Nonprofit professional project management organisation Project Management Institute (PMI) and industry body the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) have collaborated to offer construction-specific learning and development to those registered under the SACPCMP. The world-first partnership will boost the international currency of South African construction professionals.

While a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification already exists as a global standard for project management in general, there has been an increase in demand for a certification like the PMP that slants toward construction, owing to the South African civil engineering and construction industry lacking in project management skills.

Hence, the Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (PMI-CP) certification aims to address skills gaps in the local sector and provide professionals with the necessary skills to tackle industry challenges.

“PMI has the resources and the acumen to glean what is current in the industry and incorporate that into its learning materials and certifications. We are mainstreaming these standards that are being brought forward by PMI and are hoping other governments will follow suit so that we can create a global standard for construction,” says SACPCMP operations executive Sindi Kwenaite.

“We hope to deliver something that is useful academically and practically,” adds PMI sub-Saharan Africa MD George Asamani.

Amid an uncertain political climate, he explains that this certification is particularly relevant for the sector in Africa to equip professionals with the necessary skills regarding contract management, risk assessment, and mitigation skills to prevent disruptions in the sector.

To this end, the PMI-CP certification consists of seven modules and addresses aspects such as technology and digitalisation, and contract and risk management.

Asamani explains that while the construction industry uses technology to make the industry more efficient, sustainable and profitable, it is important to be adequately skilled in the benefits of technology to ensure it is adopted effectively.

Hence, the module on digitalisation and technology – in partnership with software company Oracle – enables participants to explore new technologies safely and increases understanding of how to optimise tools for better project development.

This, thus allows participants to gain practical experience and make more informed decisions regarding which technologies are relevant for their projects.

The module also looks at the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, including drones and data analytics, on the construction sector.

AI technologies can streamline safety checks, progress monitoring, and quality control on construction sites. PMI focuses on preparing professionals to leverage these technologies effectively and harness their potential.

“Many different things are happening in the AI space. Our job at PMI is to work on the human side and ensure that people are aware and have the right skills to interpret and get the best out of the technology being implemented,” says Asamani.

“We are the first to adopt this certification in Southern Africa as a quantified learning material that can assist in addressing some of the industry gaps. This certification will allow professionals to address challenges using hands-on solutions that will give them an edge over their peers,” adds Kwenaite.

PMI and the SACPCMP aim to make this certification accessible and affordable to reach as many industry players as possible, considering that project management skills are necessary for government to deliver the required services and infrastructure.

As a result, anyone who is registered with the SACPCMP will receive a fixed price in local currency (ZAR) for the courses and a discount of up to 20% for the next three years.

“Through this partnership, we can provide discounts for our registered persons when the courses are purchased through us. Through price locking, members are protected from exchange-rate fluctuations and can avoid exchange-rate fees,” concludes Kwenaite.