Iraqi MoD Learn Project Management

Students Graduate from First Project Management Course

BAGHDAD – Ten students from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense graduated from the first Management, Projects and Project Management Course to be taught at the Ministerial Training and Development Center May 14.

The two-week course focused on areas such as the basics of management, identifying what constitutes a project, and the basic concepts used in project management.  The course provided students with a foundation of knowledge needed to manage increasingly difficult projects.

"As projects become larger and more costly, it is necessary to have dedicated individuals whose sole function is to manage these large complex projects,” said Robert Dorsey, MTDC infrastructure professor.

A typical large project for the Iraqi Army in the future might be building a camp for 3,000 to 5,000

soldiers.  Such a camp would comprise barracks, offices, maintenance buildings, dining facility, a mosque, and recreational facilities, along with the entire support infrastructure.

The course “provided good information and it helped to develop the job for engineers,” said Brig. Gen. Engineer Ali Hamid from the MoD’s infrastructure directorate.  He added that he can develop his work in a better way after completing the course.  Hamid also gained a better understanding of how the MoD headquarters and offices outside can improve cooperatation.

Dorsey added that the course “will help Iraq develop the capability to build large infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, water & electric facilities which will benefit the new Iraq.”