When school’s out for the summer, kids may spend their days at summer camp. But when work’s out for, well, who knows how long, adults might want to consider heading to bootcamp.
Ryerson University’s The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is targeting the recently unemployed and workers who wish to bolster their skills with its new, intensive Project Management Bootcamp.
The 11-week program will provide students six of eight required courses for a certificate in project management, the final two to be completed after the bootcamp in one of three specialized areas: Architecture, engineering and construction; business and information management; or community and health services management.
“The market is tough out there, I realize, but there still seems to be jobs for project managers,” said Peter Monkhouse, the school’s engineering, architecture and science program director. “We’re getting a lot of interest from people who are between jobs in this recession, and who have either worked on projects or are interested in moving into project management.”
From building structures through re-engineering business processes to launching new products and services, Monkhouse said career opportunities in project management are very broad and can be applied to almost any industry.
“All organizations will use projects as some part of their business,” he said. “(Project management) does help individuals who may be in a specific industry that is hit harder by this recession transition into an industry that is looking to grow.”
The bootcamp will also help students prepare to write their Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, a test governed by the Project Management Institute, an international membership organization Monkhouse said is well respected among project management practitioners. It’s also a benefit not afforded to students who enrol in the school’s non-intensive project management program, which could take two to three years to complete, he said.
While Monkhouse taps the bootcamp’s compressed timeframe as its greatest advantage, he also acknowledges how the model restricts time for reflection. “That would be the disadvantage — that you don’t have that time to have the knowledge you gain sort of settle in your mind.”
But for those out of work who aren’t receiving regular paycheques, Monkhouse said the format is particularly ideal. “For people who want to get this knowledge quickly, so they can get back into the workforce and start contributing to society, this will allow them to do that. It really gives them a leg up.”
