Project management workshop at ADBU

A Social work institution in northeast India has come up with a novel workshop program to equip their outgoing students fit for job placement. The final year Master of Social Work students after the submission of their thesis are holding 3-day Project Cycle Management workshop, 11-13 May. 

It is the first ever program on project management organised under the leadership of Director of the School of Social Sciences Dr Riju Sharma. The Master of Social Work program at Assam Don Bosco University started in 2011.

The workshop “Project Cycle Management: A Results Based Approach,” is aimed at building the skills of the outgoing 47 MSW students of ADBU in project management.

“Academic institutions engaged in preparing students for social work stress too much on theory and field work, often neglecting an important component of social analysis and project planning and management,” says chief resource person Dr Luckose Jacob conducting the workshop at ADBU’s Azara campus. 

Associate Professor of MSW at ADBU Dr Luckose conducted the workshop for almost 12 hours a day with hands on training for project planning and writing. Beginning at 9 am the program runs into late night with breaks for lunch, tea and dinner.

Students were trained in detail steps for project identification through a process of situational analysis and problem tree analysis which helps to design the project.

Following the logical framework approach, the students are taught Input-Output-Outcome-Impact  Indicators, Means / Source of Verification and Assumptions. 

The above sessions were followed by project budgeting, monitoring with specific performance indicators, and evaluation which would gage effect-impact.

“The final development of concept paper for projects will lead to an assignment to write a proposal in groups,” says Dr Luckose.

Dr Lukose has over 30 years of field experience heading the Departments of Programme Support Services, Human & Institutional Development Services, Thematic, Quality Management and Capacity Building at Caritas India New Delhi.