After identifying a need to build capacity and skills in project management across the local government sector, the IS has worked with Scotland Excel to jointly develop and deliver a Professional Development Award (PDA) in Project Management (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 8).
The partnership approach for joint delivery was agreed between Scotland Excel and the Improvement Service.
The challenge
The Improvement Service carried out a survey of Change Managers across all Scottish councils in early 2017. The key findings included:
- There was a lack of project management capacity within councils to deliver change and transformation
- There was a role for the IS in terms of training support.
Following the survey, more detailed discussions were held with councils to further explore their support needs. This revealed interest in the East Renfrewshire Council approach, which had developed a PDA in Project Management course for use internally, and provided an opportunity to progress and develop the qualification nationally.
Actions/approach
The partnership approach for joint delivery was agreed between Scotland Excel and the Improvement Service.
Scotland Excel already had Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accreditation and was well placed to deliver the qualification across the sector and become a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Approved Centre.
The Improvement Service facilitates a variety of different networks across local government, including change management and organisational development, so was well placed to promote and deliver the qualification, building in real life experiences which would be relevant to local government professionals.
The SQA set out the criteria that must be met to achieve the qualification; the course content was then developed by the IS and Scotland Excel. The focus of the course is project management in the local government environment and is delivered by staff experienced in the delivery of projects in the public sector to ensure there is real life experience and understanding of the complex environment.
Candidates bring a live project to the course which means that the learning is practical (work-based learning) and the organisation benefits from a project being delivered. The course takes approximately seven months to complete.
The Course is focussed on a proportionate approach to project management with tools and techniques applicable to projects of all types and sizes across local government.
The first cohort of the PDA in Project Management kicked off in August 2018 and due to demand, there is a rolling programme of cohorts. In the first year, six cohorts started.
Impact and results
62 people have completed or are working towards their qualification. 28 candidates have passed to date and 16 different councils have sent candidates on the course.
Feedback from completed cohorts has been positive. Many candidates expressed the value of learning on a live work project and expressed how their confidence has grown, with councils benefitting from their new skills.
I found the work a hard but an enjoyable challenge, I have just been asked to do a business case and to be honest, if I hadn’t just undertaken this course I would have really struggled. You were very good and a great help with presenting the course.
Running mixed council cohorts has been beneficial for the candidates because it helps to build networks and share learning and practice across organisations, which is a key priority of the Change Management Team at the IS.
Being able to meet council staff from other local authorities who work in a similar field has provided extra knowledge and insight as well as contacts for any future projects.
How is the new approach being sustained?
There is an ongoing commitment from Scotland Excel and the Improvement Service to continue their partnership working and delivery of the qualification. So far, six cohorts of the qualification have started; three have completed and the other three are in progress at different stages of the qualification.
The rolling programme of the qualification is continuing, with new intakes scheduled for September 2019.
All candidates are encouraged to link in with our Change Manager’s Network for sharing lessons learned and best practice.
Lessons learned
Feedback has been gathered formally after each workshop and candidates are encouraged to share feedback and lessons learned as they progress through the course. This information is used on a continuous basis to develop materials; teaching styles and support available through the course This has included developing pre-course information to ensure candidates and their place of work understand the work load and expectations of the course.
Furthermore, lessons learned has shown the conversations and sharing of experiences and practices in the cohorts which have been made up of a range of councils have been an added benefit to the course, where possible we will be encouraging cohorts of mixed organisations going forward.
Next steps
Similar to the identified need for project management skills, our change management contacts have identified that there is a lack of skills for supporting business analysis in local government in terms of identifying and evidencing the case for change.
Based on the learning and experience from delivering the PDA in Project Management, the IS and Scotland Excel have developed a work-based learning qualification to upskill colleagues in Business Analysis. This launched in August 2019.