Developing Project Management Trainees (DEVELPMNT) Program
About Us
The purpose of DEVELPMNT is to introduce trainees to project management (PM) as a career and skill set. Our program is open to participants in all career stages, from undergraduate students to Duke staff!
Our program is partnered with known project management groups, university programs, and companies in an effort to build upon already well-established programs, network, and launch with a solid foundation.
We aim to provide participants with project management training ahead of entrance into the workforce and familiarize them with foundational knowledge to prepare for internships and employment.
Application
Our application portal for the 2025 session is now closed. Applicants will receive their results via email once decisions have been finalized.
Those interested in applying for the Spring 2026 DEVELPMNT Program should expect marketing and application materials to be available in November-December 2025.
Applicants should note that our program covers introductory project management topics. Current project managers or students with previous PM training would likely benefit from more advanced seminars.
Info Session
The 2025 DEVELPMNT Program info session was held on Zoom on December 2, 2024, from 12-1. More information about the 2026 DEVELPMNT Program will be available in late fall of 2025.
The DEVELPMNT program will provide the following:
A formal, multi-session workshop to learn about project management topics and tools
Access to the Project Management Community of Practice (PMCoP)
A greater understanding about PM as a career, what makes a successful PM, how to prepare for jobs, etc.
The opportunity to earn an internship with participating institutions upon completion of the program
2025 DEVELPMNT Program Schedule
Feb 6th
Session 1 General Introduction to Project Management
Feb 20th
Session 2 Getting a Project off the Ground
March 6th
Session 3 Monitoring and Controlling a Project
March 20th
Session 4
Career Development
April 3rd
Session 5
Team Building in the Realm of Project Management
April 17th
Session 6 Project Management Career Panel
All sessions are scheduled to be held virtually from 12 – 1 PM.
The six-session workshop series is designed as follows:
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- Sessions 1-3: Participants will be assigned online video lecture modules from the LinkedIn Learning course “Project Management Fundamentals” to complete ahead of each meeting. Formal sessions will be led by a project management professional and will serve as an opportunity to review and expand upon course material as a group, ask questions, and discuss project management in theory vs. in-action. Small groups will then examine case studies or activities and work as a team to problem solve and apply the project management skills learned in each session.
- Session 4: This session will cover best practices for creating a successful resume tailored to a project management role and preparing for interviews.
- Session 5: Trainees, workshop leaders, and potential mentors will engage in training and discussion about team building and interpersonal skills specifically in the realm of project management. Case studies and audio/visual materials will be provided for review ahead of discussion.
- Session 6: Project Management professionals across different fields will discuss their career paths, trajectories, and work experiences. They will be available to answer questions and offer advice about job preparation, pros/cons, etc.
Interested in serving as a project manager mentor?
The DEVELPMNT Program is seeking enthusiastic and engaged mentors in a wide range of Project Management fields. Our goal is to provide 1) internship opportunities that enable participants to apply their course-gained knowledge in project management to real-life projects, and 2) professional contacts for participants to be able to network with project management professionals through informational interviews, resume reviews, etc.
We will be recruiting mentors for our 2025 DEVELPMNT cohort from February 2025 – May 2025. The suggested duration for an internship position is May/June – September 2025, though fall internships, or extending summer internships given mentor and mentee availability, are both possibilities as well.
For more information about our mentorship program, please reference the resource links below. Any questions can be directed to the Training Program Managers via email.
2025 Mentorship Recruiting Handbook
Sample Internship Descriptions
Mentor Info Session Slides (2023)
When you’re ready, register as a mentor through Qualtrics. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
FAQ
The application for the 2025 DEVELPMNT Program is now closed. Applications for the 2026 DEVELPMNT Program are expected to open in December 2025.
Applications for the 2025 DEVELPMNT program were due at 11:59PM on January 10th, 2025.
The first three sessions of the program will be based off the modules from the LinkedIn Learning course “Project Management Foundations” taught by Bonnie Biafore. This course is free for Duke students, staff, and faculty.
To access this course, please visit the OIT LinkedIn Learning website, click the yellow “Access LinkedIn Learning for Duke” button on the right-hand side of the page, and follow the subsequent instructions.
If you are currently a project manager and would like to volunteer to mentor an intern, please review our “Interested in serving as project manager mentor?” tab above, or email the Training Program Managers. Thanks for your interest!
Below are helpful resources for project management trainees:
PMI’s free Project Management for Beginners course
North Carolina Project Management Institute, Triangle Region
Presidential Management Fellowship
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
