Hi everyone,


Can I have a suggestion for the best educational routes for me:


• NTNU: Master of Management – Project management

• Skema: Executive MBA – Project management


Currently I am working as a project manager within the construction industry, and I am responsible for medium to large scale projects.


Here are my goals:

- Increase my skillset within the field of project management.

- Have the possibility to work with international companies and/or projects.

- Open opportunities for executive roles in the future, e.g. Project Director or above.

- I have an MSc in petroleum engineering/geology and wish to have a more general branding for my formal education. Since I will most likely not work in the petroleum industry in the future.


NTNU is the golden standard for engineering industries in Norway, however for personal reasons I wish to obtain a Global Executive MBA in project management. Generally, an MBA has more weight then a Master of management (even though it is experience based, 2 years).

I have also considered Wu: Professional MBA in Project management. This program is less flexible, and I doubt my employer will cover expenses for this program.


My concern is in terms of ROI, since both Skema and Wu is not highly recognized in Norway.

[Edited by LookingToFind on Nov 16, 2020]

This makes no sense to me. No MBA will give you a better project management education than an APM or PMI qualification. Take that and then, if you need an MBA, take an MBA. 

APM seems to be a UK specific, I have never heard about it.


PMP certification I am planning to take; however, it is not widely used in the construction industry (at least in Norway). I have never seen a job advertisement where it is required for project management. Only a handful job advertisement has stated that it is an advantage, mostly for IT jobs. The same goes for Prince2. The other downside to these certifications is that it does not provide networking with other project managers, as well as not getting educated by industry professionals/professors. 




I can see how an MBA does not help me become a better project management (maybe 10 %), however an MBA with specialization in project management will be more relevant. You can say it gives 2 in 1, a master’s in project management and an MBA. The project management part is for enhancing project manager skills, whereas the MBA part makes me prepared for executive roles in the future.



An alternative is to take a master’s in project management at (e.g. NTNU) and then take a high ranked MBA in the future, when needed. However, I feel 2 masters can quickly become to excessive. 



Alternatives:


1. MBA in project management.

2. PMP and Prince2. Take MBA when needed.  

3. Master’s in project management. Take MBA when needed.  

[Edited by LookingToFind on Nov 16, 2020]

The MBA is not well known in Norway. Focus on your goals and see what training people have in your target roles.