Digital Dimension

A conclave, jointly hosted by L&T, explores new ways of project management teaching

In an ever-evolving business and technology landscape, the essence of project management is undergoing a profound transformation. To explore the paradigm shift in teaching this crucial discipline, the Project Management Institute (PMI), L&T Institute of Project Management (IPM) and L&T EduTech jointly hosted a conclave on ‘Academic Innovations in Project Management’ on 1 September.

The conclave was hosted at L&T Convention Centre at Manapakkam in Chennai in conjunction with the PMI South-Asia Conference. Over 100 senior educators from leading institutes participated in the conclave.

Dr Anbuthambi B (Head – Strategy & Partnerships, L&T EduTech) explained the significance of L&T joining hands with PMI in hosting the arterial conclave. Dr C Jayakumar (EVP & Head – Corporate HR, L&T) underscored that with L&T’s 85 years of project management experience, PMI’s academic excellence and L&T EduTech’s vision to build readily employable talent, the conclave would propel the inculcation of new-age curriculum and progress in project management.

Stating that PMI prepares organisations and individuals to work smarter and maximise impact in an ever-changing dynamic world through various initiatives, Mr Uday Yedur of PMI India pointed out that, as the world’s leading authority on project management, PMI empowers people to make their ideas a reality through global advocacy, networking, collaborative research, and education.

In today’s dynamic and technology-driven business environment, the integration of digital skills in project management has become an imperative. According to a recent survey conducted by PMI, a staggering 87% of high- performing organisations believe that digital proficiency directly contributes to project success.

The era of digital project management calls for new skills – data science, innovative mindset, security and privacy knowledge, legal and regulatory compliance, ability to make data- driven decisions, and collaborative leadership.

Project leaders are embracing a multifaceted approach, combining collaborative platforms, work management tools, and a blend of emerging, hybrid, and traditional methods to deliver results that meet the demands of complex projects.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, the demand for project managers with digital skills will continue to grow. Hence, Project Management faculties are re-evaluating and reinventing their teaching methods to meet the needs of the new age.

The highlight of the conclave was a panel discussion on ‘Digital Age Project Management Skills: Exploring the Paradigm Shift in Teaching.’ The panel comprised luminaries from L&T and PMI’s Academic Advisory Group that include educators from leading academic institutions and industry stalwarts.

The discussion, moderated by Dr Venkata S K D (Associate Professor – IIT Bombay), included panellists like Mr R Ganesan (Head – Corporate Centre, L&T Construction), Dr K N Satyanarayana (Director – IIT Tirupati), Dr K Jain (Professor – IIT Bombay) and Dr K Kesavaswamy (IT, education and HR professional). With decades of experience, they cited examples on how digital skills can be seamlessly integrated into project management courses.

The panellists explored how the transition from knowledge transfer to knowledge co-creation, teacher-centric to learner-centric instruction, and the infusion of digital skills are reshaping the educational landscape.

Mr Ganesan remarked that practical industry exposure would enhance students’ decision-making capabilities and prepare them for the challenges of the digital era. Dr Kesavaswamy emphasised the importance of knowledge application in real-world scenarios and explained why students should practice interdisciplinary project management.

Drawing from data-backed evidence and real-world experiences, Prof V T C S Rao (VP & Dean – L&T IPM, and Chairman - PMI AAG) in his keynote address highlighted how the faculties can inculcate digital-age AI/ML tools to make their teaching more effective.

The conclave served as a vital platform for the academia and industry to come together and explore new horizons in project management education.

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