Local workers, employers fueling growth of project management program

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Talk about return on investment—graduates of a University of Louisville certificate program that costs less than $2,400 and takes six months to complete are eligible to compete for jobs that pay on average $90,000 per year.

University officials say that the Certificate in Project Management has become its most popular professional development course. In the past five years, enrollment in the program jumped 300 percent. Last year, 60 people finished the course and that number is expected to grow.

Director of Professional Development Robbie Chitwood, who heads the university’s professional development initiatives, said the program helps Kentucky employers take aim at specific workforce needs—much like Code Louisville does for tech-oriented jobs.

“Today’s managers are expected to have many centers of excellence,” Chitwood said. “They have to be strong problem-solvers, communicators and leaders while staying focused even when there’s constant change.”

Local employers such as LG&E, Rev-A-Shelf, and C&I Engineering have looked to UofL for customized training programs. Louisville Metro Government recently partnered with the university to customize the project management certificate for their own needs, sending nearly100 employees from 25 different departments through the program.

“This certificate is popular for several reasons,” Chitwood said. “The instructors are real-world, project management practitioners; it’s targeted to working professionals; the course fee is often paid by the employer; and the participants get to learn from each other as well as from the course material.”

The Certificate in Project Management can be earned through a two-course program that runs for 16 weeks. It is offered twice a year on UofL’s Shelby Campus beginning in February and August.

For more details, contact Chitwood at 502-852-8571 or Robbie.chitwood@louisville.edu.