A planned Centre for Excellence in Project Management aims to increase the number of skilled project managers available to Queensland's growing building and construction industry.

A joint initiative between the Department of Public Works, the Department of Education and Training and the Australian Institute of Project Management, the centre will foster project management excellence throughout Queensland.

“Over the past two decades, the building and construction industry in Queensland and Australia has experienced a significant decline in the quality of project design documentation,” says Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten.

To be located at the Southbank Institute of Technology, the Centre for Excellence will offer a two-year employment-based program to improve the standard and numbers of Queensland’s project managers.

"The program will allow on-the-job application of the theories and practices of project management and provide a workplace mentoring program," he says.

The Centre for Excellence in Project Management will also have a full-time designated program manager at the Southbank Institute of Technology.

The program will begin with an initial intake of 20 participants in the first half of 2007, with another 20 to follow in late 2007. Another 20 participants are planned for early 2008 and will complete the maximum of 60 participants in the program at any one time.

Participants who complete the program will be eligible to register as project managers through the Australian Institute of Management.