UC Irvine Extension's Advanced Project Management Simulation Course Offers Chance To Earn Professional Development Units

Simulation Project Provides Immersive Training in Risk-Free Environment

IRVINE, Calif. – January 25, 2006 – In response to a growing number of project management professionals seeking advanced training, career enhancement opportunities and professional development units, UC Irvine Extension is offering an Advanced Project Management Simulation course as part of its Advanced Project Management certificate program. This intensive three day course challenges project management professionals to gain real world experience in balancing multi-million budgets, overseeing work load structures and allocating resources, all in a risk-free simulated environment.

UC Irvine Extension is the only Southern California academic institution to offer this immersive team-structured, simulated learning format," said Lori Munoz-Reiland, director of Business, Management, Legal and Information Technology for UC Irvine Extension. "We have received numerous accolades on the value of the course from professionals whose costly alternative would be to learn by trial and error on the job. The course gives participants a chance to test and hone their project managerial skills such as defining budgets, schedules and goals–all in a risk-free, supportive environment."

In the first part of the course, students will participate in an immersive, team-structured workshop atmosphere featuring the Tech Adventure Theme Park simulation package. On behalf of a major theme park, project management professionals will have the opportunity to develop and implement a project plan for the various initiatives involved - IT, entertainment, and marketing - integrate quantitative tools and employ problem-solving techniques. The final part of the course will incorporate expert feedback as the plan is unveiled to the executive committee of the theme park. Participants will walk away with templates and tools designed during their course to use in their own workplace.

UC Irvine Extension has dedicated its resources to advancing the discipline of project management for more than a decade. The Advanced Project Management Simulation course begins February 2, 2006 at the UCI Learning Center in Orange, Calif. Early registrations are advised. For more information or to enroll, please log on to www.extension.uci.edu or contact Andrea Dang at (949) 824-7774.

As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information about UC Irvine Extension visit www.extension.uci.edu.