AMPM mission
Dear prospective AMPM student
Since its inception, the Master of Project Management (MPM) programme has achieved remarkable success. Graduates have leveraged their education to enhance managerial professionalism in diverse sectors, including NGOs, businesses, corporations, government, and various international and transnational agencies.
The AMPM programme is uniquely structured, blending specific and general components. Students acquire specialised project, portfolio, and programme management skills crucial for organisational success. Simultaneously, they develop and strengthen overarching managerial competencies. The programme is underpinned by rigorous academic standards and a commitment to professionalism, enriched by the opportunity to engage with inspiring individuals. This fusion fosters both personal growth and professional advancement.
By balancing academic depth with practical application, the AMPM programme provides students with a robust theoretical foundation while actively contributing to the evolution of project management as an academic field. From the outset, students gain practical methods and tools immediately applicable in their professional settings.
The growing global trends underscore the escalating demand for skilled project managers. Major international organisations, such as the European Union, are increasingly adopting project-oriented methodologies, highlighting the essential nature of this expertise for future managers. The program offers a diverse global perspective with faculty from various countries, including Denmark, Germany, Britain, Scotland, Pakistan, Iceland, Switzerland, and the USA.
The AMPM programme is not just an academic journey; it's a gateway to becoming an effective, forward-thinking manager in a world where project-oriented approaches are becoming increasingly vital. We invite you to explore this opportunity and ignite your potential.
Dr Haukur Ingi Jonasson
Dr Helgi Thor Ingason
Programme Directors
History of MPM
In the fall of 2005, Reykjavik University proudly launched its Master of Project Management (MPM) programme, led by Dr. Helgi Þór Ingason and Dr. Haukur Ingi Jónasson. The programme was designed to meet the high educational standards of leading international organisations in project management, including the International Association of Project Management Associations (IPMA), the Association of Project Management (APM) in the UK, and the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the USA. A key feature of the MPM programme has been its emphasis on innovation and active student participation in real-world projects.
The programme was founded on the principle that effective project management is essential for strategic execution, necessitating a blend of knowledge, skills, and practical application. It placed considerable importance on critical reflection, self-awareness, and the ability to engage in constructive action. The programme also highlighted the critical role of effective communication with various groups and teams. Over time, the MPM programme evolved, adapting to the contributions from both domestic and international educators and keeping pace with the expanding body of knowledge in project management. This discipline has seen substantial growth in the past decade, particularly in Europe, Australia, and Asia, mirroring a worldwide surge in demand for individuals equipped with robust project management skills and internationally recognised certifications.
The MPM programme has focused on collaboration with distinguished international academics since its inception. Dr. Morten Fangel, a former chairman of IPMA, was a prominent faculty member from the beginning. Likewise, Dr. Darren Dalcher, Professor of IT Project Management at Middlesex University in London, and Dr. Steven Eppinger from the Sloan School of Management at MIT in Boston have been integral to the programme's success. The programme also benefited from the expertise of Florence Kennedy from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and Bob Dignen and Steve Flinders from York Associates in the UK, who shared their knowledge of cultural influences on collaboration in project groups. Contributions also came from Professor Ethne Swarts of Fairleigh Dickinson University and Markus Zoller, CEO of RUAG Defence, both experts in crisis management, along with Mark Morgan, founder of the Stanford Advanced Project Management Programme (SAPM) at Stanford University and author of "Executing Your Strategy."
The programme has hosted many prestigious guests, including Dr. Rodney Turner, Tom Taylor, and Jonathan Norman, each bringing unique insights into project management principles and practices. In an innovative approach, Judy Carter, a US-based stand-up comedian, and Rafael Bianciotto, a clown master from Italy/France, were invited to conduct workshops on applying comedy and clown methods in project leadership. Management consultants Birgitta Greger and Fabian Berg from HLP Management Consultants in Frankfurt brought practical dimensions to the programme. Experts like Benjamin Lund and Sofus Clemmensen from Denmark contributed their knowledge in international negotiations and strategies for managing disputes and failing projects. Dr. Manfred Ketz de Vries, a distinguished clinical professor of leadership development and organisational change, shared his profound insights into leadership and management dynamics.
The programme also featured the 'Mindhunters' Dr Alan and Dr Ann Wolbert Burgess from the William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College, who are leaders in criminal psychology, and Dr Alan Roland and Dr Ann Belford Ulanov, New York-based psychoanalysts, who spoke on the application of psychodynamic insights in understanding diverse cultures in international projects. Visits from Miles Shepherd, Director for PMI’s Global Accreditation Centre and past Chair of the ISO committee, and Håkan Westman, who spoke on APM and IPMA and organisational maturity and leadership, further enriched the programme. Dr. Pauline Muchina from Kenya, the representative for Africa at the American Friends Service Committee, also contributed her unique expertise. Each of these individuals significantly impacted the development of the MPM programme at Reykjavik University. Furthermore, numerous Icelandic educators have left their mark on the programme, infusing it with their expertise and local insights. This blend of international and local faculty has enriched the programme, providing students with a diverse and comprehensive learning experience in project management.
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Philosophy
The philosophy of the Advanced Master of Project Management (AMPM) programme at Reykjavik University is centred around a deep commitment to fostering a new generation of project leaders who are not only proficient in their field but also ethically responsible, sustainability-focused, and adept at navigating and sustaining transitions as to cultivate the increasingly projectified world.
Professing Professionalism: Responsibility and Sustainability
- We lay a core emphasis on responsibility and sustainability. Project management should achieve immediate goals and consider the longer-term impact on society and the environment. Our curriculum is, therefore, designed to instil a sense of responsibility in our students, encouraging them to make sustainable and beneficial decisions for both current and future generations.
Transformative Leadership: Growth and Development
- We aspire to develop leaders who can effectively adapt and manage complex change and transformation as leading through transitions, whether in technology, organisational structures, or market dynamics, is critical in today's fast-paced world.
- We equip students with the tools and insights to guide organisations through such changes successfully.
- We nurture creative, ethical, and critical thinking, and our students are encouraged to think outside the box, approach problems strategically and innovatively, and uphold the highest ethical standards in their decision-making processes.
Project Pedagogy: Innovative Action Learning
- We believe in experiential action learning, where students get hands-on opportunities with real-world problems and gain practical experience alongside theoretical knowledge.
- We enhance well-defined learning outcomes that prepare students for the practical challenges they will face in their careers.
- We employ state-of-the-art teaching methods, including flipped classrooms, podcasts, case studies, coaching, supervision, and mentoring.
- Our method encourages active, student-centred learning, allowing for more in-depth discussions and engagement during class time.
Global Expertise: Current Knowledge
- We produce podcasts with world-leading experts that give our students up-close-and-personal insights from the world’s brightest minds in the field.
- We constantly benchmark against the most up-to-date knowledge in the field.
- We follow leading journals and actively search for relevant trends in project management and the broader local and global society.
- We ensure our students learn at the cutting edge of current knowledge and practices.
Our philosophy is to create a learning environment that shapes responsible, sustainable, and transformative leaders. We aim to equip our students with the technical skills required for project management and the ethical, critical, and creative thinking skills necessary to lead in a complex and ever-changing global landscape.
Collaboration
The Advanced Master of Project Management (AMPM) programme at Reykjavik University stands out for its extensive collaborative network, encompassing a wide range of partnerships with accreditation bodies, government institutions, professional associations, local businesses, NGOs, and cultural institutions, as well as leading international academics and practitioners. This rich tapestry of collaborations significantly enhances the educational experience, ensuring the programme’s relevance, practicality, and global perspective.
The AMPM programme at Reykjavik University is a hub of collaborative excellence, drawing on a diverse network of partnerships to provide a project management education that is comprehensive, current, and connected. By engaging with a wide array of institutions, from professional bodies and businesses to cultural and educational institutions, the programme equips students to become proficient project managers ready to make a significant impact in various sectors and on a global stage.