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 Dr. Vijay Kanabar is the Director for Project Management Programs. In addition to developing
the curriculum and overseeing the Master of
Science in Project Management, he also teaches courses in project management and computer science.
What makes teaching so rewarding for you?
The excitement of teaching students — and of learning myself. I find it very rewarding to understand what's happening in industry and communicating my knowledge in a way students find exciting.
I also enjoy knowing I've made a difference in their lives. Sometimes former students write and tell me how much they enjoyed the class and what they're doing now. Sometimes they'll even ask if we have students in our classes whom we can recommend for a position they're trying filling.
What do students get from courses at Boston University?
We want to make the academic experience an exciting one. We make sure that students in all our courses have fun learning the latest content. We also help them gain an edge in the marketplace, so they'll be recognized and successful within their company even while they're still studying. Our focus is to deliver an excellent Boston University graduate credential, and at the same time align our efforts to the standards of industry designations—in this case, our goal is the PMP® designation.
What gives Boston University an edge?
Because BU is in Boston, where some of the most renowned institutions of higher learning in the world are located, we have easy access to highly qualified instructors. As a result, our faculty members have the outstanding academic credentials and comprehensive industry experience.
Who are the students at Metropolitan College?
Boston University has a rigorous admission procedure that requires an above average GPA from an accredited university and excellent real-world experience. Our students are highly accomplished professionals who are extremely motivated, engaged, and talented. I am constantly impressed by the exceptionally high caliber of our online students.
What are some of the challenges of an online course?
Because our students are accomplished professionals, they work very hard and must juggle many things. Nevertheless, we challenge them frequently — to work with their team mates and find ways to communicate despite time conflicts, for example. Sometimes that means we have our weekly "meeting" from our cell phones during rush hour. Although it's tough to schedule, all the team members show up for telcom meetings across different time zones and we end up having a very lively discussion.
Students are always amazed by the dynamic environment of our online courses. We use animation, simulations, and graphics to engage the students in the material. The result is a high level of understanding of the material as well as an expectation that each course will be a worthwhile learning experience. I think we meet those expectations.
New students sometimes feel like dropping out due to some of the challenges. But we tell them to hang in there. And most do. Afterwards, they agree that it was a worthwhile experience.
What makes BU's Master of Science in Project Management special?
We are one of only 11 institutions worldwide and one of only seven in the U.S. who are accredited by the Project Management Institute's Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC). [The GAC is the governing body for the policies, procedures and standards for the accreditation of university degree programs related to project management.] Our accreditation is a guarantee of the exceptionally high quality of the program.
Describe the evolution of your Project Management program.
Creating this program has been one of the highlights of my career. I began developing individual project management courses about 8-10 years ago. In 2001, I introduced this content as a graduate diploma for our BU Global audience. Our onsite graduate certificate at employer sites began in the spring of 2004. We introduced the dynamic 12-course Master of Science in Project Management in September of 2005. It was an instant and huge success. And in 2006, we were accredited by the GAC.
How involved are you personally in the program?
In addition to developing the program content, I supervise the quality of the courses and monitor their progress to make sure they run smoothly. I'm also responsible for the capstone project, which prepares students for certification. I also send e-mails and campus information briefs to students periodically—I enjoy hearing from our PM students and helping them to resolve any issues they may have.
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