North Idaho College is schooling trainers so they can offer project-management training to businesses throughout Idaho and in the Spokane area.


The trainers will receive a certification in project-management instruction.


The program, funded by a state of Idaho grant, is designed to improve businesses ability to finish, on time and on budget, projects to do such things as improve or launch marketing efforts, expand their services, or develop products.


We will be teaching this train the trainer certification in hopes that the work-force training departments (of colleges and universities) across the state will utilize the training program, and market the program to their own clients, says Robert Ketchum, NICs director of work-force training. This will enable widespread project-management training availability to all Idaho businesses. Thats the real benefit to the state of Idaho.


The six educators receiving the two days of instruction at NIC are employed by NIC, Eastern Idaho Technical College, in Idaho Falls, Idaho; Lewis-Clark State College, in Lewiston, Idaho; Boise State University, in Boise; Idaho State University, in Pocatello, Idaho; and the College of Southern Idaho, in Twin Falls, Idaho.


Ketchum says once the six educators have been certified to provide training, the schools they work for will be able to offer project-management classes to companies in Idaho, with NIC offering the classes in the Spokane area.


Project-management training teaches participants the skills necessary to successfully manage projects within their companies, says Vern Jenks, NICs director of customized training. Its a hot topic across the nation. More and more people are recognizing the importance of project-management training and its effect on business.


NIC says a recent national study found that only a third of business projects are completed. In addition, the study found that only 15 percent of all projects, most of which are intended to increase or enhance products and services, are finished on time and on budget.


NICs schooling of the trainers will teach them both about basic project management and how to market project-management training to others.


NIC received a $31,000 grant for the course from the Idaho Workforce Training Network, a state program under the Idaho Division of Professional-Technical Education.


NIC will charge businesses about $3,200 for a two-day course in project management, Ketchum says.


Ketchum says NIC will offer the classes at its Coeur dAlene campus or at businesses own locations, depending on the needs of clients. If the project-management courses generate revenue for the other participating schools, they could be expand the program.


The courses will teach people how to improve their skills in five areas: leadership, communication, organization, roles, and processes.


The program is being delivered by instructor Toivo Mykkanen, who has more than 20 years of experience as a program manager and project team leader. Mykkanen is a part-time NIC employee and business consultant.