On 11 and 12 October 2023, the Student Affairs and Professional Development Office (SAPDO) organized a workshop on EU Project Management by expert guest Mr Rui Miguel SANTOS at the College of Europe in Natolin. This workshop was structured into three insightful sections, each designed to equip participants with an understanding of essential project management aspects.
In the first section on “Theory of Action”, students delved into the foundational aspects of EU project management. They gained an understanding of the main structural elements within a project and how these elements interact as part of a logic model. Students also explored the project's life cycle and its various stages. They developed the capability to define the key tasks to be performed during each stage of the project's life cycle.
The second section of the workshop focused on the 'Context of Change'. Here, students deepened their knowledge of different types of assumptions and their role in the vertical logic of projects. Understanding that assumptions are the known risks during the project's design phase was a key takeaway. Additionally, students were equipped with insights into risk assessment techniques and the skills to prepare comprehensive risk management strategies.
The final section, 'Quantification of Change,' provided students with the tools to measure the impact of their projects effectively and to distinguish different types of indicators required to measure the different levels of the “Theory of Action”. They also became familiar with the criteria for selecting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and CREAM (Cost-effective, Relevant, Easy, Achievable, Monitorable) indicators. Understanding the evaluation criteria measured by these diverse indicators was a key component of this section. Finally, students grasped the significance of baselines and targets and how these elements are instrumental in determining a project's value for money.
The workshop not only provided valuable insights into EU project management but also offered a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing.
About the trainer
Mr SANTOS is an expert and trainer in Results-Based Management and Evaluation of Development Programs & Projects. He has been the CEO of the Group CESO for more than 25 years, a consultancy company that has worked in more than 35 countries and specializes in European projects.