Project Management in European Union

Total Hours in Course120

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes32

Independent study hours72

Date of course confirmation18.09.2019

Responsible UnitInstitute of Economics and Finance

Course developer

Jolanta Vjakse

Master's study programme(līm.)

Prior knowledge

Ekon1024, Microeconomics

Ekon2029, International Economic Relations

Ekon2081, Finance and Credit

Ekon2121, Macroeconomics

Ekon3111, Financial Accounting

VadZ4054, Risk Management

Replaced course

EkonB011 [GEKOB011] Project Management in European Union

Course abstract

The course provides students with skills to write EU project proposals, beginning with defining a project’s objectives and tasks, describing the project’s activities and planning the cash flow through to assessing the project’s risks. The course provides students with an understanding of EU projects and the basic principles of writing and assessing project proposals.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE of
1) guidelines on European Union funding and their role. Discussions in classes.
2) the urgency of a project (problem) and the project’s goal, objectives and expected results. Discussions in classes, a test.
3) how to describe a project – the activities – and do budgeting and scheduling. Discussions in classes, a test, a project proposal developed.
4) risks for projects and their types and how to identify and assess them. Discussions in classes, a test, a project proposal developed.
5) the phases of a project and how to assess the final stage of the project. Discussions in classes, a project proposal developed.
6) the sustainability and environmental impacts of a project: ecological issues and societal benefits. Discussions in classes, a test.
SKILLS
Professional skills to
1) define the goal, objectives and expected results of a project in line with the terms and conditions set by the funding provider. Practical group work on a project proposal.
2) Prepare a description of a project’s activities and a budget and a schedule for the project. Practical group work on a project proposal.
3) Identify risks for a project, assess the risks and plan risk prevention activities. Practical group work on a project proposal.
4) Prepare a project publicity description and comprehend the need for use of means of communication in practice. Practical group work on a project proposal.
Soft skills to
1) Work in a group to prepare a project proposal. Practical group work on a project proposal.
2) Assume responsibility for group work, plan their own time, summarise opinions and reach a common denominator in the group. Practical group work on a project proposal and a presentation of it.
3) Present a project. Practical group work, a presentation.
COMPETENCES to
1) Practically employ the acquired theoretical knowledge to independently and/or in a group prepare a project proposal. Practical group work on a project proposal and a presentation of it.

2) Practically employ the acquired theoretical knowledge to make a description of a project, assess the long-term effects of the project and come up with solutions to the sustainability of the project’s results. Practical group work, a presentation.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures (16 hours)
1. Definition of a project and the types of projects. EU projects, their specifics. Project development methods. (1h)
2. European Union Structural Funds, their goals and objectives. (1h)
3. European Union funding, its goals and objectives. (1h)
4. Administrative institutions for the EU Structural Funds in Europe and Latvia. (Study tours to the administrative institutions in Latvia – the CFCA etc. are possible) (1 h)
5. Guidelines for project (programme) development, their role in the project development process; an analysis of the guidelines for writing a project proposal. (1h)
6. Definition of a problem and methods for analysis of alternatives to problem solutions. (1h)
7. Basic elements of the European Union project proposal: project feasibility – urgency (problem), the goal, objectives and expected results. A description of an EU project – activities, project budgeting, time scheduling. (1h)
8. Time management in EU projects, its specifics. Personal, group and project time management. Time planning methods. (1h)
9. Risks, their types, identification and assessment in EU projects. The development of a description of risk prevention/mitigation measures for EU projects. (1h)
10. Project manager, its functions and role in project development. The role and principles of EU project team building. (1h)
11. Role of a project team during the development of a European Union project proposal and the implementation of the project. Potential conflicts and their prevention. (1h)
12. Description of a project team/ members for EU projects – the types of professional CV and basic principles of development; the conclusion of a contract. The preparation of a procurement plan for EU projects. (1h)
13. Assessment of the stages and the final stage of an EU project. The importance of sustainability of the EU project, the environment impact of the project: ecological issues and public benefits as a result of the implementation of the project. (1h)
14. Importance of publicity for EU projects, the development of a publicity description. (1h)
15. Development of an information flow mechanism and the promotion of the information flow for EU projects. (1h)
16. EU projects and the maintenance of partnerships with institutions involved in the project. (1h)

Practicals (16 hours)
1. Preparation of an EU project proposal – familiarization with project guidelines: project feasibility – urgency (problem), the goal, objectives; expected results; a test. (2 h)
2. EU project description – activities, project budgeting, time scheduling. (10 h)
3. Time management in EU projects: personal, group and project time management. Time planning methods. (2 h)
4. EU projects and relevant risks – their types, identification and assessment. The development of a description of risk prevention/mitigation measures for EU projects; a test. (6 h)
5. EU project team building. (6 h)
6. Development of publicity measures for an EU project. (2 h)

7. Development of an information flow mechanism and the promotion of the information flow for EU projects. The maintenance of partnerships with institutions involved in a project. The basics of a presentation. The basic principles of a verbal, non-verbal and visual presentation for successfully presenting a project. Project presentation. (4h)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The student must pass two tests on: 1) general matters pertaining to a project; EU funding and the EU Structural Funds; the guidelines for project
development and the role thereof. A student group must develop a project proposal and present it in practicals. The course ends with an examination.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student must independently study general conditions for project development and the types of projects as well as acquire information for preparing a project proposal.
The student must prepare for an examination by independently studying some assignments suggested by the teaching personnel member.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final mark consists of the following pieces of assessment: Test 1 –10%, Test 2 –10%, practical group work on a project proposal – 30% and an examination – 50%.

Compulsory reading

1. Dienas Bizness. Projektu vadīšana (2015). Pieejams: https://www.dbhub.lv/projektu-vadisanas-rokasgramata/lasit/nodala/0
2. ES fondu ieguldījums pa reģioniem un nozarēm. Pieejams: https://www.esfondi.lv/es-fondu-investiciju-progress-latvijas-regionos-un-pasvaldibas
3. Jack R. Meredith, Samuel J. Mantel, Jr. Project management: a managerial approach: international student version. John Wiley & Sons, 2010. p.587
4. Jangs T. L. Kā vadīt projektu. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2009. 152 lpp. ( sērija: Bizness un Karjera)

5. Rokasgrāmata projektu vadīšanā (2013.) NK Konsultāciju birojs. 2013., 182.lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Dienas Bizness: nedēļas laikraksts: ISSN 1407-2041
2. Centrālā finanšu un līgumu aģentūra: https://cfla.gov.lv/lv/
3. Eiropas Savienības finansējums: https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/funding-grants_lv
4. ES fondu Latvijā oficiālā mājaslapa: https://esfondi.lv/sakums
5. Latvijas Republikas tiesību akti: www.likumi.lv
6. Lauku atbalsta dienests: www.lad.gov.lv
7. LR Finanšu ministrija: www.fm.gov.lv

8. Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra: www.liaa.gov.lv

Notes

Field professional specialization course (Part 3) for the ESAF professional bachelor programme Entrepreneurship and Business Management

Atsauksmes