How can an idea be transformed into a viable project, international partners engaged, and common mistakes avoided? Master’s students enrolled in the Project Management and Management educational programmes explored these questions during an online meeting entitled Municipal Project Management: From Strategy to International Grants.
The invited speaker was Oksana Kubrak, Head of the Department of Strategic and Socio-Economic Development of Sumy City Council, a certified project manager, and Chair of the Examination Board for students pursuing a degree in Management.
The event provided a platform for professional dialogue among the speaker, academic staff of the Department, and master’s students on the practical application of project management, from identifying strategic priorities to preparing and implementing project initiatives. This interaction contributes to the development of a practice-oriented educational environment in which academic knowledge is integrated with the experience of practitioners and the consideration of real-world management challenges.
During the discussion, participants explored the specific features of planning and implementing projects involving international partners, opportunities for community socio-economic development projects, and effective project management methods and tools. Particular attention was paid to common mistakes and challenging situations arising at different stages of the project life cycle, as well as practical lessons that can help project teams improve their performance.
What did the students gain? Beyond acquiring new knowledge, they gained practical insights relevant to their future professional careers, including a deeper understanding of the project life cycle, the importance of teamwork, stakeholder communication, strategic planning, and responsible resource management. Particularly valuable was the opportunity to learn about real-world challenges and approaches to overcoming them from a professional directly involved in the strategic and socio-economic development of the community.
Such professional dialogues help develop the competencies of a modern project manager: identifying opportunities, planning actions, building partnerships, learning from mistakes, and transforming ideas into tangible results.
We would like to thank Oksana Kubrak for her openness to professional dialogue, valuable practical insights, and the opportunity to see project management in action!
The Project Management educational programme is about more than theory and tools. It offers opportunities to learn from experienced practitioners, develop professional competencies, and prepare to implement projects that deliver tangible change.