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Mohd Fakhri Mohd Noor, a student from the MSc Strategic Project Management (SPM) program of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM), was recently awarded the prestigious 2023 Project Management Institute (PMI) James R. Snyder International Student Paper of the Year Award (ISPA) at the PMI Global Summit in Atlanta, Georgia held on 28 October 2023. The Global Summit is a platform where project professionals from across the globe convene to foster connections, exchange ideas, and acquire insights from one another. The ISPA award is one of the accolades that further their overarching mission.
Fakhri is the first Malaysian and Heriot-Watt University student to attain this distinguished recognition. With valuable guidance from his mentor, Associate Professor Dr. Gowrie Vinayan, he solidified his dissertation “Identifying Critical Success Factors in Delivering Agile Software Development: A Case Study on the Digital Division of Petronas Dagangan Berhad” in preparation for submission. The selection of papers for this award is based on the quality of research and innovative efforts that advance the concepts, tools, and techniques relevant to project-oriented tasks. His paper has evidently made a noteworthy and outstanding contribution to the development of students in project management.
The PMI also graciously sponsored Mohd Fakhri for his trip to Atlanta, Georgia, to receive this prestigious award.
Mohd Fakhri expressed his thoughts after receiving the honour, “Receiving the James R. Snyder International Student Paper of the Year Award from the Project Management Institute (PMI) instils within me a profound sense of achievement and appreciation. It is encouraging to see my project management studies and research work recognised by such a prestigious organisation. Receiving this award is undoubtedly a prestigious achievement that I accept with a profound sense of duty and contemplation, recognising its significance in shaping my academic and professional trajectory. It reminds me of the value of commitment and diligence and gives me a sense of mild pride.”
He added, “With the status and attention that this award brings, I’m excited to use it to promote a balanced approach to project management, highlighting the important role that theoretical knowledge plays in completing projects successfully. I think that combining strong theoretical knowledge with useful, practical skills makes for a solid base for good project management, and this award gives me a great chance to spread this message.”
“Fakhri has made us proud, and we will be honouring him in our chapter newsletter, with special recognition during our Annual Dinner,” expressed Dr. Joshua Netto, President of PMI Malaysia and MBA Faculty CEO of the Edinburgh Business School (EBS) of HWUM.
Having obtained a rigorous 3-tier accreditation from PMI-GAC, the HWUM MSc SPM programme equips its students with real-world readiness to unleash their potential. The university’s mentor-mentee program further guides and exposes students to invaluable opportunities to acquire essential experiential learning. Such initiatives, like the one highlighted in this event, serve as a conduit for students to engage in real-world applications of their studies, facilitating the seamless transition from theoretical understanding to practical expertise.
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) extends its warmest congratulations to Mohd Fakhri Mohd Noor and his mentor, Associate Professor Dr. Gowrie Vinayan, for their unwavering commitment and outstanding achievement.