The Problems that Impact the Quality of Project Management Courses Developed Following a Project-Based Learning Approach with the Support of Community Partners

Abstract

This case study presents findings regarding the problems that impact the quality of a Project Elaboration and Management course, developed following a project-based learning approach. From 2014 to 2019, the course was taught 27 times, involving 596 undergraduate students from Federal University of Sao Paolo, Campus Osasco, Brazil. The research objective is to reveal the main problems encountered both in setting up and delivering the course, and to analyze their impacts on the quality of the course. Data was collected from the professor’s notes, from correspondence between the professor, students, and other stakeholders, minutes of meetings between the professor and stakeholders, and from the students´ reports about the projects. The data was analyzed following a qualitative systemic analysis, revealing the impacts of the identified problems on the course. The article concludes by presenting possible ways of reducing such problems.