At the end of the course, in terms of skills and knowledge acquired, the student will be able to:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
1. Analyze the socio-economic, regulatory and development contexts that trigger project drafting.
2. Understand which are the most important official documents of a program.
3. Know the basic elements of project drafting especially in the European context.
4. Know the European context of reference and the main financing funds.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
1. Analyze and evaluate programs and calls for proposals based on identified needs.
2. Understand how to build a project partnership and define the partners' activities within a timetable.
3. Develop a project by including the related activities and financial plan in compliance with the planned timeframes.
4. Identify and research public funding opportunities (European and national).

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PART 1 :
1 INTRODUCTION TO PM AND PCM
1.1 Introduction to the course and the subject
1.2 Project management (PM) and Project Cycle Management (PCM): overview and introduction to the topic
1.3 Professional skills in PM and PCM
PART 2: PCM
2.1 PROGRAMMING
2.1.1 PCM: Context analysis and participatory project drafting
2.1.2 The phases of the project life cycle and the logical framework approach
2.1.3 SWOT Analysis
2.2 IDENTIFICATION or STRATEGIC PLANNING
2.2.1 The stakeholder matrix: power and interest
2.2.2 Problem tree, Objectives tree
2.2.3 The search for project partners and the division of roles
2.2.4 The LFM (Logical Framework Matrix)
2.2.5 General objectives, specific objectives, expected results and activities
2.2.6 Indicators and sources of verification
2.2.7 Risk management
2.3 FORMULATION or EXECUTIVE PLANNING
2.3.1 The WBS and the Gantt chart
2.3.2 Setting up project activities and format of the project sheet
2.3.3 Writing the project and analyzing the selection criteria
2.3.4 Breaking down the project budget and planning project expenses
2.4 IMPLEMENTATION
2.4.1 Contracts in EU projects
2.4.2 Reporting of expenses
2.4.3 Communication and dissemination of project results
2.5 EVALUATION AND CONTROL
2.5.1 Monitoring and evaluation
2.5.2 Closing the project
PART 3: EU FUNDS AND EUROPEAN PROJECT DESIGN
3.1 THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT OF REFERENCE
3.1.1 The European institutions
3.1.2 The European Union budget and the Multiannual Financial Framework
3.1.3 The main European funding policies
3.1.4 Calls for proposals and calls for tenders
3.1.5 Direct and indirect management funds
3.1.6 The European Commission: Directorates-General and executive agencies
3.2 FUNDING POLICIES AND FUNDS
3.2.1 Cohesion Policy
3.2.2 Indirectly managed funds: the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI)
3.2.3 European territorial cooperation: the INTERREG programme
3.2.4 Directly managed funds: focus on the Horizon Europe, LIFE, ERASMUS+, CREATIVE Europe, CERV programmes in the 2021-2027 programming period
3.2.5 Structure and documentation of a European Call for Proposals and examples of best practices of EU projects

PART 4: PRACTICAL PROJECT DRAFTING WORKSHOP
4.1 Simulation, creation and presentation of a partnership charter project

1) “Fundamentals of Project Management”, Joseph Heagney, Fifth edition, AMACOM Books, New York: American Management Association, 2016. (Chapt. 1-8, 10, 15).
2) Handouts and other materials distributed during the course.

For those attending, teaching includes lectures with the help of slides uploaded to moodle/MS Teams, which are essential for preparing for the final oral exam. Project coordinators and external experts in the sector will be hosted during the lessons. The course includes at least 15 hours of practical exercises spread over the crucial moments of the 4 modules and involves active interaction with the attending students, who are called to actively participate in the workshops on the various aspects of design, to present some case studies in class and to work directly on project funding calls and official project sheets.
For those not attending, homework and exercises will be assigned, on the same topics covered in class, with correction or through meetings on Teams or by sending the commented assignment via email.

ATTENDING STUDENTS will take a final oral exam, which consists of an interview in which the candidate will be asked questions about the 4 modules (at least one question per module). The evaluation criteria are: knowledge of the subject, clarity of presentation, ability to articulate the relevant arguments with technically correct language and the ability to summarise. Furthermore, the final evaluation will take into consideration, through an arithmetic mean that will be added to the evaluation of the oral exam, also participation in class activities (discussions, presentation of case studies, laboratories and practical exercises carried out in group work in project design). All of this is aimed at verifying whether the objectives of the course have been achieved as indicated above.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For non-attending students (not present in class or with presence, verified by signature, less than 50% of the lessons), in order to replace the work done in class, the exam will consist of a written test with closed and open questions on the 4 modules, as well as an interview aimed at verifying the level of understanding of the fundamental aspects of the subject developed in the indicated texts and in the handouts. Furthermore, the final evaluation will take into consideration, through an arithmetic mean that will be added to the evaluation of the oral exam, also the homework and exercises done at home. The exercises are mandatory in order to pass the exam. The evaluation criteria are: knowledge of the subject, clarity of exposition, the ability to articulate the related arguments with technically correct language and the ability to summarize.
FOR ALL STUDENTS
To pass the exam (18/30), students must (1) achieve a sufficient level of knowledge of the topics covered, (2) demonstrate sufficient argumentative skills and sufficient language skills in describing and explaining the knowledge acquired, (3) demonstrate sufficient ability to apply the concepts and the methodological tools illustrated during the course, and (4) demonstrate sufficient critical and interpretative skills in the analysis, comprehension, and synthesis of EU fundings and call for proposals.
To achieve the maximum score (30/30 with honours), students must (1) achieve an excellent level of knowledge of the topics covered, (2) demonstrate excellent argumentative skills and equal command of language in describing and explaining the knowledge acquired, (3) demonstrate excellent skills in applying the concepts and the methodological tools illustrated during the course, and (4) demonstrate excellent critical and interpretative skills in analysing, understanding and synthesising EU fundings and call for proposals.