For many project teams, the value of a productive and self-sufficient PA is under-estimated. The critical tasks performed by project administrators have been left in the shadows of the "real" work that happens in projects.
This is soon to change with a new offering from Faculty Training Institute (FTI).
In keeping with its tradition of leading the way in professional career training, FTI is launching a three-day course specifically for project administrators.
Up until now, project administrators have either entered project teams from secretarial-related roles or from technical positions with little or no formal training in the specific skills required of a project administrator. New project administrators generally do not have the knowledge and project-related skills required to perform adequately in support of the project team and the success of the project.
What is needed is a focus on equipping new project administrators with the skills appropriate to the position so they can not only take the administration load off the project manager, but can provide a dependable backbone of support to the entire project team.
This is the reason behind FTI`s introduction of its newest short course, the Certificate in Project Administration (CPA). The CPA is a three-day course specifically designed to develop the skills of that greatly undervalued back office role behind the success of every project team: the project administrator.
While the focus is on developing competent project administrators, Brent Combrink, course developer at FTI, sees this course as an entry point into the project management profession.
"This is the ideal starting point for people looking to develop their careers in project management as this course covers the essential administrative skills required by every project manager," says Combrink.
The CPA is ideally suited to aspiring project administrators and project managers from any industry. People in other administrative roles will also benefit from the course`s hands-on and methodical approach to administration. Typical roles include first line managers and supervisors, IT team leaders, personal assistants, secretaries, sales assistants and personnel and HR consultants.
FTI, known for its well-proven method of training using a combination of theory and practical exercises, is keeping this approach for the CPA course. Included with the course materials are templates and forms that delegates can use directly at the office.
Combrink emphasised that the course outcomes include both technical and soft skills. "The learning is focused on the whole project administrator. After all, who would want to employ a person who can keep an orderly project repository, but who misses deadlines or doesn`t gel with the project team?"
Topics covered range from project management fundamentals, basic MS Project skills, document management and employee administration to personal time management, team skills, progress reporting and e-mail etiquette.
The course will be offered from May in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Call FTI to book your seats on (021) 683 4506 or e-mail us at info@fti.co.za. For more information, download the course overview from our Web site at www.fti.co.za and follow the links to Courses, then Portfolio.
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