From Classroom to Community: How Project Management Theory Fosters Student Learning and Engagement

Correy Retzloff is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Texas at Arlington.

  Career Development   Education   New Practitioners   Social Impact  

Higher education constantly seeks ways to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, all while fostering civic responsibility. We've tackled this challenge head-on with the MANA Service-Learning Project, a novel approach that integrates core project management theory directly into organizational behavior courses.

Over four years, this model has engaged more than 330 students, resulting in over 2,200 volunteer hours and mobilizing over $11,000 in resources for various community partners. Our approach demonstrates that when students apply PM principles to real community needs, they not only deepen their understanding of organizational behavior, but also develop invaluable practical skills that are highly transferable to any setting, professional or personal (Harrin, 2024).

This article details how our project design, underpinned by a clear project management framework, empowers students to deliver tangible community benefits while cultivating essential professional competencies—even in large, diverse classes.

The Project Management Framework in Action
Our pedagogy is uniquely structured around the Project Management Institute's A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition (2021), leveraging its phased approach (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, closing) to guide …

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