Project management training program for student design competition teams

Engineering design competition teams have become popular over the last decade. Design competitions, such as solar car and formula SAE, offer a unique opportunity to teach project management in an environment that requires students to work in a true multidisciplinary team atmosphere. The project and competition illustrates project management techniques more realistically than classroom lectures. The University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) offers students the opportunity to participate in a program that provides project management training. The techniques promoted in the training program target the efficient management of the limited resources available to each design competition team. Key topics covered include strategic planning, human resource management, organizational structures, budgets, schedules, and effective communication. The project management training program at UMR is offered early in the fall semester each year. Students are encouraged to formulate strategic plans, schedules, and budgets during the training. Project management tools are introduced specific to each team's project needs. This allows the students to learn project management philosophies "hands-on". The unique approach appeals to the students and encourages continued practice of the techniques introduced. The program offers assistance to each team throughout the remainder of the project's life cycle. The largest challenge facing most design competition teams is the proper management of their available resources. Learning proper project management techniques provides the students an additional edge in successfully completing their projects and an additional skill when they enter the workforce as practicing engineers.