The Graduate Diploma of Project Management includes the project management industry certification - PMI's Project Management Professional (PMP) - as an integral part of completing the course.
The graduate diploma is aimed at experienced project managers and graduates will be eligible for 50 percent credit towards a range of master degrees at Charles Sturt University and PMI have donated scholarships to support the launch.
PMI Sydney chapter president, Sandeep Mathur, said the diploma is an important step in the recognition of project management by universities.
"Over 200 Institutions around the world are now providing training in our certification, but we believe this is the first time anywhere in the world that completion of Project Management Professional (PMPR) certification has been included as a mandatory graduation," Sandeep said.
Australia desperately needs more project managers. A third of the Australian Institute of Project Management membership base will leave the profession in the next 10 years.
With nearly 50 per cent of the Institute's membership within the 40 to 54-year age bracket, Australia faces an acute shortage of project management skills by 2020.
The core university subjects will be studied via distance education or classroom based training from EQuest Consulting.
Colin Stewart, director at Equest Consulting said the company is a project management partner to many top 100 companies in Australia.
"We are excited about being involved in such a unique blend of university and project management industry certification," he said.
Charles Sturt University is currently accepting applications for the first intake of the new qualification for the beginning of 2007 and PMI have donated scholarships to support the launch. Further details can be found at .