IPMA Accepted into the Schuman Associates Skills Coalition

Strengthening the Voice of the Project Profession in Europe’s Skills and Competence Agenda

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) has been officially accepted into the Schuman Associates Skills Coalition — a platform that brings together 26 leading organisations committed to advancing skills development, education, training, and youth empowerment across Europe. As part of this network, IPMA will contribute its global expertise in competence-based project management and support policy dialogue at the highest EU level.

The Skills Coalition acts as an advisory body to members of the European Parliament, providing structured insights into upskilling, reskilling, labour market needs, and the evolving demands created by the green and digital transitions. Its work has already led to the creation of the European Parliament’s first-ever Intergroup on the Future of Education and Skills for a Competitive Europe, where the Coalition co-chairs the Advisory Committee.

IPMA’s Role and Contribution

By joining the Skills Coalition, IPMA strengthens its commitment to advocating for competence-based project management standards within the EU institutional landscape. IPMA will contribute to the Coalition’s mission by:

• promoting the value of project management competences across EU bodies and Member States

• supporting stronger alignment between labour market needs and the skills of project professionals

• advancing sustainability-oriented project delivery and responsible leadership

• contributing to discussions on lifelong learning, micro-credentials, and the professionalisation of project management

• supporting evidence-based policy that enhances Europe’s competitiveness through high-quality skills development

With its international network of Member Associations and certification system grounded in the IPMA Individual Competence Baseline (ICB4), IPMA brings a unique perspective to the Coalition — one that connects education, professional practice, and societal impact.

Positioning Project Management Within the EU Skills Agenda

IPMA’s participation comes at a moment when the Coalition is calling for stronger investment in education and training within the next EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework (2028–2034). This includes advocating for:

• allocating at least 5% of GDP to education and 1% to training

• earmarking 20% of the EU’s next long-term budget for education and training

• increasing funding for Erasmus+

• enabling broader access to learning through flexible mechanisms such as Individual Learning Accounts

• promoting equity, innovation, and sustainability across all learning sectors

IPMA President Mladen Vukomanović highlighted the importance of this milestone for the global project profession, stating:

“Project management competences are a cornerstone of sustainable transformation. By joining the Skills Coalition, IPMA reinforces its commitment to supporting Europe’s transition through professional standards, responsible leadership, and a lifelong learning approach that empowers both individuals and organisations.”

About the Skills Coalition

The Schuman Associates Skills Coalition was created to address a critical gap in EU-level policy dialogue — the lack of a unified platform connecting stakeholders with deep expertise in skills, training, upskilling, and reskilling. Today, it brings together organisations across academia, industry, and the non-profit sector to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness during the green and digital transitions.

More information is available on the Coalition’s website:
https://www.schumanassociates.com/