Novi Sad, Serbia – December 9-10, 2024
PM²Alliance proudly participated in the official kick-off meeting of the ESG4PMChange project, hosted by the Faculty of Technical Sciences at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. The launch of the project is marking a significant milestone in advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles within the project management profession. The two-day event brought together representatives from 14 partner organizations across Europe, uniting academia, industry, and the PM² community to redefine sustainability-driven project management education.
The partnership is composed by:
- University of Novi Sad, Serbia
- Alma Mater Studiorum – Universita di Bologna, Italy
- University of Information Technology and Management, Poland
- University of Thessaly, Greece
- University of Split, Croatia
- PM2 Alliance , Belgium
- Energy Net, Serbia
- ESG EDU-LAB, Serbia
- Future Food Institute ETS, Italy
- REVAS, Poland
- Sparky Solution, Croatia
- ADVISE INSTITUTE, Serbia
- Syntea Spółka Akcyjna, Poland
- European Academy, Latvia
The event commenced with a formal opening session led by Prof. Dr. Danijela Ćirić Lalić, the project coordinator. Distinguished guests included Prof. Dr. Boris Dumnić, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Dejan Madić, Rector of the University of Novi Sad. Provincial representatives highlighted the importance of bridging education and sustainability through strategic partnerships.
Dr. Cveta Majtanović, Chief Sustainability Officer at Rubber Conversion Srl & Innovando Srl, delivered a keynote address on “Shaping a Sustainable Tomorrow: Bridging Education, Innovation, and Global Collaboration,” underscoring the need for ESG-oriented competencies in modern business environments.
The project consortium explored the strategic direction of ESG4PMChange through detailed presentations and interactive discussions during the two-day meeting. The project will focus on conducting a comprehensive review of existing ESG-related project management education and establishing standardized professional profiles and a competency framework for ESG-focused project managers to address the growing demand for ESG-focused competencies in the workforce. In this line, the project will develop of a state-of-the-art report on ESG project management practices in Europe.
The agenda featured dynamic interactive sessions where project members exchanged best practices and explored innovative teaching methodologies. Expert panels discussed emerging trends in project management and sustainability, offering valuable insights for aligning the project’s objectives with real-world needs.
In a session dedicated to quality assurance and monitoring, Prof. Dr. Ivana Bilić from the University of Split presented key performance indicators and monitoring tools designed to ensure the project stays on track and delivers maximum impact.
Agustín Moya Colorado, from PM²Alliance, presented the fundamentals of PM² as the Project Management Methodology of the European Commission. The project will be using PM² as the core for the Project Management outlined in Work Package 1.
The project’s social components, including a tour of the Science and Technology Park in Novi Sad and a networking dinner at the historic Petrovaradin Fortress, reinforced partnership bonds. These interactions fostered a collaborative atmosphere essential for the project’s success.
The kick-off meeting concluded with a summary of next steps, action plans, and timelines. “This meeting laid a solid foundation for future collaboration,” said Prof. Dr. Danijela Ćirić Lalić. “We are committed to advancing project management education by embedding ESG principles into the core of professional development frameworks.”
The ESG4PMChange project is funded under the Alliances for Education and Enterprises program, signaling a new era in sustainable project management training. Stay tuned for updates as this transformative initiative unfolds.
