CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

School of Engineering Sciences and Technology

Regulations for
Master of Science Degree in Engineering Project Management

Regulations for the Master of Science Degree in Engineering

Project Management
PREAMBLE
These regulations must be read in conjunction with the School of Engineering Sciences and
Technology regulations. They should also be read in conjunction with the Chinhoyi University of
Technology General Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Degree programmes; hereinafter
referred to as the General Academic Regulations. The Master of Science Degree in Engineering
Project Management will be awarded to candidates who successfully complete the programme
in accordance with the regulations set out below:

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Master of Science Degree in Engineering Project Management is a customized
program for professionals in engineering and its related fields. Engineers and other suitably
qualified professionals will be trained on the entire project management process, from
inception and feasibility, engineering, procurement and implementation through to
commissioning and operation.
The Master of Science Degree in Engineering Project Management is an 18 months long
block release graduate degree programme meant to fill the critical skills gap in effectively
managing the global engineering projects. This degree programme is offered on a block
release format in which students are resident at the University for a period of five weeks
per semester. Lectures, practicals and field trips for each course are completed over a 7
day period of intensive modular teaching and learning. Additional trips and practicals are
arranged over weekends when students are free to participate. Students are expected to
complete assignments and write-ups of practicals and field reports when they are not
resident on campus. The programme is a direct fulfilment of the aims for which Chinhoyi
University of Technology was formed to be one of the key drivers and central cogs to
industrial development and economic prosperity in Zimbabwe. The Master of Science
Degree in Engineering Project Management is designed to give students an understanding
and knowledge to employ management and technical competencies to lead the
development of new products and projects within the technological industries. Engineering
professionals will mainly be trained to manage not only engineering projects but also
corporate management. Contemporary project management practice demands that the
engineering professionals have not only mastery of engineering but also a strong
background in engineering and management methods.
2.0 RATIONALE
Engineering graduates are the project leaders of projects in industry and as such this
programme aims to fully equip engineering graduates with a critical understanding of the
factors involved in management within the context of, and applied to, engineering
projects. Engineering projects are normally undertaken by multidisciplinary teams who are
responsible for the whole project life cycle in a multi-project or programme management
environment. Regionally, engineers are forced to take lead roles in complex projects
without the full support staff hence, the team leaders are obliged to have a range of project
management skills, including contractual knowledge, financial engineering competency
and strategic awareness which this programme provides.

3.0 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this programme are to:
3.1 Provide graduates with the knowledge of engineering project management and skills.
3.2 Create a new pool of highly qualified class professionals with expertise to develop
project management strategies.
3.3 Develop within students, the ability to communicate engineering project management
directives, solutions and skills to support staff and professional peers.
3.4 Improve the graduates information gathering skills and ability for life-long learning.
3.5 Produce capable graduates who can excel on the international platform.

4.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the programme students should be able to:
4.1 Utilise their knowledge of engineering project management skills to head various
technologically oriented projects.
4.2 Design and implement appropriate techniques to manage projects.
4.3 Effectively ccommunicate technical project management technology and knowledge in
oral, written and graphical forms.
4.4 Carry out engineering research and interpret the collected and develop solutions to
project management challenges while keeping up with modern trends.
4.5 Become an internationally preferred candidates for positions in engineering project
management
5.0 ADMISSION
5.1 The university and schools general regulations of entry into post graduate
programmes apply.
5.2 The university and schools general regulations of entry into post graduate
programmes apply.
5.3 A minimum of Honours degree in the upper second class (2.1) in Engineering
Sciences and any other relevant qualifications.

6.0 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

6.1 Course content is relevant to industry needs and our project management graduates will
be effectively prepared for the workplace in vast engineering and associated fields such
as oil and gas, energy, built environment, construction, education, research and
development, local government and financial services. Some of the roles they can venture
in are

Project Manager
New Product Development Manager
Process and Integration Manager
Systems Implementation Manager
Operations Project Manager
Site Manager
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Contracting Manager
Procurement/purchasing Manager
Project/programme Coordinator
Technical Project Manager
Business Project Manager
Development Project Manager
Quality Manager
Finance Manager
Information Technology Manager

7.0 STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME

7.1 The Master of Science Degree in Engineering Project Management comprises a taught
component in 2 semesters followed by a dissertation in Semester 3.
7.2 Each candidate is required to take five (5) full courses in each of semesters one (1)
and two (2).
7.3 In Semester three (3) candidates will write a dissertation.

SEMESTER 1

MEPMG 6-01 Engineering Project Planning

MEPMG 6-02Engineering Research Methods
MEPMG 6-03 Environmental Management in Engineering Projects
MEPMG 6-04 Production and Operations Management
MEPMG 6-05 Asset Management

SEMESTER 2
MEPMG 6-06 Engineering Project Monitoring and Evaluation
MEPMG 6-07 Project Management Information Systems

MEPMG 6-08 Legislation for Engineering Projects

MEPMG 6-09 Project Estimating and Cost Management
MEPMG 6-10 Management of Engineering Projects

SEMESTER 3
MEPMG 7-01 Dissertation

8.0 Weightings of Masters courses:

Each course carries 18 credits
Length of semester = 16 weeks
Activity
Lectures
Multimedia- based classes such as video presentations, video conferencing
Group Case Studies
Term paper preparation
Individual presentation of the term paper

Time allocation
36 hours
18 hours
26 hours
20 hours
10 hours

Self - directed learning

39 hours

Doing assignments x 4
Exam preparation
Writing Examinations
Total Notional Hours per course

8 hours
20 hours
3 hours
180 Hours

Sub-total Notional Hours = 180*5 Courses

900 Hours

Credits for Dissertation = 90 Credits equating to 900 Notional Hours.

Breakdown of hours:
Orientation

20 hours

Topic Formulation Analysis discussion

80 hours

Proposal writing and supervision

Directed supervision. 5 chapters @ 10 hours per chapter
Self-directed and guided reading
Literature review
Research Design and Methodology

100 hours
50 hours
150 hours
120 hours
100 hours

Data Collection

120 hours

Analysis and discussion of results

60 hours

Publication of project in part or in full with supervisor

50 hours

Supervisor and student work on dissertation defence

50 hours

Total Notional Hours

900 Hours
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9.0 ASSESSMENT
9.1 Taught courses in the programme shall cover two semesters.
9.1.1 The minimum time the student is expected to spend on the
programme is
18 Months.
9.1.2 A student who fails to complete the programme within the maximum time
allowed shall normally be discontinued.
9.2 Assessment of the course shall include the mark of the examination as well as the
coursework in that course. Normally, the coursework shall contribute 30-50 % and the
examination shall contribute 50-70 % of the final mark.
9.3 The candidate must satisfy the examiners in both the examination and the coursework
in each course.
9.4 The aggregate pass mark shall be fifty percent (50).
9.5 A student shall not proceed to the next semester carrying more than two courses.
9.6 Students will NOT sit for supplementary examinations for failed courses.
9.7 A student who fails 75% or more of the courses in a semester shall be required to
discontinue.
9.8 A student who fails a course shall be allowed to repeat the same course a maximum of
two (2) times and if unsuccessful, shall be required to discontinue.
9.9 A repeat student who has passed less than 50% of the courses taken in that semester
shall be required to discontinue.
9.10 Each student shall complete a dissertation on an approved topic conducted over six
(6) months following the completion of Semesters 1and 2.
9.10.1 Two typed and bound copies of the dissertation shall be submitted to the
department.
9.10.2 The dissertation shall have a weighting of 40% of the aggregate mark received by
the student, with the other 60% coming from the taught component in Semesters
1 and 2.
9.10.3 The department reserves the right to deposit a copy of the dissertation in the
university library.
9.10.4 A student who fails the dissertation with a mark of at least 40% will be
allowed to resubmit the dissertation within three (3) months after the publication
of results.
9.11 The pass mark shall be at least 50% and above.
9.12 The grading system in the Master of Science Degree in Engineering Project
Management shall be as follows:
10.0 DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME
10.1 The taught part of full time courses is expected to be covered in three blocks, each of
five weeks in Semesters one (1), two (2) and three. The dissertation shall be done in
the third semester.
10.2 The maximum time the student is expected to spend on the programme is three (3)
years after which they are discontinued.

10.2.1 THE GRADING SYSTEM FOR THE MASTERS DEGREE

Numerical Grade

Letter Grade

Grade Point Equivalent

A+

4.0

3.6

75 79

A-

3.2

70 -74

B+

2.8

65 69

2.4

61 -64

B-

2.0

56 60

C+

1.7

53 55

1.4

50 52

C-

1.0

49 and below

0.0

85 and above
Distinction

80- 84

Merit

Pass

Fail

11.0 AWARD OF DEGREE

11.1 To be awarded the Master of Science Degree in Engineering Project Management, a
candidate must have passed all taught courses and the dissertation component in
accordance with the regulations.
11.2 A degree under the seal of Chinhoyi University of Technology is issued to each
candidate who has satisfactorily completed the approved course of study in accordance
with the regulations.
12.0 NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
12.1 Results shall be published and a degree awarded in accordance with the provisions
of the General Regulations.
13.0

COURSE SYNOPSES

Engineering Project Planning (MEPMG 6-01)

18 Credits
The course provides instruction in the fundamentals of project management across the
entire project life cycle. It provides key strategies and practical tools for planning,
executing, and controlling a variety of engineering projects. It seeks to equip students with
essential knowledge and skills in the critical areas of the environmental, social, economic
and financial assessments of engineering projects to promote cross-cutting sustainability
for development. The course seeks to introduce students the basic principles and tools of
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strategic project planning through function-specific case study scenarios for a more realistic
practical experience. The appropriate technologies are used to give the participant a best
practices approach to the effective and efficient management of projects. Your learning is
reinforced through a number of practical exercises using case studies and real projects.
Topics include:
Planning and control using appropriate life cycle, Using gate reviews to manage project
risk, Managing matrix resources, A framework for planning and control, Planning and
control starts with the project charter, Developing a RASCI chart, Risk assessment and
mitigation, Defining the project scope, Design of the work breakdown structure,
Identifying project activities, Estimating techniques, Reserve management, Balance
effort/duration and allocation, Scheduling techniques, Milestones and Gantt charts,
Network diagrams, Critical path, Measuring and reporting progress (project governance),
Establishing a project dashboard, Earned value for tracking and forecasting time/cost
Software: Microsoft Project
Engineering Research Methods (MEPMG 6-02)
18 Credits
This course will enable higher degree by research candidates to plan and conduct advanced
research in order to create new knowledge in the engineering field and related disciplines.
In this course you will further develop their knowledge of the philosophy and practice of
research in the field of engineering and related disciplines, be exposed to a range of
literatures pertinent to Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science fields.
It will deepen their understanding of the broad range of methods and techniques for
research in the engineering and cognate fields and the processes for critically evaluating
each method for the purposes of designing a research project. It will refine their critical and
creative thinking and communication skills to the high level required from professional
researchers in these fields
Topics include:
Overview on Engineering research methodology, Academic writing skills: critical concepts
for higher level report and thesis writing, Literature reviews and critical analysis of
publications, Thesis structure & formulating research questions, Introduction to large data
sets, Introduction to programming for large data sets using R I Instrumentation and data
logging overview, Labview software, remote measurement techniques, Introduction to
programming for large data sets using R II, Quantitative and qualitative data analysis,
Data quality and uncertainty, Correlation and data fitting (least squares), Risk assessments
for Engineers
Environmental Management in Engineering Projects (MEPMG 6-03) 18 Credits
Is a course which aims at providing a guiding framework for the operations of engineering
projects in order to predict, avoid and/ or mitigate a variety of project-based environmental
issues. It seeks to provide knowledge and skills in conducting environmental feasibility
analysis, natural resource inventories and surveys, environmental impact assessments,
environmental auditing, environmental mitigation and remediation. In addition the course
covers the fundamental concepts, processes, implications of, and engineering solutions to,
project-based air, noise, water, solid waste, thermal and nuclear pollution on the
environment. The principles and practice of cleaner production technology will be
delivered. Among other critical environmental management tools to be taught, the course
will provide knowledge and skills required in the formulation and implementation of
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effective case-specific environmental management systems for sustainable project

development and management.
Topics include:
Sustainability of engineering projects- case studies, Landfills and their applications,
Ecological Footprint, EIA, Climate Change and its impact on engineering projects, Life
Cycle Analysis, Renewable Energy in engineering projects, Economics and the
Environment, Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Cities

Production and Operations Management (MEPMG 6-04)

18 Credits
It covers the translation of product and service requirements into facilities, procedures, and
operating organizations. It includes product design, production alternatives, facilities
location and layout, resource requirements planning, quality control, and industrial
management. It uses live case analyses.
Topics include:
PERT and CPM, Capacity Management, Supply Chain Design, Production Control,
Waiting Line Models, Management of Quality, Quality Control, Forecasting, JIT and Lean
Operations, Designing of Work Systems, Location Planning and Analysis, Inventory
Management
Asset Management (MEPMG 6-05)
18 Credits
The course is tailored to give participants a foundation in the principles of managing
project infrastructure as well as other means of production. The course also covers
application of risk-based decision support tools to enable the right level of maintenance to
be done, and the risks to be fully understood and quantified. The course is meant to
communicate latest processes, methods, tools and thinking on asset management. It gives
an overview of asset management and what it can do for an asset centered organisation. At
the end of the course students will have an overview of asset management, know how to
assess criticality, understand what decision support tools to use in what circumstances, and
be able to apply these tools to their own work environment to improve activity planning,
maintenance, spares, projects and shutdowns.
Topics include:
Introduction to asset management concepts, latest thinking and PAS 55, Asset risk
management and cost/risk optimization, PAS 55 implementation and planning, Asset
management role-play game-Orange modeling, Asset care and renewal (intelligent
maintenance) management training, Asset care and renewal (intelligent maintenance) for
technical staff, Asset management techniques, tools and methodologies, Key performance
indicators for asset management, Cost/risk optimization of maintenance strategies, Total
productive maintenance, RCM and strategy development , Risk-based inspection, Root
cause analysis, Criticality assessment and analysis, Cost/benefit evaluation and
prioritization of capital projects, Optimization of inspection intervals and strategies,
Optimization of shutdown strategies and work bundling, Optimization of spares,
Optimization of fast-moving stock/inventory EOQ, Under the skin of PAS 55; a guide for
assessors, Preparing for ISO 55000 (Executive Briefing), Preparing for the ISO 55000
standards for asset management
Software: Orange, Fixed Asset Pro
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Engineering Project Monitoring and Evaluation (MEPMG 6-06)

18 Credits
Monitoring and Evaluation Implementation course will provide participants with a practical
and theoretical framework for understanding and implementing the Monitoring and
Evaluation (M&E) process in the work environment. While it may be biased towards
developmental work, it nevertheless provides knowledge especially suited to the aim and
M&E programmes, projects and performance in a bid to generate desired results in your
organisation.
Topics include:
Introduction to M&E, Qualitative Methods in M&E, Quantitative Methods in M&E, M&E
readiness assessment, Frameworks, Selecting indicators, Outcome statements, Data-related
considerations, Techniques for monitoring and analytical categories of evaluation,
Preparation and implementation of monitoring and evaluation
Project Management Information Systems (MEPMG 6-07)
18 Credits
This course offers a practical application of information systems project management
principles and procedures. The objective is to manage and control IT projects in alignment
with organizational strategic goals and within resource constraints and to manage highperforming project teams to implement IT solutions. Topics include the development,
control, and execution of plans to manage information systems projects as part of a team
and the use of Microsoft Project and relevant IT tools to develop project schedules and
related components.
Topics include:
Introduction to Project Management, Project Integration Management, Project Scope
Management, Project Time Management, Project Quality Management, Project Human
Resource Management, Project Communications Management, Project Risk Management,
Project Audit and Closure, CPM and Risk Management
Legislation for Engineering Projects (MEPMG 6-08)
18 Credits
With the changing demands and expectations of engineers, law has become an essential
part of the body of knowledge important to the discharge of daily tasks of engineers.
Whether working for sub-contractors, contractors, consultants, governments or private
developers, a core competence for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of
projects is the ability to apply principles of laws to their works. These enable the proper
management of projects and the areas of disputes arising thereunder.
This course aims at introducing the basic principles of laws with particular emphasis on
those, which are relevant to the industry.
Topics include:
Tendering process, ethics, policies, competition law, Environmental law and policy,

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Project Estimating and Cost Management (MEPMG 6-09)

18 Credits
This in-depth course focuses on approaches to estimating costs and schedules for any
project. Understand the various project areas that must be estimated and the tools and
methodologies best suited for the estimates you will prepare. Recognize the importance of
effective estimating throughout the project management life cycle. The course will also
equip students on Risk-based capex and opex decisions. Students will also be.
Topics include:
Overview of Cost Management, Project cost management, Project cost profile
Costs, methodology, risk impacts, Plan cost management, Process inputs, techniques,
outputs, Cost management plan contents, Estimate costs, Process inputs, techniques,
outputs, Aligning scope, schedule and cost, Scale and capacity and risk appetite
considerations, Tips- estimating accuracy, Tips-stakeholder expectations, Tips- economics
of scope, Tips- capacity for execution, Tips- risk appetite, Determine the budget, Process
inputs, techniques, outputs, Definition of capital budgeting, Cost baseline, Control costs,
Process inputs, techniques, outputs, Earned value management EVM, Two EVM case
studies, Justifying Costs to stakeholders, Cashflow, Payback & how to calculate it, ROI &
how to calculate it, NPV and how to calculate it, IRR and how to calculate it
Management of Engineering Projects (MEPMG 6-10)
18 Credits
Most engineering works have a clear purpose and stipulated beginning and end times, they
are regarded as 'projects'. Ensuring an engineering project reaches fulfilment within its
required constraints is the process of engineering project management. In this course the
concepts, processes and tools of advanced engineering project management are explored.
Students are guided through the historical background of project management, the project
management environment, the elements of the project life cycle, the projects management
knowledge areas, the consideration of professional issues in the project management
process and program management. The course concludes with a discussion of specialised
and emerging project management topics, designed to improve project management
outcomes.
Topics include:
The engineering project management challenge, The engineering project life cycle,
Engineering project integration, scope, time, cost and quality management, Engineering
project human resource, communications and procurement management, Engineering
project risk management, Engineering project stakeholder management, Management of
project sustainability, Attributes of an effective engineering project manager, Managing
complex engineering projects, Engineering program management, Alternative project
delivery methodologies, Current and future issues in engineering project management.
Dissertation (MEPMG 7-01)
90 Credits
Project Management dissertation in any engineering discipline. Research undertaken must
deal with real problems emanating from the society and/or related socio-economic sectors.

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