PMI launches new courses to address construction challenges and rapid industrialization as urban population swells

Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading association for project professionals and changemakers, has launched Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (CPBEP)™, its first industry-specific solution tailored for construction professionals.

As urban population centers swell, climate change intensifies, and emerging economies mature, the demand for major infrastructure projects—and the individuals who manage them—is rapidly increasing. In fact, McKinsey found that $3.5 trillion in yearly global economic infrastructure investment will be needed through 2035.

While the demand for infrastructure projects increases, building infrastructure that stand the test of time has also been a source of concern for stakeholders. On November 1, 2021, Nigerians were stumped by reports of the collapse of a 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Nigeria’s most affluent neighbourhood which is home to the country’s extreme upper-class citizens.

More than 40 people died under the building. This case is not peculiar to Nigeria, the world over, infrastructure projects fail.

To understand the challenges and opportunities facing construction professionals and organizations, PMI said it worked with leading construction organizations and subject matter experts to identify common issues in the industry and create learning solutions to help construction professionals evolve their project management skills and lead their projects and organizations forward.

The courses and micro-credentials can help these professionals through upskilling to ensure they have the power and technical skills needed to deliver projects of all sizes more successfully, especially as construction organizations experiment with various new technologies and ramp up their work.

Challenges unique to the construction industry are detracting project outcomes and taking a toll on the professionals leading these projects—and the companies funding them.

In 2020, PMI surveyed more than 40,000 global Project Management Professional (PMP) ® certification holders in the construction industry and found that 72 percent of them experience project delays always or often, 70 percent experience scope creep always or often, and 73 percent of projects ended over budget.

“History tells us that the construction industry typically underperforms, but that doesn’t have to be the industry’s future,” said Ben Breen, Global Head of Construction, PMI. “With more than 50 years in the project management industry, PMI is uniquely positioned to help equip professionals with the skills needed to transform the surging industry through developing these innovative learning methods and practices.”

The new offering includes seven online learning courses, three of which include the opportunity to earn a micro-credential upon course completion. The first three courses are now available:

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• Built Environment Project Communication Pro – This micro-credential with a course focuses on the power of effective communication and how to improve this skill, specifically in a construction environment.

• Scope and Change Order Management in the Built Environment – This course focuses on project outcomes and understanding how technology can support scope development, management, and change order processes.

• Interface Management in the Built Environment – This course focuses on the effective management of communications, relationships, and deliverables among various stakeholders in large, complex projects.

The remaining four courses will launch in 2022, along with the capstone exam that will award the CPBEP™ certification to professionals who pass the exam.