EMF: Project Management in Third Party Funded Projects

In the workshop “Project Management in Third-Party Funded Projects”, participants engage in a hands-on exploration of key topics and typical situations from the world of externally funded projects. Based on a realistic scenario in which a multi-year project with staff and material resources has been successfully acquired, participants take on the role of project manager and work through a series of events, developing practical solutions in areas such as staff recruitment, stakeholder coordination, preparation of selection interviews, and adjustment of financial plans.

A central element is the theme cluster “Communication and Lateral Leadership” — specifically, how doctoral researchers, as project managers without formal line authority, can motivate colleagues and build effective working relationships. Participants develop communication strategies in small groups, rehearse conversational approaches through role plays, and reflect on core principles of lateral leadership such as perspective-taking and motivational communication. Communication models (interest-based model, active listening) are introduced throughout. 

The workshop is fully action-oriented and works with realistic pre-prepared documents (project description, Gantt chart, work packages, milestone plan, etc.) that must be adapted as the workshop progresses — just as in a real project. Additional scenarios include parental leave cover, a research stay abroad, progress reports, budget changes, and a team conflict.

Qualification Outcomes

• Project implementation, including establishing a structure, staff recruitment, and onboarding key internal stakeholders
• Financial planning and adjustments to changing framework conditions
• Handling typical project challenges, such as delays, substitutions, and conflicts
• Communication and lateral leadership in interdisciplinary teams
• Introduction to and application of practice-tested communication models
• Working with realistic project documents, such as Gantt charts, financial plans, progress reports, etc.

Methods

• brief walkthrough of relevant tasks and topics in the field of managing third-party funded projects, based on a scenario and various typical events
• working on case studies
• group work and individual work
• presentation of results
• role plays
• input by the workshop facilitator
• the use of AI (LLMs) as a sparring partner and to adapt planning

Requirements

To participate, you will need a laptop/PC with a camera, microphone and internet access. The Zoom platform will be used during the workshop and you will receive the link to the online platform a few days prior to the event.

Additional Terms of Use: With your registration, you accept the use of specified platforms/tools and the possibly necessary provision of specified data (name and email address). Additionally, the guarantee of the technical requirements is made by the participants themselves.