New training opportunities are available to contractors looking at improving project management skills and earning gold/blue seal certifications through the Construction Education Council (CEC), the education wing of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC). This program is offered in partnership with the University of Waterloo.
There will be a four-day program offered Nov. 29 to Dec. 2., and a 10-day program which will be split into two five-day segments running March 5-9 and March 26-30, 2020.
The gold seal certification program accredits construction management education and the blue seal is also known as the “achievement in business competencies program.”
During the four-day program, the course will explore topics such as the art of facilitative leadership, financial and basic accounting principles for project managers, organizational planning – portfolio management, and principles of lean construction.
A detailed course outline is available at https://mcac.ca/cec/programs/advanced-project-management/. This course will also be offered Feb. 6-9, 2020. This includes a manual, breakfast and lunch each day. Registration cut off is Nov. 15.
CEC will also offer a project management program. Over the 10-day period, participants will cover topics such as project administration, scheduling, managing individual differences, safety – a management perspective, change orders, construction law, job cost controls, meetings and communication, dispute avoidance and claims, labour relations – due diligence, and project completion.
“The project management course offered by CMCEF and the University of Waterloo was very professional in its approach with very well qualified and experienced professionals,” reported Robert Thain, division manager of projects at Black and McDonald, Toronto. “I have been associated with the contracting business for more than twenty years. This course is a recommended must for those interested in having a professional standard approach to project management.”
In order to receive the course certification, students must attend nine of the 10 days. A final assignment must also be completed during class time.
Seating for both programs is limited to 24 students. For more information, please visit https://mcac.ca/cec/programs/.