Project managers for learning projects

I recently noticed a spate of advertisments for project managers for learning projects. In all instances, the main skill required was an understanding of the Prince project management methodology - nothing was said about them having to have an understanding of how learning projects are designed, developed and implemented.

In the past I have worked with a number of project managers - all of whom were highly proficient in a particularly project management methodology, Unfortunately they had no experience of how a learning project worked, which meant they were unable to foresee risks or pre-empt problems or even understand how to put right problems that had manifested themselves. That had to be done by the other learning professionals on the project, so that at the end of the day the project manager could say the project had been completed on time and on budget.

If you are thinking about taking on a project manager for a learning project, make sure they have previous experience of working on a learning project - after all do you think a civil engineering firm would take on a project manager who had no experience of working on a building or civil engineering project?

At WHLA we make sure that all projects we undertake are managed by experienced Learning Project Managers.