions from Self-study Report
Presents the team findings (not recommendations) during the
exit interview
 Team submits report with recommendations to GAC
Board
August 2007
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GAC Decision
 The GAC Board evaluates the On-Site Report
and recommendations at its next scheduled
meeting
 The GAC decision regarding accreditation is
based on the collective evidence provided by
the Letter of Intent, the Self-study Report and
the On-Site Visit Report and
recommendations
 The decision can be to confer, defer or deny
August 2007
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Continuing Accreditation Requirements
 Submission of an annual continuous
improvement report at the time of annual
maintenance fee submission. Includes:
 Highlight of changes to the program since the prior
report
 Assessment of Anticipated Outcomes for the previous
year
 Detailed additions/deletions of faculty/staff
 Submission of yearly $1000.00 Accreditation
Maintenance Fee
August 2007
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Global Accreditation Center (GAC)
 Primary objective is to collaborate with
colleges and universities to:
 Ensure that high-quality academic programs in project
management are available for members and nonmembers
 Confirm and acknowledge the quality of PM program
 To help improve an institution or program’s project
management programming
 To encourage appropriate education and career
development in the profession
August 2007
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Value of Accreditation
 Defines higher education
 Encourages self-study, planning, and
continuous improvement
 Promotes and facilitates communications
across institutions
 Assists users to make better decisions
August 2007
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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 PMI and GAC
 Facilitates communications among schools
and faculty
 Graduates of accredited programs receive
1500 hours experience credit toward PMP
certification
August 2007
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GAC Current Status
 Currently, GAC Board is comprised of 8
volunteer members
 13 academic institutions with GAC accredited
degree programs
 15 candidate institutions
 15 schools have expressed interest in the
accreditation process
 20 volunteer “On-Site” Team Members
August 2007
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GAC Board
John Cable, R.A., PMP, chairperson
Program Director - University of Maryland, USA
Lynn Crawford, PhD, vice chairperson
Professor – The Mirvac School of Sustainable Development, Bond
University, Australia
James Joiner, PMP
Program Director at University of Texas at Dallas, USA
Ron Kempf, PMP
Director of Project Management Competency - Hewlett Packard, USA
Christine Watson, PMP
Consultant – Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Thomas Stauffert, PhD,
Professor - University of Applied Science, Landshut, Germany
Wang ShouQing, PhD
Professor - Tsinghua University, P.R. China
Robert Hulsey (public member)
President – American National Banks of Texas, USA
August 2007
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PMI – GAC Organizational Structure
Volunteers elected
by PMI members
PMI
Board of
Directors
Global
Accreditation
Center
CEO
• Chapters
• Specific
Interest
Groups
August 2007
• Conferences
• Seminars
• Publications
• Journals
• Standards
• Research
• Knowledge
and Wisdom
Center
• Accreditation
• Certification
• Career Path
Development
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GAC Accredited Programs
University of Texas – Dallas – USA
 Master of Science in Management and Administrative Science (Project
Management emphasis)
 Master of Business Administration (Project Management emphasis)
Groupe ESC Lille ISGI – France
 Master of Science in Project & Programme Management
 Specialized Master in Project & Programme Management
 Executive EM.B.A. in Strategy, Programme & Project Management
University of Maryland – USA
 Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Project Management Major)
 Master of Engineering in Project Management
 Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (Project Management Major)
August 2007
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GAC Accredited Programs
 Boston University – Metropolitan College – USA
 Master of Science in Project Management
 Master of Science in Administrative Studies and Master of Science in
Computer Information Systems.
 University of Management and Technology – USA
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Doctor of Philosophy in Management
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Computer Science
Master of Science in Information Technology
Master of Science in Management
 Eastern Michigan University – USA
 Master of Science in Construction Management
 University of Technology – Sydney – Australia
 Master of Project Management and the Master of Business
Administration with a Concentration in Project Management
August 2007
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GAC Accredited Programs
Western Carolina University – USA
 Master of Project Management (Online)
University of Quebec – Canada
 Masters in Project Management (general and directed studies options)
 Masters in Science in Project Management;
 Masters Level Short Program in Project Management
 Specialized Graduate Diploma in Project Management
Stevens Institute of Technology– USA
 Master of Business Administration (PM Concentration)
 Master of Science in Management (PM Concentration)
 Master of Science in Technology Management (PM Concentration)
 Master of Science in Information Systems (PM Concentration)
August 2007
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GAC Accredited Programs
Fachhochschule Landshut University of Applied Sciences
– Germany
 Master of Business Administration in Project Management
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota - USA
 Masters in Science in Project Management;
University of Alaska – Anchorage, USA
 Master of Science in Project management
August 2007
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GAC Candidate Schools
 Jiao Tong University – Shanghai PRC
 George Mason University – USA
 University of Pretoria – South Africa
 La Salle – International Graduate School, Ramon
Llull University – Spain
 Colorado Technical University – USA
 New England College – USA
August 2007
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GAC Candidate Schools (cont’d)
 The University of New South Wales at the
Australian Defence Force Academy – Australia
 Keller Graduate School of Management of
DeVry University – USA
 Athabasca University – Canada
 UCD Quinn School of Business
University College Dublin – Ireland
 University of Limerick, Kemmy Business School,
Centre for Project Management – Ireland
August 2007
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GAC Candidate Schools (cont’d)
 Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
University (RMIT) – Australia
 University of Houston, College of Technology,
Department of Information and Logistics
Technology – USA
 University of Sydney, Department of Civil
Engineering
 Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon
University – Scotland
August 2007
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PMI GAC Advocacy Activities
 Campaign to increase visibility of project management
and GAC Accreditation Program in college curricula
 Series of advertisements in BizEd Magazine
 Circulation: 15,000 business school deans)
 PMI/GAC showcases at Academic Conferences
 ASPA Conference in Chicago March 2006
 PMI/GAC at AACSB-EFMD Conference in Paris April 2006
 PMI/GAC at ACBSP Conference
 in Chicago June 2006
 in Orlando June 2007
 PMI/GAC at AACSB Conference in Tampa, FL April 2007
 Memberships in related quality assurance organizations
 Association for the Accreditation of Colleges and Schools of
Business
 European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)
August 2007
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PMI GAC Advocacy Activities
 Developing Database of Degree Programs
 New GAC Academic Network
 A networking and mentoring program
 For faculty and schools interested in project management
 Over 60 participants as of June 2007
 Monthly GAC Update Newsletter sent to all GAC program
contacts and Academic Network Participants
 GAC Community Site:
 Developed specifically to encourage mentoring and best practices in
project management education in the academic community.
 Face-to-Face GAC Academic Forums
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August 2007
Beijing – November 2005
Montreal – July 2006
Sydney – September 2006
Budapest – May 2007
Atlanta – October 2007
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Summary
 PM Degree programs expanding globally
 GAC accreditation is supporting quality
assurance and growth of degree programs
 PMI and GAC advocacy efforts are helping to
increase awareness of project management
in higher education
August 2007
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Contacts
John H. Cable, RA, PMP, GAC Chairperson
Phone +1 301 405-8935
Email: jcable@eng.umd.edu
Michael Price, PMI Manager Accreditation Programs
Phone +1 610 356-4600 Ext. 5004
Email: mike.price@pmi.org
Leslie Higham, Accreditation Programs Administrator
Phone +1 610 356-4600 Ext. 5003
Email: leslie.higham@pmi.org
August 2007
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Thank You
August 2007
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