As a project manager responsible for implementing ERPs, my participation in the PAGAP allowed me to develop and update my professional and academic knowledge, opening up new horizons and perspectives with regard to everyday activities, about which we sometimes made decisions as a matter of routine. It was undoubtedly a gratifying experience and was an important tool for my professional career, transforming an enriching challenge into a winning proposition. On the other hand, it provided me with the means and tools necessary to prepare for my PMP Certificate issued by the PMI. Today, having already been certified, I have a far clearer and more practical understanding of all the basic processes of Project Management. The course is an asset for our day-to-day activities considering the way it helps map best practices and standards in the field of project management, in an increasingly demanding environment.

The rapid changes that take place in an increasingly complex world also make it necessary for organisations to adapt quickly and public enterprises are no exception to the rule. Their survival and success depend on a sustained development, which cannot be obtained without a strong emphasis on motivating employees to acquire skills and update their performance, by upgrading with new knowledge components. Given the challenges involved in developing new railway projects, the PAGAP allowed me to consolidate knowledge and techniques in the field of project management, since it encompasses the areas of operational and financial management and behavioural aspects associated with managing teams, complementing my technical training very effectively. The program encompasses areas that provide participants with skills that allow them to view organisations from a global perspective and act accordingly. It is a valuable tool for new forms of action owing to the updated and practical manner in which subjects are taught. The greatest added value was sharing experiences and knowledge with the teaching faculty and colleagues from the most diverse areas. The program was thus an enriching challenge that provided me with tools and know-how, preparing me for the great changes that will perforce occur in public enterprises as well, namely in terms of new ways of performing.

In an increasingly competitive and challenging environment it is necessary to be permanently updated and prepared in order to be able to effectively find and develop the best solutions for the problems that we face daily in the course of our professional activities. Taught by professors with a superlative technical capacity and practical experience, the PAGAP is an excellent contribution to obtain additional skills in the area of project management. It has provided me with an extremely useful set of knowledge and tools for both my professional as well as personal development.

After many years of leading projects in all their varied stages I came to the conclusion that while all projects have a head or a director not all heads/directors are necessarily project managers. It is necessary to demystify the idea that managing a project simply entails overseeing costs and that the success of a project depends on being done within the budget. This program was important in order to clarify, develop and systematise what I had already learnt from experience. I think that those who call themselves project managers but are not yet suitably skilled and those who wish to be project managers should attend this course to realise that projects are managed with teams and in a team there are no unimportant activities. We live in a world of constant change and intense competition and hence well-defined strategies, quality, efficient organisation, planning and control, risk management and leadership, which result in a commitment to continuous improvement, are what make the difference.

Since I work in a multinational company, every year I see that change constantly occurs. New applications, methodologies, processes and strategies keep appearing, with a view to doing more and doing things better - everything to serve our clients by providing the best quality possible. Teams are formed for all these initiatives so as to implement them better and ensure the necessary follow-up. I have often been involved in many of these projects owing to my professional functions. When I joined the PAGAP I aimed to improve my level of knowledge so as to improve the quality and performance of these projects. However, I found far more than that at the PAGAP. In addition to a very complete and balanced program, I found a set of professors who had both academic and professional experience, who motivated us and gave us the space to develop our skills. Thus, during classes we discussed best practices and practical cases and were provided with materials and bibliography that allowed us to develop them. This is the only way to achieve a rapid learning process, which, balanced with our professional activities, produces a change in attitude during such a short span of time while imparting the knowledge that enables us to be even better professionals. This course was also an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences with other participants from very diverse areas and with very interesting experiences, which perfectly complemented the classes and the professors. For all these reasons I am very happy that I chose the PAGAP and would not hesitate to recommend it to all professionals who work in the field of projects, irrespective of whether these are simple or complex ventures.