INTERNATIONAL WINTER SCHOOL ON PROJECT AND GRANT MANAGEMENT (IWS PGM): From Theory to Practice

🎯 Programme Aim

The Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) International Winter School on Project and Grant Management – From Theory to Practice provides students with a comprehensive, practice-oriented introduction to contemporary project and grant management.

The programme combines theoretical foundations with hands-on application, drawing on internationally recognised methodologies such as PMI, IPMA, and PM².

📅 Programme Structure

• Intensive five-day, full-time course
• Blended format: on-site programme complemented by a virtual component
• Focus on the entire project lifecycle:
  • Project idea development
  • Formulation and planning
  • Documentation and implementation logic

Special attention is given to European project funding, including EU grant schemes and co-financing mechanisms.

🧠 What Participants Will Learn

Participants gain the knowledge and skills required to operate in today’s project-based environments, including:

• Public institutions
• Private organisations
• Academia and research

Key learning areas include:

• Theoretical foundations of project management
• Core terminology and process logic
• Standardised procedures used in international projects

🛠️ Practical Skills & Tools

Strong emphasis is placed on practical applicability. Participants work with real project documentation, including:

• Statement of Work (SoW)
• Logical Framework Matrix (LFM)
• Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
• Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• RACI Matrix
• Gantt Chart
• Basic financial planning tools

Learning is supported by:

• Real-life case studies
• Examples of good practice
• Exercises based on everyday project management experience

🧩 Project Planning & EU Funding

A core objective of the programme is to introduce participants to the identification and planning phases of projects, including:

• Managerial, cultural, organisational and social aspects
• Defining objectives, results and indicators
• Resource and schedule planning
• Preparation of complete project documentation

The programme also covers:

• Fundamentals of EU funding mechanisms
• Overview of relevant grant opportunities
• Financial aspects of project planning

👉 Special focus is placed on the needs of PhD students and early-career researchers.

🤝 Teamwork & Soft Skills

The programme actively develops soft skills essential for effective project leadership:

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Communication skills
• Leadership competences

Participants:

• Work in multicultural teams
• Collaboratively prepare a sample project proposal
• Present their projects on the final day

🏁 Learning Outcomes

The programme culminates in a final project presentation, evaluated by the teaching staff.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand and structure international projects
• Prepare professional project documentation
• Apply project management principles in academic, professional or research contexts

🌍 Programme Mission

The mission of the International Winter School is to strengthen students’ capacity to plan and manage projects in an international environment, enabling them to confidently apply newly acquired knowledge throughout their future careers.