UMT Helps Coordinate Key Project Management Conference in China

ARLINGTON, Virginia, May 14, 2002 - UMT continued to promote project management education overseas by playing a leading role in the First International Conference on Project Management of China (ICPM) last month.

The university served as an advisory organization for the three-day conference from April 24-26, which was titled, "Project Management and Economic Development of China." The gathering in Beijing drew more than 800 professionals, including a dozen local UMT staff members.

"It was an excellent conference," said UMT President Yanping Chen, who chaired a plenary session. "ICPM brought together a broad cross-section of professionals from government and private industry. It was great to see how much interest there is in both project management and UMT."

Dr. William G. Wells, Jr., chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees, delivered the conference’s keynote speech, titled, "The Role of Project Management: Implications for China’s Entry into the World Trade Organization."

A dozen members of UMT’s Chinese staff, led by Chief Representative Kun Wang, took part in the conference. The university’s local manager, Rae Wang, presented a paper, "Successful Cooperation in Project Management Education: UMT Programs at Beijing University and China Academy of Social Sciences."

"We had a very strong presence at the conference," Dr. Chen added. "Participants were very interested in UMT and its ongoing educational efforts in the United States, China and other nations."

UMT has been a leader in bringing project management education and training to China. The university has conducted master’s certificate and training programs in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

ICPM was sponsored by the China Economic & Trade Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

UMT was one of five advisory organizations for the conference. Other advisory groups included: UNIDO, the Project Management Institute, the International Project Management Association, and Cambridge University.

"We look forward to attending future project management conferences in China and other nations," Dr. Chen added. "They are great forums at which to promote both project management education and UMT."