Project Management Skills for Non-management Students from the Perspective of Education for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Project management skills (PM skills) play an essential role in ad­vancing sustainable development (SD) objectives. Project management as a goal-oriented approach aligns with the SD framework. They provide a struc­tured framework for planning, implementing, and monitoring projects, mak­ing them invaluable for advancing Sustainable Development Goals. They support effective stakeholder engagement, risk management, and adaptive approaches, while also fostering cross-cutting competencies that are vital for addressing sustainability challenges in diverse contexts. Project management is crucial in the workplace nowadays, and possessing these skills can significantly enhance students’ employability prospects. This research aims to analyze the coverage of project management skills and competencies in the Ukrainian academic standards and generalize the rec­ommendations for effectively embedding these skills into the curriculum. Methodology. Qualitative content analysis of Ukrainian academic standards developed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. 38 academ­ic standards for master’s contain project management skills. There are chal­lenges with the implementation of the standards in terms of alignment be­tween the standards and the academic programmes, including teach­ing-learning-assessment practices. Project-based learning and interdisciplinary projects are essential for ESD and PM skills development. Interdisciplinarity is a pillar of ESD and this will open project management concepts and practices for non-management students as they navigate the complexities of team dynamics, task delegation, and project coordination. Mentoring and peer-to-peer learning could be effec­tive tools for ESD and for PM-skills development. Peer learning groups where senior students can guide non-management students in developing project management skills. The mentorship can provide valuable guidance, feedfor­ward, and feedback throughout project-based learning.