JIMMA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Curriculum For
MA in Project Management & Finance

MAY, 2017

JIMMA, ETHIOPIA
CURRICULUM AUTHORS
This MA curriculum in Project Management and Finance is prepared by staffs of Accounting &
Finance Department Case Team.

1. Ms. Haymanot Alemayehu, Head Department of Accounting & Finance Chair Person
2. Dr. Arega Seyoum Coordinator, Research & PG Program (BECO) Member
3. Dr. Deresse Mersha, Assistant Professor, Accounting & Finance Member
4. Mr. Abiy Getahun, Assistant Professor, Accounting & Finance Member

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This curriculum would not have been realized without the commitment and support of many individuals
and organizations. Accordingly, the curriculum development team would like to express its appreciation
and heartfelt gratitude to those individuals and institutions that have willingly provided all the relevant
and genuine data to prepare this curriculum. Specifically, the curriculum development team would like to
offer credit to Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), Ethiopian Construction Design Corporation (ECDC),
Addis Ababa University (AAU), National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), Unity University (UU), Commercial
Bank of Ethiopia, Wegagen Bank, SC. Dashen Bank SC., Awash International Bank SC., for their
genuine response and support during the need assessment.

The curriculum development team would also like to express its appreciation to the academic and
administration staffs of Addis Ababa, Unity, St. Mary’s, Rift Valley and Jimma Universities; and Jimma
University and ABH Campus graduating class students who involved voluntarily in the survey process
during the need assessment.

The Curriculum Development Team

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
CURRICULUM AUTHORS .......................................................................................................... ............................................. 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................. ............................ 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................... 4

ACCRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................. .. 5

1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

2. RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAM .......................................................................................................................... 7

3. VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 8

4. MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT ......................................................................................................................... 8

5. OBJECTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT .................................................................................................................... 9

6. RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................................................ 10

7. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM ....................................................................................................................... 12

8. GRADUATES' PROFILE AND DEGREE NOMENCLATURE ............................................................................ 13

8.1 GRADUATES' PROFILE ................................................................................................................................................. 13

8.2 DEGREE NOMENCLATURE ............................................................................................................................. .............. 14

9. DURATION OF THE PROGRAM & ADMISSION REQUIREMENT .................................................................................... 14

10.TEACHING & ASSESSMENT METHODS ........................................................................................................ 14

11.GRADING SYSTEM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENT ......................................................................... 15

12. QUALITY ASSURANCE ............................................................................................................................. ........ 15

13.COURSE STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS .................................................................... 16

14. COURSES BREAKDOWN ............................................................................................................................. ..... 17

15. COURSE SYLLABI ............................................................................................................................................. 18

15.1 CORE COURSES ............................................................................................................................. .............................. 18

15.2 SPECIALIZED COURSES ............................................................................................................................. .................. 43

ANNEX I: NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT ................................................................................................................. 63

ANNEX II: NEED ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE .................................................................................................. 73

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 ACCRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS
BECO Business & Economics College
CGAP Cumulative Grade Point Average
DTTP Development team training program
ECTS European Credit Transfer System
HEIs Higher Education Institutions
HERQA Higher Education quality & relevance agency
JU Jimma University
MPMF Master of Arts Degree in Project Management & Finance

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 1. INTRODUCTION
Jimma University (JU) is a public higher educational institution established in December 1999,
by the amalgamation of Jimma College of Agriculture (Founded in 1952) & Jimma Institute of
Health Sciences (established in 1983). Business & Economics College (BECO) is one of the
founding college of JU that opened in 1997 before the inauguration of the university in 2000.
Since then BECO is running undergraduate programs (in Accounting & Finance, Economics,
Management, Banking & Finance, & Hospitality & Tourism Management) & postgraduate
programs (in MBA, MSc in Accounting & Finance, MSc in Economic Policy Analysis, &
Masters of Public Management-MPM) in regular, evening, summer, & off campus modalities so
as to improve access & equity of citizens to Higher Education in applied business, finance, &
economics fields of specializations. Therefore, the college is making valuable contribution for
the overall development of the country by producing well equipped and problem-solving
professionals in different disciplines.

Under the auspicious of the then Business College, the department of Accounting was
established in 1997. Since then the Department for the last two decades, the department has been
producing highly qualified, competent skilled manpower in the fields of general accountants,
auditors, financial experts, etc. to the labor market.

In addition to the undergraduate program, since 2009/10 G.C. the department has been providing
training in Postgraduate Program in the field of Accounting & Finance. As part of it major
objectives to supply highly qualified manpower to support the developmental effort of the
country, Jimma University in general and College of Business & Economics in particular has the
mandate to design new programs that supports and facilitates the country’s developmental effort.
Hence, considering the boom in construction sector, and largely to solve the dominant challenges
of the many mega projects established here and there in different parts of the country, the
department of Accounting and Finance of Jimma University observed the need for qualified and
competent professional project finance experts. Besides, the reports released by the concerned
government offices revealed that many of the projects undertaken in the country are suffering
from many challenges. Among these challenges cost overruns and schedules slippages are the
most formidable ones. Hence, partly to address the problems prevalent in the sector, and to

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provide competent and qualified project finance specialists that can develop, plan, appraise and
manage different sizes of projects initiated by private, public and other entities in the country.

2. RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAM

The use of projects and project management is becoming more and more important for all kinds
of organizations. Businesses regularly use project Management & Finance techniques to achieve
unique outcomes under the constraints of resources, and now a day project management becomes
one of the critical ways of achieving an organization’s strategy.

The successful execution of these projects demands competent project managers who are
required to manage complex, time- pressured projects and programs using advanced tools and
techniques for maximum effect. However, the day to today observations of project
accomplishments in Ethiopia reveal that there is a sever gap in project management skills among
project managers. Despite the plethora of graduates in other fields of study, considerable number
of projects are designed less professionally, not completed within the prescribed time frame, cost
limit as well as quality parameters. Thus, the MPMF Program is intended to meet the demand for
educated workforce in the field. It is designed to provide the competence that is needed in the
identification of feasible projects, preparation of comprehensive project documents,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of different projects. In addition, it offers additional
opportunity for the burgeoning of graduates at an undergraduate level coming out of various
higher learning institutions and looking for further study opportunities in this field of study. It
also has implications for careers whose demand will soar along with the implementation of the
Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) of the country, and the implementation of
other mega projects in the years to come. Thus, this MPMF program will produce competent
graduates who can contribute towards the successful implementation of those projects and the
realization of the subsequent medium-term national plans.

Furthermore, this program is expected to contribute towards the realization of the Government's
policy of creating jobs for the youth as many of the graduates are expected to engage themselves
in either hired employment or self-employment due to the nature of the curriculum that equips
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the candidates with and promotes entrepreneurial orientation. The program incorporates up-to-
date contemporary thinking on the various themes in Project Management with solid foundation
courses that are offered before other courses. From defining the scope of the project to
developing a timeline to identifying costs and resources, this MPMF programme particularly
aims at the processes and strategies for successful attainment of the programme objectives.

3. VISION OF THE DEPARTMENT

The vision of Department of Accounting and Finance in college of Business and Economics of
Jimma University is:

“To become the leading and known high quality Accounting and
Finance education provider that integrates community based research and
consultancy services”.

4. MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

The mission of Department of Accounting and Finance in the College of Business and
Economics (BECO) is to meet the University’s mission. Principally, the mission of the
Department is:


Project
to provide high quality programs of education for accounting & finance and
 management & Finance majors at the undergraduate and graduate levels,

 
to provide high quality courses to support the undergraduate and graduate programs of
the College of Business and Economics and the University at large,
 
 to simulate and support productive, high quality research, and publication,

to provide service, largely through committee representation to the University, the
 
College of Business and Economics, the Department, Accounting and Finance
Community, and the Accounting profession, and
 
to foster faculty interaction with the public in ways that enhances the common good.

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 5. OBJECTIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT
The primary goal of the department is to provide programs of quality education in accounting
and finance at the undergraduate and graduate levels by integrating community based training,
research and consultancy service. The undergraduate program provides an excellent foundation
for careers in industry, government and other not-for-profit organizations; is sufficiently broad to
qualify graduates for a wide range of entry-level, business-related positions; and prepares
students for further graduate-level studies in areas such as accounting, finance, project
management and business administration. The department is currently offering courses at
postgraduate level in Accounting & Finance. The graduate program to be launched also aim at
producing high caliber professional graduates who are going to be Project Managers, Project
Appraisers, Project consultants, academicians in higher learning institutions, researchers, and can
assume different positions in various organizations as finance officers, accountants, budget
planners, tax and investment experts, etc.

Specific Objectives

❖ To produce competent graduates with up-to-date knowledge and skill in the field of
Accounting, Finance, Auditing, Budgeting and fund management, taxation, etc.

❖ To produce professionals who provide consultancy services in the area of taxation,

investments, projects and fund management, and other finance sector.

❖ To create and develop linkage with various financial institutions such as Banks, Insurers
and other Finance companies and research institutions.


To contribute to societal development through sound training of responsive professionals
and the conduct of high-quality relevant research.

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 6. RESOURCES

The Academic Unit hosting this MA program in Project Management & Finance is mainly
Department of Accounting & Finance. Under this section, the current staff profile, & material
requirements are presented. At present, the Department has three PhD holders, 3 PhD Candidates
and four (4) assistant professors who can offer courses to students of both MSc in Accounting &
finance as well as MA in Project Management & Management Programs.

Table 1: Current Human Resource Profile of Accounting & Finance Department of JU

S.N. Name of the Academic Staff Academic Rank Remark
1. Dr. Arega Seyoum Associate Professor
2. Dr. Deresse Mersha Assistant Professor
3. Dr. Kenenisa Lemi Assistant Professor
4. Mr. Abiy Getahun Assistant Professor
5. Mr. Yonas Mekonnen Assistant Professor
6. Mr. Tadele Tesfay Assistant Professor
7. Mr. Weldemichael Shibiru Assistant Professor
8. Mrs. Amina Ahmed Lecturer
9. Ms. Haymanot Alemayehu Lecturer
10. Mr. Mengistu Deyasa Lecturer
11. Mr. Sintayehu Tulu Lecturer
12. Mr. Ganfure Tarekegn Lecturer
13. Mr. Mathewos W/Mariam Lecturer
14. Mr. Tezera Selamu Lecturer PhD Candidate and
expected to complete
his studies in 2018
15. Mr. Mathewos Kebede Lecturer PhD Candidate and
expected to complete
his studies in 2018
16. Mr. Hamdu Kedir Assistant Professor PhD Candidate and

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 expected to complete
his studies in 2018
17. Mr. Eshetu Yadecha Lecturer PhD Candidate and
expected to complete
his studies in 2018
18. Mr. Mohammed Sultan Lecturer
19. Mr. Mohammed Ghetahun Lecturer
20. Ms. Gelila Eshetu Graduate Assistant I She is currently
attending her MSc in
Accounting &
Finance at JU, and
expected to complete
her study June 2018
21. Ms. Serkalem Graduate Assistant I She is currently
attending her MSc in
Accounting &
Finance at JU, and
expected to complete
her study June 2018

The program highly demands physical resources like Smart PG lecture room & computer center.
Moreover, the program requires computers, printers, scanner, heavy duty photocopy machine,
LCD & pointer, whiteboard, stationary materials as well as text books & journals to run the
program efficiently. Usually, the college of Business and Economics is expected to provide
computers, printers, scanner, & stationary materials required for the smooth sailing of the
program. However, the program can share PG library, & seminars/conference room & other
facilities already used by the department’s postgraduate program. The Curriculum Development
team highly expects that considering the relevance of this program, the top management of the
University in general and the college of business and economics in particular will arrange a
separate specialized computer center for teaching computer–based courses as well as software
packages such as COMFAR, MS-Project, SPSS, STATA & Eviews.
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 7. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

The overall aim of this program is to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of
Project development, Project planning & scheduling, Project appraisal & evaluation, Project cost
estimation, budgeting & control, project management fundamentals, Project financing & Project
risk management, etc. by taking them through all stages of Project Management and Project
finance processes. More specifically, the program is designed to enable trainers to:

 Apply a structured and systematic approach to assessing project finance transactions 


 Recognize the key steps or procedures used to appraise and evaluate different large-scale
investment projects.

 Use both qualitative and quantitative tools and measures to distinguish the key project
risks

 Interpret each of the risks to determine their severity and potential impact on the
transaction structure

 To promote project management & Finance as a specialized field of study and create the
needed sense of professionalism in project management in Ethiopia

 To promote efficient and effective utilization of national and organizational resources by
minimizing costs, limiting time lapse and boosting quality of project executions.

 Build a credit rationale in order to make and substantiate investment decisions.

 Manage the project lifecycle in all its phases in a way that assures the delivery of
the negotiated scope and quality level, while meeting time and budget constraints

 Effectively communicate the project/program status, issues, expectations and risks, both
verbally and in writing, to project and program stakeholders and team members

The training program will make extensive use of case studies and group discussions which can
arise from different sectors such as the following:

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  Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)

 Large-scale Infrastructure & Public Services Projects (Transport, Railways, Airports,
etc.)

 The power sector

 Oil/gas, natural resources and industry projects

8. GRADUATES' PROFILE AND DEGREE NOMENCLATURE

8.1 Graduates' Profile

The MPMF courses prepare students with an overall view of project management objectives,
tools and measurements. This option is ideal for students seeking to gain specialist knowledge of
the techniques and workings of successful project management & finance. In order to increase
corporate performance it is imperative to have a deep knowledge of the creation and streamlining
of processes as well as business development. Accordingly, graduates shall assume positions
such as Project developer & planner, Project finance experts, Project risk analysts, Project
Contact Administrators, Academicians in different public and private Universities, and
Consultant in both humanitarian and business organisations. More specifically, upon successful
completion of the MPMF program, students are expected to possess the following competencies:

 Identify sound projects that will create value to the firms' and/or country's
competitiveness;

 Prepare project proposals following accepted standards;

 Carry out project feasibility appraisal & evaluation for different mega projects;

 Carry out risk analysis for various projects by making use of advanced tools and
techniques;

 Understand project risks and determine their severity and potential impact on the
transaction structure

 Build a credit rationale in order to make and substantiate investment decisions.

 Manage projects within required time, quality/scope and cost constraints;

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  Promote professional code of ethics in performing project management across the
country;

 Lead project team members towards the attainment of quality deliverables;

 Monitor, evaluate and control projects in order to make sure that the outcomes of the
projects are attained at desired level;

 Apply the principles of project management (PMBOK) while managing projects.

 Demonstrate high level of ethical standards in all business management and practices

8.2 Degree Nomenclature

The following comprises the degree nomenclature

English: Master of Arts in Project Management and Finance

Amharic: የአርት ማስትሬት ዲግሪ በፕሮጀክት ሥራ አመራር እና ፋይናንስ

9. DURATION OF THE PROGRAM & ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

The program will be completed within two years comprising of two semesters each for regular
program. Potential candidates who would like to join MA in Project Management and Finance
must fulfil the following criteria:
 First degree in any Field of study including Business, Technology, Health, Social science
and Natural science

 Must pass the entrance examination to be administered by the department of Accounting
and Finance. The exam tests computational, communication and analytical skills

 Meet All other university wide requirement

10. TEACHING & ASSESSMENT METHODS

The teaching methods that will be implemented in MA in PMF program are classroom lectures,
case analysis [or case study], and presentation. Students will have to attend classroom lectures,
participate in seminar/workshops and group discussion sessions, make individual and group
presentations, and undertake practical attachments in industries or service sectors and prepare

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and present report. Based on the nature of the course students will be evaluated using different
assessment methods. These may include, but not limited to, the following:

 Written and/or oral examinations,


 individuals and group presentations,

 participation in case studies, assignments and practical attachments

11. GRADING SYSTEM AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

The grading system for this program is the scale used for postgraduate program of Jimma
University. To qualify for graduation, a student must meet all university wide graduation
requirements and complete 39 credit hours (62 ECTS) courses for the program including MA
Thesis.

12. QUALITY ASSURANCE

The Department will establish a system to monitor the educational quality of the department by
collecting feedback from the employers, academic staff members, students and alumni, and other
stakeholders. The Department will also take all the necessary steps to enhance the quality of
education to be in line with international standards by improving the student-teacher ratio,
student-book ratio, and other resource requirements. The standard of the exams offered by the
department and assessment methods used for each course will be examined every year and the
curriculum will be revised every 4-year period. The department will also use external examiners
and independent reviewers of program. Besides, the department will conduct entry expectation
and exit satisfaction survey for its students.

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13. COURSE STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS
Course Course Name Credit ECTS Responsible
Code Hours Department
Core Courses
MPMF-611 Management Theories & Systems Thinking 2 3 Management
MPMF-621 Financial & Managerial Accounting 3 5 ACFN
MPMF-631 Development Planning & Strategic Mgt 3 5 Management
MPMF- 612 Business Research Method 2 3 ACFN
MPMF- 622 Financial Management 3 5 ACFN
DTTP-731 Development Team Training Program 4 7 BECO
Sub Total 17 28
Specialized Courses
MPMF-641 Project Feasibility Analysis & Evaluation 2 3 ACFN
MPMF-651 Fundamentals of Project Management 2 3 ACFN
MPMF- 632 Project Planning and Scheduling 2 3 ACFN
MPMF- 642 Project Logistics and Contract Admin. 2 3 ACFN
MPMF- 652 Project Human Resource management 2 3 Management
MPMF- 662 Capital Project Finance 2 3 ACFN
MPMF- 711 Project Risk management and Control 2 3 ACFN
MPMF- 721 Project Information Systems 2 3 ACFN
MPMF - 741 MA Thesis 1 2 ACFN
MPMF-712 Seminar in Project Management 2 3 ACFN
MPMF-722 MA Thesis 3 5 ACFN
Sub Total 22 34
Total 39 62

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 14. COURSES BREAKDOWN
Course Code Course Title Credit ECTS
Hrs
I. Year I, Semester I
MPMF-611 Management Theories & Systems Thinking 2 3
MPMF-621 Financial & Managerial Accounting 3 5
MPMF-631 Development Planning & Strategic 3 5
Management
MPMF-641 Project Feasibility Analysis & Evaluation 2 3
MPMF-651 Fundamentals of Project Management 2 3
Semester Total 12 19
II. Year I, Semester II
MPMF- 612 Business Research Methodology 2 3
MPMF- 622 Financial Management 3 5
MPMF- 632Project Planning and Scheduling 2 3
MPMF- 642Project Logistics and Contract 2 3
Administration
MPMF- 652 Project Human Resource Management 2 3
MPMF- 662 Capital Project Finance 2 3
Semester Total 13 20
III. Year II, Semester I
MPMF-711 Project Risk Management and Control 2 3
MPMF-721 Project Information Systems 2 3
DTTP-731 Development Team Training Program 4 7
MPMF-741 MA Thesis 1 2
Semester Total 9 15
IV. Year II, Semester II

MPMF-712 Seminar in Project Management 2 3

MPMF -722 MA Thesis 3 5
Semester Total 5 8
Grand Total 39 62

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