New Perspectives in Science Education

Numerous national academic programs in International Project Management can be characterized by a disconnection from practical realities, leading to graduates who are inadequately equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills for successful integration into the labour market.The acquisition of knowledge and skills through active and practical engagement is essential for successful professional integration in a dynamic field such as international initiatives. Innovative educational internships, such as project-based learning (Pbl), adopted by the university are decisive in acquiring and consolidating skills. By employing a case study, the objective of this research is to analyse and evaluate the factors that ensure the success of the integration of project-based learning strategies in the educational process of the Master's students of the Project Management program at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The results of the study demonstrate a positive perception of the students related to the consolidation of the knowledge and skills acquired through involvement and participation, which can change the chance of the graduate to integrate in the field, after graduation, in many cases even during the course of the studies. The success of this strategy lies in the fact that the master's students can experience roles in a real project right from the faculty, by going through the entire cycle of participation in the project from the project team member to the initiator and coordinator, thanks to the adoption of the learning through projects strategy.