This course prepares you for participating in or managing projects. You will learn about leading project management methods, work on project simulations in teams, and experience the different factors that determine the successful completion of a project.
This is one of our most-wanted courses - the applied approach and the PRINCE2® certification has attracted hunderds of students over the years. Today’s environment requires organisations to continuously change policies, processes or practices - changes often organised as projects: unique, temporary efforts, performed by multi-disciplinary teams. Projects need project managers that structure complex tasks, keep an overview and have great social skills. This course prepares you for all this by combining theoretical background with a practical approach to project management. You will learn about state of the art project management methods, work on project simulations in teams. Part of the assessment is the PRINCE2® Foundation Exam. You can earn the official certificate.
Everything changes, and nothing remains the same. More than ever, this is true for the competitive environment of organisations. Many changes are managed as projects: unique efforts that require the organisation of resources of different disciplines, capabilities and organisational units. Project management is becoming increasingly important to execute projects in a controlled way. Designing the right approach to a project, planning deadlines, working with multi-disciplinary teams, personal strengths and weaknesses; these are all challenges a project manager needs to deal with.
This course prepares you for participating in or managing projects. You will learn about leading project management methods, work on project simulations in teams, and experience the different factors that determine the successful completion of a project.
As part of the course assessment, you will have the opportunity to do the PRINCE2® Foundation Exam and earn the official certificate. PRINCE2® is one of the leading approaches to project management which describes procedures to coordinate people and activities in a project, how to design and supervise the project, and what to do if the project has to be adjusted if it does not develop as planned.
Next to the theoretical background, in the form of the PRINCE2® methodology, the course also offers a practical approach. You will develop your skills in project management in a one week hands-on project simulation in which you will perform various team assignments and will act as a project manager in various settings. An excursion to an important project in the Netherlands is part of the course.
The second week of the course offers a ‘learning by applying’ project simulation. Participants will experience the dynamics and teamwork that make working in projects so special. During this simulation, the trainers build upon the theoretical knowledge developed in the first week and will provide additional input from the other project management standards, change management and team development.
The content has been developed from the perspective of projects as temporary organisations that realise change in, or between, organisations. The central question is: How can a project manager, together with their project team, successfully and sustainably realise outputs and outcomes of the project? The course follows the logical phasing of a project:
In addition to these project management activities, the participants will engage in peer observation, reflection and feedback in order to enhance the learning experience.
PRINCE2 ® is a registered trademark of AXELOS Limited. For more information, click here.
Please note: The fee also includes participation in the official PRINCE2 ® Foundation examination.
What previous students said about this course:
"It was really challenging both for learning, and self-development" (student from Italy, previous summer).
No matter what your profession will be, this will be useful in every career!
Gilbert Silvius, PhD MBA
Bert Hedeman, MSc
Dagmar Zuchi, PhD MBA
This course is open to students in all fields, as long as you wish to develop your project management skills and realise that it takes a lot of personal effort to develop those. A good command of the English language is essential.
A good command of English is necessary! Given the interactive nature of teaching, students must have the capabilities to actively contribute in class and communicate (understand and speak) in English well, ideally min level B2.
After successful completion of this programme, you will have a clear focus on project management from both a theoretical as well as a practical (personal) perspective. If you have successfully completed the PRINCE2® Foundation examination, you will obtain a certificate for this. The specific learning outcomes of the programme are:
105 hours of lectures/group assignments + exam preparation (including self-study).
Please note: You must attend all learning activities (e.g. workshops, fieldwork) to be able to receive the Certificate of Participation and/or the credits for this course, unless absence is officially approved by the teachers and the coordinator of the Utrecht Summer School.
The course fee presented applies to all students currently enrolled in a bachelor, master or PhD programme and to 'Fresh Alumni'.
If this applies to you and you therefore believe that you are eligible for this fee, please mention this in your motivation when applying for this course.
If you are NOT currently enrolled in a bachelor, master or PhD programme or not a 'Fresh Alumni' , a professional fee of € 1.875 is applicable, and will be invoiced and visible for you in your account once you are accepted to the course. Please note: if you do not provide proof that you are currently enrolled in a bachelor, master or PhD programme or that you are a Fresh Alumni', we will charge the ‘professional (higher) fee!
Lunch options
During the summer, food courts and food trucks on the campus are closed. The supermarket and restaurant are open, and in our dormitories there is a kitchen and fridge for home-made lunch. Besides we offer a 5 Days’ Sandwich Lunch package that you can collect at the restaurant on Utrecht Science Park everyday in the lunchbreak.
You can add this 5 Days’ Lunch package as a separate product once you are fully enrolled to the course. The price for the package is 60 Euros per week and can be ordered until two weeks prior to the start of your course.
The housing costs do not include a Utrecht Summer School sleeping bag and travel pillow (which you can take home after the course). Please note that the Sleeping bag is to be chosen as a separate product on the invoice (€50).
If you wish not to buy the Summerschool Sleeping bag and travel pillow and rather bring your own bedding (sleeping bag and pillow), do not forget to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow! In all cases, do bring your own towels, please.