Construction World January 2023

In a world-first collaboration, the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) and Project Management Institute (PMI) have come together to offer construction-specific learning and development to those registered under the SACPCMP. The partnership will boost the international currency of South African construction professionals BOOSTING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITIONOF CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS

“T hi s i s the fi rst t ime ever that a regulator has col laborated wi th PMI to create an opportuni ty for i ts industr y profess ionals to improve the global currency of thei r regi strat ion,” said SACPCMP Regi strar, Butcher Matut le. “The col laborat ion between the two ent i t ies wi l l open the door for internat ional recogni t ion for SACPCMP Regi stered Persons , who wi l l benefi t f rom undertaking learning and development that i s not only construct ion focused, but also recogni sed internat ional ly.” PMI earl ier thi s year launched a sui te of onl ine courses and micro-credent ials to address the unique chal lenges faced by construct ion profess ionals . The courses aim to improve project management ski l ls in the construct ion industr y and lead to PMI - CP (Construct ion Profess ional in Bui l t Envi ronment Projects) cert i ficat ion. Wastefulexpenditureintheconstructionsector “Annual ly, wasteful expendi ture in the construct ion sector global ly amounts to USD1,6t ,” said George Asamani , PMI ’s Sub-Saharan Af rican MD. “Our research of project management profess ionals working in the construct ion industr y found that 70% of construct ion projects experience scope creep and a further 73% of such projects end over budget . These courses are des igned to help construct ion profess ionals improve margins in the industr y of ten plagued by cost overruns and project delays and i s PMI ’s fi rst industr y-speci fic solut ion des igned for construct ion profess ionals .” The col laborat ion between the two ent i t ies supports the mandate of the SACPCMP which cont inual ly looks to support learning and cont inuing profess ional development in the construct ion sector. I t also opens an avenue for those regi stered under the Counci l to engage in global ly recogni sed learning that could grow thei r internat ional appeal as profess ionals . Global recognitionforSAprofessionals “We are exci ted by the mul t i - level led benefi ts of fered through thi s col laborat ion,” added Matut le. “SACPCMP profess ionals wi l l be able to access thi s courseware at a preferent ial rate and cont inue to develop themselves in l ine wi th internat ional best pract ices whi le maintaining thei r regi strat ion requi rements .” Matut le said that furthermore, SACPCMP appl icants who need to develop thei r knowledge base to meet profess ional regi strat ion requi rements wi l l have the opportuni ty to do so through the col laborat ion: “Appl icants can now select speci fic courses or modules that wi l l address pinpoint areas they may need to

develop. The long-term benefi t of thi s wi l l not only resul t in a ful ly competent construct ion industr y but also the development of addi t ional career pathways for the Bui l t Envi ronment .” PMI -CP compri ses seven courses , three of which of fer micro-credent ials ; each course explores a speci fic area of construct ion project management . The cert i ficat ion was developed in col laborat ion wi th construct ion industr y leaders and consul tat ions wi th project managers who face the twin chal lenges of balancing technology and talent . Adaptingtochangeisessential “As wi th many sectors , the construct ion industr y i s seeing change. Adapt ing to change i s key and demands di f ferent ski l l sets to complete projects successful ly. PMI bel ieves that people and thei r ski l ls are cri t ical to improving project per formance,” added Asamani . “Thi s partnership between SACPCMP and PMI , wi th each partner striving for excel lence in thei r respect ive special t ies wi l l create a sol id plat form for the construct ion industr y to del iver better outcomes .” South Af rica i s no stranger to the di f ficul t ies facing the construct ion industr y. However, to meet the demand of R812,5b worth of planned inf rastructure projects over the next three years , proact ive steps must be taken. “I f the South Af rican construct ion industr y i s to leverage the mass ive inf rastructure opportuni ty, i t must accelerate the upski l l ing of construct ion profess ionals . The PMI i s pos i t ioned to equip the sector wi th the competencies needed, and through the col laborat ion wi th the SACPCMP, we have bui l t a plat form to ensure that the industr y i s strengthened through profess ionals who can adequately address the complex nature presented by the construct ion sector,” said Matut le. The agreement was officially signed by PMI’s George Asamani , and the SACPCMP President, Isaac Nkosi , and Registrar, Butcher Matutle in Gauteng on the 14th of November 2022. Tunde Ojo-Aromokudu, President of the PMI South Africa Chapter was also present at the signing. The agreement will facil itate access for SACPCMP Registered Professionals and appl icants to PMI’s CP courses and certification at a reduced rate. Course credits will be recognised by the Council in various ways. PMI South Africa Chapter is a wholly volunteer-managed, non-profit organisation with the sole purpose to serve the local membership base and support the promotion and advancement of project management and related professions. Through its work, the Chapter supports the professional growth of the members, corporate organisations, and communities. It is one of the oldest PMI Chapters in Africa and was establ ished in 2001. 

9 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2023