Here in Velopi, we get lots of enquiries from project managers and people who are thinking about becoming project managers. They want to know: Have we any courses suitable for their career stage? Will taking a course be beneficial for their careers? What about certification? What sort of professional, or academic qualifications can be obtained through training?

We also are contacted by organizations who want to improve their overall project management capability. What sort of training do they need to roll out to their project managers, in order to get consistent, reliable management of projects across the organization?

While the questions are similar, the answers provided depend completely on the person or organization. We need to learn something about you and ensure we guide you to the right course for you.

If you are starting out, you need an introductory course. Velopi offers a one-day Introduction to Project Management and a two-day Project Management Essentials course. These are based on the framework established by the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide).

If you have a bit if experience and you see project management as a future path for you, you might like to obtain an initial qualification in project management. We offer courses leading to two different credentials.

If you are a practical, hands-on type of person, we can prepare you to submit a portfolio of work, demonstrating how you managed an actual project, along with a supporting essay, showing that you understand what you covered in the course. This leads to a Level 6, Component Certificate in Project Management (6N4090), awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Alternatively, if you prefer an exam-based assessment, we can prepare you for the Project Management Institute’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® exam. This is an internationally recognized, professional credential and is ideal for anyone working in the multi-national sector.

But how about experienced project managers? What sort of courses are they interested in? The big one is the Project Management Professional (PMP)^®.  If you are looking for work as a project manager, then this is the one to have.

Velopi is the right place to go if you want to prepare for this exam. We are an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of the Project Management Institute. This means that our classes use proprietary materials, prepared by the Institute and our simulated exams also contain sample questions that were also developed by the Institute.

If you already have a PMP®, you might be interested in one of our specialized one-day courses. These cover areas like, agile / lean, rescuing troubled projects, strategy management, the project management office, benefits and stakeholder management.

If you are an experienced project manager, already holding a PMP^® and keen to expand your sphere of influence, we can prepare you for the Program Management Professional (PgMP)^® exam. This will move you further up the value chain to a level where you are responsible for your organization’s strategic initiatives. Move away from tangible deliverables to business outcomes and benefits.

If you want to go even further, Velopi has partnered with University College Cork (UCC) and contribute to its M.Sc. programme in Project Management. This is a two-year, part-time course, aimed squarely at ambitious professionals. If you are concerned that you might not be able to go the full distance with a two-year commitment, there is the option of exiting after year one with a postgraduate certificate and after year two with a diploma. You need to produce a final research thesis to get the M.Sc. itself.

I’m sure you will agree, we have lots of options to offer, which makes choosing difficult. But, having said that, there are lots of project managers out there – individuals with different requirements – who need training support to develop their careers.

Please visit our web-page – specifically our Project Management Courses – to see what’s on offer. If you see something interesting, please get in touch, so we can find the right programme for you.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.