Project Management in Higher Education Institutions in Mexico: A Case Study

Project management (PM) is considered a determining factor in the success of collaborative innovation and technological development projects carried out by universities and private companies. This work presents the findings of a study carried out in the Faculty of Engineering of the Autonomous University of Queretaro (FIUAQ) that aimed to determine the level of maturity in project management of the faculty members. Their level of maturity is also linked with the perception of success (in terms of satisfaction level) of the companies that collaborated with the FIUAQ in research and innovation projects. Knowing the level of maturity in project management of its members is important for the FIUAQ, since it aims to incorporate a Project-Based Learning Model (PBL) in the curriculum of undergraduate and graduate students, encouraging their participation in collaborative projects between academia and industry. The conclusions section describes some factors that may hinder an organization such as the FIUAQ in its aim to increase the level of maturity in project management of its members.