Work Based and Placement Learning Project Management

Assignment Brief

Principal Accountabilities:

1. Task leadership for planning the delivery of the Work Based and Placement Learning Project in collaboration with relevant Academic and Professional Services colleagues in line with the objectives set for the project. Monitoring overall progress, resolving issues and initiating actions, as appropriate.
2. Line management of the Work Based and Placement Learning Project Officer, including responsibility for training and development of staff and ensuring objectives for this post are set and monitored within the university’s framework.
3. Effective development and implementation of project management and governance arrangements to ensure the delivery of the WB & PL project is to appropriate levels of quality and to UoW’s risk management requirements, in keeping with the timelines and overall project aims and that progress is reported at regular intervals to the WB & PL Steering Group and other relevant stakeholder groups.
4. To ensure that relevant processes and systems for monitoring, tracking and reporting activities and progress are developed with input from the WB & PL Steering Group and in collaboration with Strategic Planning and Performance, Student Mobility and Quality & Standards teams, and clearly communicated to stakeholders.
5. Engage with and build effective relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, development and monitoring of action plans, analysing relevant risks within the context of the overall project and relevant to the objectives of the project.
6. Responsibility for ensuring effective quality assurance and the overall consistency of the project with internal processes, in collaboration with Academic Standards, Student Mobility and Careers and Employability as well as Strategic Planning and Performance teams.
7. To lead and maintain sustained engagement with stakeholders across the University via appropriate communication, ensuring consistent messages across the life of the project. This includes working with the Communications team to create and disseminate communication campaigns, aligned with the priorities of the project.
8. Oversee and where necessary manage the development, maintenance and dissemination of accurate and up-to-date data, information and documentation for stakeholders on the progress of the WB & PL project via the creation of a channel dedicated to WB & PL.
9. To attend relevant meetings, and represent the WB & PL Project team on appropriate committees and forums as directed by the CES Manager. 10. Undertake any other such duties within the competence of the post holder as may be assigned by the Careers and Employability Service Manager.

Sample Answer

Work Based and Placement Learning (WB & PL) Project Management

Introduction

Effective project management is essential to ensure the successful delivery of university initiatives such as the Work Based and Placement Learning (WB & PL) Project. This involves planning, monitoring, and leading project activities while engaging with stakeholders and ensuring alignment with institutional objectives and quality standards. This report evaluates the principal accountabilities of the role, highlighting leadership, governance, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance responsibilities.

Task Leadership and Monitoring

The project leader is responsible for planning and overseeing the delivery of the WB & PL project. This includes collaborating with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure objectives are met, monitoring overall progress, resolving issues promptly, and initiating corrective actions. Effective leadership ensures that project activities remain on schedule and aligned with strategic goals (PMI, 2021).

Line Management

A key accountability is the line management of the WB & PL Project Officer. This involves setting objectives, monitoring performance, and providing training and development opportunities. Effective line management supports staff competence and ensures that project tasks are executed efficiently. The manager must also evaluate staff contributions against the university’s performance framework, promoting accountability and continuous improvement.

Governance and Risk Management

The role requires developing and implementing project management and governance arrangements that meet the University of Wolverhampton’s (UoW) risk management and quality standards. This includes reporting progress to the WB & PL Steering Group and other relevant stakeholders. Governance ensures that all project activities are transparent, controlled, and aligned with institutional priorities. Risk management involves identifying potential threats, assessing their impact, and implementing strategies to mitigate them (Kerzner, 2017).

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

Sustained engagement with stakeholders is critical. This includes internal stakeholders such as academic departments, student mobility teams, and quality assurance teams, as well as external partners. Communication strategies must ensure consistent messaging, clear dissemination of progress updates, and the development of action plans. Working closely with the Communications team allows for campaigns that align with project objectives, enhancing visibility and buy-in (Freeman, 2010).

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