MLA College is expanding into project management with the launch of a new master’s degree as the distance-learning provider seeks to broaden its academic offering beyond its traditional maritime, sustainability and engineering disciplines.
The Plymouth-based college will launch its MSc Project Management this month through its validated partnership with The Open University. Students will register and study with MLA College, with successful graduates receiving an Open University validated award.
The move takes MLA into the social sciences for the first time and potentially opens the college to professionals across a much wider range of industries.
Founded in 2012 with a focus on marine and maritime education, MLA has subsequently expanded into sustainability and engineering. It now provides distance-learning courses to working professionals in more than 75 countries.
The expansion comes as project management plays an increasingly significant role in the UK labour market. Research commissioned by the Association for Project Management and conducted by PwC Research estimated that the project profession employed 2.32mn full-time equivalent workers and generated £186.8bn in gross value added annually.
MLA said the 180-credit master’s degree was designed for professionals seeking to develop project management and leadership skills while continuing to work. Its distance-learning model also allows maritime professionals to study while at sea.
Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, principal and chief executive of MLA College, said project management represented a logical extension of the college’s existing specialisms.
“Many of our students and graduates are already managing complex projects, teams and organisational change within maritime, engineering and sustainability,” he said.
“This programme builds on where we have come from while opening up where MLA College can go next.”
Professor Mark Durkin, pro-vice-chancellor for partnerships and enterprise at The Open University, said its validation partnerships had helped more than 220,000 students gain higher education awards over the past 30 years.
He said such partnerships could help address regional and national skills gaps while supporting employers’ growth plans.
The first MSc Project Management intake begins in September, with applications now open.
