Developing Projects, Building Skills and Sharing Perspectives: MSM’s Project Management Programme

“I really liked the combination of both formats. The online part gave us the theoretical background and helped us understand the concepts in depth. Then, during the face-to-face sessions, we had the opportunity to put everything into practice. For me, that was the most valuable part because we worked on real projects and could immediately see how the tools and methods could be applied,” said Ms Josette Saravia (Peru) on the final day of MSM’s Short Executive Programme in Project Management.

The programme was offered in two formats: a fully online version running from 6 April to 29 May 2026, and a blended version, which included a five-day face-to-face training in Maastricht from 1 to 5 June 2026.

When asked about her motivation to join the programme, Ms Saravia explained: “I already had some knowledge about project management, but it was mostly from a theoretical perspective. I wanted to learn how to apply those concepts in a practical way and stay updated with current management practices. I was also looking for ideas to improve processes in my company and thought it would be a great opportunity to learn from other professionals and hear about their projects and experiences.”

Ms Luisa Baca (Peru) was motivated by the opportunity to further professionalise her project management expertise in an international setting: “I applied to this programme to bridge the gap between my practical experience and global project management standards. Maastricht University stood out to me because of its international environment and practical approach. The format allowed me to gain high-impact skills to contribute successfully to complex projects.”

Developed by Mr Rui Miguel Santos, the online component of the programme provided participants with a solid foundation in project management theory. Through guided online learning activities, participants explored topics such as project identification and initiation, project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder management, budgeting, and project leadership.

Ms Hagar Raha (The Netherlands), who participated in the online format, explained why she chose the programme: “I came to this programme with project management experience from my own doctoral research project at the School of Oriental and African Studies and from supporting project management in an international donor-funded project at Leiden University. I wanted to formalise that knowledge with a structured academic framework. The online Executive Programme provided me with this opportunity as it provides credible content from a reputable institution while allowing me to continue manage family commitments in Delft. The practical orientation of the curriculum was particularly appealing as one could immediately relate the knowledge to actual scenarios from professional background.”

She was also very positive about the online learning experience and the programme’s lead trainer: “The lead trainer has been excellent; bringing both academic rigour and practitioner insight to the sessions. The teaching approach encourages critical thinking rather than simply absorbing frameworks. The feedback on assignments has been constructive and motivating. On top of that, he has been very approachable which is useful in an online learning environment. The study material has been also rich and interesting; introducing the basic foundation to the understanding of project management practices.”

For participants who joined the blended format, the learning experience continued in Maastricht, where the focus shifted towards the practical application of concepts acquired during the online phase. The face-to-face week was led by Mr Hans Nijhoff and Ms Gigi Limpens, who guided participants through the different stages of the project lifecycle. Sessions focused on project identification and initiation, project monitoring, project planning, project execution, leadership in project environments, sustainability, conflict handling, negotiation, and personal effectiveness.

Reflecting on the blended learning approach, Ms Baca shared: “My learning experience was extremely positive. I found this blended format to be highly effective, as it provided flexibility and also valuable opportunities for discussion, networking and practical application of the concepts learned.”

A key characteristic of the Project Management programme is its highly international and multicultural learning environment. Participants from different countries and professional backgrounds come together to exchange experiences and learn from each other’s perspectives.

Ms Saravia described her experience as follows: “It was a very positive experience. I felt supported throughout the programme, both by the professors and my classmates. The professors were always open to questions and feedback, and the different backgrounds and perspectives of the participants made the discussions much more interesting. I learned a lot not only from the course content but also from the experiences shared by the group.”

Ms Baca also highlighted the value of learning in an international classroom: “The multicultural learning environment was one of the most valuable and rewarding aspects of the programme, allowing us to share distinct industry insights and cultural approaches to leadership. In addition, this experience gave me a deeper understanding of how different perspectives can contribute to effective decision-making and project success.

Ms Raha also appreciated learning alongside participants from different sectors and professional backgrounds: “This has been an enriching aspect of the programme. The participants come from different professional backgrounds and sectors which makes one think of project management in different light beyond one’s own experience. It is only a shame that the project is concentrated in time and so there is a limited interaction with the rest of participants to absorb and learn more from their experiences.”

About the Project Management programme
MSM’s Short Executive Programme in Project Management equips participants with the practical tools, methodologies, and skills needed to design, implement, monitor, and manage projects effectively. By combining theory with practical application and real-life examples, the programme enables participants to immediately apply their learning in their professional context.

Would you like to join the Project Management programme as well?
The Project Management programme is now offered in three formats: Blended Class-based, Online Class-based, and Online Flex Start. This allows participants to choose the learning format that best fits their schedule and professional needs. Click here for more information about the programme and how to apply.

About MSM’s Short Executive Programmes
Today’s rapidly changing societies and economies demand the most from organisations, leaders, managers and professionals. MSM’s Short Executive Programmes for emerging markets are developed to achieve a successful and sustainable transformation of both individuals and organisations to support local economic development and business management.