Key Services

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IPU offers consultancy and training services as well as feasibility studies for international clients. Our consultancy and training programs are focused on areas related to project life-cycle and project management. Further information on our key services is provided below.

• Training Services
• Project Management
• Fellowships
• Quality Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation

Training Services

QUT has over 15 years of experience in providing international training programs. Through the International Projects Unit, the University designs and conducts numerous training programs and consultancy services every year. These include short courses, workshops, and customised training primarily for overseas governments and the private sector. Given the variety of training programs that the University has undertaken nationally and internationally, IPU has a reliable network of training specialists drawn from our academe as well as from our allies in a range of sectors.

For further information on

• Corporate Traning Programs
• Professional Development Programs

Project Management

In successfully delivering our international projects and consultancies, IPU has a proven project management capability in place. All of our training activities are led by an International Projects Coordinator to ensure that tasks involved in delivering the training are aptly managed. Composed of seven full-time staff, IPU specialises in providing support to University’s international projects. To ensure efficient and effective delivery of the training, IPU draws on established mechanisms for supporting our training which include:

1. comprehensive team briefings
2. timely and client-centred reporting
3. quality management of training materials
4. risk management and staff security strategies
5. efficient project administration and communication systems
6. evaluation and follow-up

IPU is also responsible for the management and welfare of the trainees and consultants during the duration of their program. The unit has an experienced Welfare and Service Support Coordinator who ensures that all welfare and support requirements of the trainees and the training team are met. The success of IPU’s welfare and support is demonstrated by achieving a high rating of satisfaction from previous clients and trainees.

Fellowships

IPU is involved in a number of fellowship programs which cater to our international clients coming from numerous developing countries in the Asia Pacific region. Our clients include development practitioners, university lecturers and staff, overseas government employees, and NGOs workers. For further information regarding our fellowship programs, please contact our IPU staff.

Quality Management

IPU has a Quality Assurance system in place in compliance with ISO9001. A procedures manual, specifically prepared as part of our Quality Management System for all projects, includes procedures for addressing project goals and objectives, the program approach and methodology, measurements in determining that key performance milestones are being met, and whether the specified project outputs have been delivered and outcomes achieved. The manual also includes procedures for the mobilisation of consultants, preparation of materials, and the provision of administrative support, welfare support, and financial management. We adopt management strategies, through the development of risk matrices and plans, to reduce risks that have the potential to impact adversely upon implementation.

Monitoring and Evaluation

IPU has well-defined and established procedures for monitoring and evaluating training programs which draw heavily on input from the trainees. It seeks to ensure that needs are met on a regular basis. Monitoring and evaluation strategies are based on collecting and interpreting meaningful data from the trainees at the beginning of the program; and capturing data throughout the training relating to inputs and outputs of the training. This information is a critical factor in monitoring project success.  
Specific strategies include:

• The use of a pre-test instrument.  The same instrument is used at the end of the course to establish the change in competencies and confidence levels
• Incremental measuring of changes in competency level
• Observations by the training team of the competencies of each trainee
• End-of-training assessment of learning
• Post-training structured interviews with members’ subordinates, peers and superiors, to identify perceived changes in competency

These strategies ensure that the goals, purposes and components of the project are all systematically addressed. This is consolidated with evaluative input as the basis for the completion report.