THEProject - Collegiate Competition

WHAT IS THEProject?

THEProject is an annual collegiate project management competition offered by the Western Michigan Project Management Institute (WMPMI). This is our 9th annual competition. Although project management tends to favor business, computer science, and engineering curriculums, students of all academic disciplines are highly encouraged to participate. THEProject engages college students in the practice of project management, develops their leadership skills, and provides them with a showcase to demonstrate their leadership abilities on stage and in person with business and community leaders from West Michigan.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Student teams comprised of 3 to 6 students from colleges and universities in the Western Michigan area must provide solutions for a real-life scenario in the form of a project plan. Each team is provided a detailed scenario and assigned a PMP® (project management professional) certified mentor to teach them how to transform their solutions into project plans using the initiating and planning processes documented in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (a.k.a., the PMBOK). Teams are judged on their use of proper project management techniques, the quality of their solutions, and their ability to present their project plans.

The event day, which takes place on the second Monday in April, includes team presentations and keynote speakers. And, of course, there is plenty of good food and networking opportunities. The top four teams in the competition will receive cash prizes. Teams that do not place in the final four may receive prizes in a variety of categories during the awards presentation.

This competition is an excellent tool to teach real world skills to students, to incite an interest in project management as a career, and to ignite an understanding of how complex problems can be solved and solutions delivered using tools that have been honed in the fires of real-life practice.

If you have any questions, please send an email to THE Project@wmpmi.org

Thank you to all the champions, mentors, PMO panelists, and core team!

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL the participants!

THE PURPOSE

THEProject engages college students in the practice of project management, develops their leadership skills, and provides a showcase to demonstrate their leadership abilities to business and community leaders. THEProject 2020 is the 9th annual collegiate project management competition offered by the Western Michigan Project Management Institute (WMPMI).

ALSO A CHANCE TO WIN MONEY

Although project management tends to favor business, computer science, and engineering curriculums, students in all academic disciplines are highly encouraged to participate. Students from colleges and universities throughout the WMPMI service area help create solutions for a real-life scenario in the form of a project plan. Monetary prizes are awarded to the individual participants and trophies are presented to the top teams.

The 2020 Scenario for THEProject is focused on:

Inspiring Young Adults To Be The Project Managers And Project Leaders For The Future

Read about THE Project 2020 scenario

Each team was provided a detailed scenario and assigned a PMP (project management professional) certified mentor to teach them how to transform their solutions into project plans using the initiating and planning processes documented in a guide called the Project Management Body of Knowledge (a.k.a., the PMBOK). Due to COVID-19, the format and evaluation were adjusted. The teams completed the three rubrics and submitted their Project Plan Books for review and scoring by April 6, 2020. Formal recorded presentations were not required but are still encouraged to be submitted by May 15, 2020.

The winning teams were chosen based on demonstration of proper project management techniques, the quality of their solutions, and their Project Plan Books.

Western Michigan University