Professional Skills - Project Management

3 EC

Semester 1 & 2, period 1, 4

5224PSPM3Y

Owner Master Biological Sciences
Coordinator C.M. Nijnens MSc
Part of Master Earth Sciences, Master Biological Sciences, track Ecology and Evolution, Master Biological Sciences, track General Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Oncology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cognitive Neurobiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Infection and Immunity, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cell Biology and Advanced Microscopy, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Experimental Internal Medicine, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Molecular Neurosciences, Master Physics and Astronomy, Master Biological Sciences, track Freshwater and Marine Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Physiology of Synapses and Networks, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Developmental and Therapeutic Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cardiovascular Sciences, year 1Master Biological Sciences, track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind, Master Quantum Computer Science, Master Biological Sciences, track Green Life Sciences, Master Computational Science (Joint Degree),
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Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

This Professional Skills ‘Project Management’ course focuses on the basics of project management; how to initiate and plan projects and keep control of the process. You will learn about the 4 essential stages of project management (initiating, planning, executing,  and closing), practice writing crucial project management documents, and explore scheduling tools. In addition, the different approaches to project management (waterfall vs agile) will be discussed and project management challenges discovered.

Each session focuses on a specific stage of project management.

  • Session 1: initiating a project
  • Session 2: planning a project
  • Session 3: executing a project
  • Session 4: closing a project

Before each session you will complete a preparatory assignment (reading and/or exercise) and each session will be followed by a homework assignment (assignments 1, 2, 3 and 4). Assignment 3 (‘meet and greet a project manager’) starts in session 1 and runs throughout the course. In this assignment you will (in pairs) hold an interview with a project manager and present the information you have gathered in the final session.

Study materials

Literature

  • Selected chapters from McBride, Melanie. Project Management Basics: How to Manage Your Project with Checklists. Berkeley, CA: Apress L. P, 2016. Web.

Other

  • Selected (on-line) resources available on Canvas page

Objectives

  • Write a project definition.
  • Create a project schedule (Gantt chart).
  • Identify project management challenges.
  • Reflect on own project management skills, knowledge and learning process.

Teaching methods

  • Self-study
  • Seminar
  • Interactive workshops

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Werkcollege

10

Self study

74

Total

84

(3 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

  • Some course components require compulsory attendance. If compulsory attendance applies, this will be indicated in the Course Catalogue which can be consulted via the UvA-website. The rationale for and implementation of this compulsory attendance may vary per course and, if applicable, is included in the Course Manual.

    • Additional requirements for this course:

    By being present and actively participating in group discussions and class assignments you are contributing to the learning environment as well as the learning process of yourself and others. The in-class assignments and discussions enable and promote the achievement of the course learning objectives. 

    If you are unable to attend a session, contact the course coordinator prior to that session to discuss your options for passing the course. Missing more than 25% will automatically result in a negative assessment (fail; “NAV”) of the course. 

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    Assignment 1: PROJECT DEFINITION - final version

    Assignment 2: GANTT CHART - final version

    Assignment 3: MEET AND GREET PROJECT MANAGER

    Assignment 4: REFLECTION REPORT

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • C.M. Nijnens MSc