Future Leaders in Project Management (FLiPM®) is not an organization of walls, telephone systems, and file structures; it is a collaborative partnership of educators, professionals, business owners, and parents who know that for our children to succeed in a globally competitive marketplace they need hard and soft life skills incorporated into their daily educational experience. These life skills will help our students meet their personal and professional challenges. FLiPM’s job is to bring these like-minded individuals from a diverse background of occupations, educational levels, and social statuses together
for a common goal: Success for our children.

The worldwide leader in Project Management is the Project Management Institute (PMI®), and FLiPM® working with registered education providers will bring internationally accepted Project Management Best Practices to Career and Technical Education courses thus increasing the rigor and relevance to their existing workplace readiness skills. Students graduating from the Senior Capstone course will meet the eligibility requirements from PMI® to sit for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®), thus opening a career field in hundreds of industries needing project management skill sets.

The Need

It is estimated that 20% of gross global product ─ $12 trillion per year ─ is spent on fixed capital projects worldwide; trillions more is spent on projects for IT, new product and service development, entertainment and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The job market for Project Managers is thriving. PMI® estimates a global shortage of certified project managers. Starting salaries for people who are Certified Associate Project Managers are between $40,000-$50,000 a year.

Businesses need a skilled local workforce.. Graduating high school seniors need job opportunities and skills to qualify for those jobs. The United States needs a thriving economy and a lower unemployment rate.

The Solution

FLiPM®’s curriculum has the potential to meet these needs. Operating as the hub of the collective groups involved, FLiPM® organizes resources and communications to ensure that local high school students are empowered with both the “hard skills” and the ‘soft skills’ they need to succeed in any industry. The hard skills involve gaining a competency based, globally recognized, professional certification in project management (CAPM®). The soft skills involved in project management (leadership, time management, risk assessment) are essential life skills that translate into any profession. This is truly a ‘win win’ situation for everyone involved.

How FLiPM® works

Upon completing the last Project Management Course in the 12th grade, students who achieve their high school diploma will be eligible to sit for the Certified Associate’s in Project Management (CAPM®) test from PMI®, thus enabling the students to turn their passion in any industry into marketable career options straight out of school.

Students will be mentored by Project Management Professionals (PMP®s) currently in the local workforce and taught from the Virginia Career and Technical Education’s Verso competency codes to fit into Virginia’s public education.