Junior Achievement USA (JA), the leading youth education nonprofit teaching K-12 students real-world financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work-readiness skills, today unveiled a new online project management training module for teens. Created with the support of the PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF), the free Web-based module helps them acquire and apply project management knowledge as they simulate managing a fictional community service project.
Funded through a PMIEF grant, “Project Management Module on Demand – Powered by PMIEF” is hosted within JA’s innovative online Learning Management System (LMS) in addition to other JA content targeted to middle and high school students. The interactive module introduces teens to project management concepts to not only help them build essential skills for academic and career success, but to also support their participation in JA’s myriad of programs. These programs enable students to develop, strengthen and practice 21st century skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity through a blended learning approach that includes experiential activities.
“Project Management Module on Demand – Powered by PMIEF” will be piloted with a select group of JA participants across the country before it is fine-tuned for national dissemination.
JA programs are facilitated by a volunteer, usually from the local business community, who shares his or her personal and professional experiences to enhance student learning. JA’s blended learning model allows volunteers to collaborate in the delivery of JA content, thereby leveraging numerous individuals’ skillsets and expertise for the benefit of students. Members of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for which PMIEF is the philanthropic arm, often volunteer with JA in their local community.
“JA prepares young people to succeed in a world that demands, highly competitive, globally sophisticated skills,” said Michael DePrisco, PMIEF Chief Operating Officer and PMI Vice President of Academic and Educational Programs. “Project management skills are necessary for students to attain their educational and occupational goals as well as to contribute to the world’s economy. This partnership creates an opportunity to bring PMIEF and JA together in a unique collaboration that will benefit youth in both the immediate and long-term.”
Jack E. Kosakowski, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement USA, added, “We are grateful for the support of PMIEF in helping JA provide our students with these important project management skills and the opportunity to apply them in a real-world context.”
About PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF)
The PMI Educational Foundation (PMIEF) is a 501(c)(3) supporting organization of Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading not-for-profit professional membership association for the project, program and portfolio management profession. Founded in 1990, PMIEF develops, implements and delivers innovative programs to leverage project management for social good globally. These include scholarships, awards and grants as well as educational resources that strengthen both teaching and learning and disaster management. Through the generosity of individual and corporate donors as well as the PMI community, PMIEF helps build a better prepared workforce for the future, a better prepared society for future success and a better response in future times of need. For additional information, visit www.pmief.org.
About Junior Achievement USA® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.6 million students per year in 113 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations in 118 other countries worldwide. Junior Achievement USA is a member of JA Worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.