On 19-20 March 2026, partners of the SMART Researchers project gathered in Split, Croatia, for the 2^nd Project Management Meeting, hosted by the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split. The meeting served as an important coordination point for the consortium, bringing together work on institutional change, career support systems, competence development, monitoring, policy feedback, and communication strategy.

Within this broader agenda, WP3 played a central role on Day 2 of the meeting. The session “Micro-Planning – WP3: ResearchComp-based Micro-Credentialing & Certification Framework” was delivered by UNSFTS, EA, and PM² EU by ECVC, focusing on how the project will translate the European ResearchComp framework into a practical and scalable recognition system for early-stage researchers. The model presented links ResearchComp competences to learning outcomes, learning units, assessment, micro-credentials, and competence-area certification, with the longer-term aim of supporting recognition, mobility, and employability across sectors.

From our perspective, one of the most important aspects of the discussion was the emphasis on certification credibility and quality assurance. The proposed architecture distinguishes between micro-credentials delivered through partner institutions and certification defined, quality-assured, and awarded centrally at project level. This creates a stronger basis for consistency, comparability, and trust across the consortium. The session also highlighted alignment with relevant European quality approaches, including EQAVET and ISO 17024, reinforcing the ambition to develop a framework that is both rigorous and transferable.

The WP3 workshop, Certification Design Canvas, gave partners the opportunity to work through the core design questions together. Rather than discussing detailed course content, the workshop focused on principles: what certification should signal, how credentials should stack, what minimum evidence is needed, how prior competence might be recognised, and what the pilot phase should test first. This was especially valuable because it moved the conversation beyond abstract agreement and into the concrete design choices that will shape the framework.

What emerged clearly from the workshop is that partners want a certification model based on demonstrated competence, not simple participation. The discussion pointed toward a stackable structure in which targeted learning and assessment can lead to micro-credentials, and micro-credentials can build toward broader recognition in ResearchComp competence areas. For PM² EU by ECVC, this is a particularly important direction, as it strengthens the reliability and practical relevance of the future certification model for researchers, institutions, and external stakeholders alike.

The Split meeting also confirmed how strongly WP3 is connected with the rest of the project. The evidence base developed in WP2, the institutional support structures under Career Support Centers, the monitoring logic in WP5, and the visibility and sustainability work in WP6 all contribute to making the certification framework meaningful and usable in practice. This integrated approach is one of the major strengths of SMART Researchers.

We are pleased to have contributed to this important step in the co-design of the SMART Researchers certification pathway and look forward to the next stage of framework development, pilot preparation, and validation with project partners.

Engage with PM² EU by ECVC

• Interested in micro-credential design, exam delivery, or QA for R&I projects? Contact our team info@ecvc.eu.
• Follow SMART Researchers on social media: LinkedIn • Instagram • X

Follow the channels above for updates, opportunities, and pilot results from SMART Researchers.

PM² EU by ECVC—turning capabilities into verified credentials.

Between the 1st and 3rd of October 2025, the PM².EU , in collaboration with PM² Alliance, participated in PM Agora 2025, held in Larnaca, Cyprus, a key European gathering for project management professionals, EU funding experts, and policymakers dedicated to advancing innovation, sustainability, and capacity building across Europe.

Representing the Alliance, Mr. Harry Konstantopoulos, Member of the PM² Alliance Board of Directors, delivered a keynote session titled “EU PM Certification: PM² – the Endorsed Project Management Methodology of the European Commission.” His presentation focused on how the PM² Methodology strengthens governance, accountability, and results in EU-funded projects, while supporting professional development through its structured certification pathway.

Framing certification as a key enabler of high-impact project delivery, PM² EU contributed insights on skills, standards, and sustainability during GR digiGOV-innoHUB’s Weekly Governance Forum on Wednesday, the 26th of November, 2025. The session brought together public sector leaders, EU project professionals, and digital transformation stakeholders from across Europe to explore innovation, standards, and capacity-building in public administration. 

Hosted by the European Digital Innovation Hub for Digital Governance – GR digiGOV-innoHUB, and coordinated by GRNET, the weekly event series focuses on modernising the public sector through open-source solutions, advanced digital technologies, and structured skills development frameworks. 

PM² EU contributed to the session by presenting the PM² Certification Scheme, a multi-level framework that supports the recognition, professionalisation, and continuous development of project managers using the PM² methodology. 

Elevating Project Management Standards: The PM² Certification Scheme 

Developed in collaboration with the European Center for Vocational Certification (ECVC), the PM² Certification Scheme provides a competence-based, internationally aligned framework for individuals and institutions adopting the PM² methodology, the official project management framework of the European Commission. 

The certification scheme is fully supported by a remote, secure digital examination platform, and is aligned with ISO 17024 standards to ensure international recognition. 

PM² EU also highlighted how this certification ecosystem is being implemented through two key EU-funded projects focused on sustainability, talent development, and skills mobility. 

Featured Projects Presented by PM² EU: 

SPM² – Sustainable Project Management through PM² 

The SPM² project adapts the PM² methodology to meet the challenges of the green and digital transitions. By embedding sustainability into every phase of the project lifecycle, it enables professionals and institutions to align project delivery with the European Green Deal, SDGs, and evolving market needs. 

Key components include: 

• The development of the SPM² Guide, outlining best practices for sustainable project design and execution. 

• A digital learning hub with resources, tools, and case-based content. 

• A curriculum for HEIs and VETs to teach sustainability-integrated project management. 

• A micro-credential framework linked to the PM² certification ecosystem, enabling learners to earn recognized digital badges that reflect real-world skills. 

SPM² contributes directly to capacity-building and skills standardisation, while extending the reach of PM² to sustainability-conscious sectors. 

SMART Researchers – Building Career Pathways for Early-Stage Researchers 

A Horizon Europe project, SMART Researchers supports the development of flexible, policy-aligned research career ecosystems. It introduces a strategic micro-credentialing framework for early-stage researchers (ESRs), anchored in the PM² project management lifecycle and the ResearchComp competence model. 

Key objectives include: 

• Establishing Career Support Centres (CSCs) to guide researchers in skill acquisition and mobility. 

• Launching a competency-based certification framework to validate transversal and research-specific skills. 

• Creating a Competence Lab as a scalable platform for training, mentoring, and innovation competitions. 

• Aligning institutional HR practices with European research policy standards. 

Through this project, PM² EU demonstrates how certification and structured competence validation can support researcher mobility, career attractiveness, and the development of a resilient, skilled research workforce across the European Research Area. 

Learn more about the PM² Certification Scheme and certification pathways here. 

Explore our EU-funded projects supporting sustainability and skills development here. 

Elevating skills into recognised credentials

SMART Researchers is a 36-month initiative funded under Horizon Europe that couples Career Support Centers with a ResearchComp-based micro-credentialing system, enabling ESRs to develop, evidence, and transport skills across academia, industry, and the public sector—supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Our role: Certification Backbone and Compliance Anchor

• Framework lead (Task 3.2, M10–M12): Design the micro-credentialing and certification framework mapped to 38 ResearchComp sub-competencies, aligned with EQF, EQAVET, and ISO 17024.
• Quality assurance at scale: Ensure adherence to European standards so credentials are portable, trusted, and durable within Career Support Centers.
• Pilot validation co-lead (Task 3.4): Co-run the initial pilot with 100 ESRs, gathering evidence for improvement and preparing the model for scale-up.
• End-to-end certification infrastructure: Online registration and payments, live monitoring, auto-scoring, and instant digital certification provide consistent, high-integrity assessment across countries.

Kick-off takeaways

• From plan to playbook: Partners aligned on roles, governance, and the first six-month milestones, with deep dives into WP2 (career support systems) and WP6 (dissemination, communication, exploitation).
• Stakeholder journey mapping: Clear pathways defined for ESRs, institutions, mentors, and employers to interact with pilots and credential routes.
• Delivery discipline: Agreement on management, monitoring, eligibility rules, documentation, and budget controls to keep execution predictable.

Next Steps

1. Finalize the credential framework (M10–M12), including assessment blueprints and credential metadata.
2. Ready the pilot: examiner onboarding, item calibration, security protocols, and platform tests.
3. Launch and learn: run the ESR pilot, analyze performance data, and refine for wider deployment.

Objectives and Focus Areas

The survey gathered input from professionals and stakeholders across various sectors, with the goal of assessing how sustainability principles could be more effectively integrated into PM²-based training and certification frameworks. Topics included the perceived value of sustainability credentials, areas for skill development, and the role of project managers in advancing sustainable practices.

Impact on the SPM² Project

The survey results provide essential input for shaping how sustainability is integrated into the PM² methodology. Key areas of impact include:

• Training Design: Insights from respondents help define the structure and content of future training programs focused on sustainable project management, ensuring they meet the real needs of practitioners.
• Certification & Micro-Credentials: Feedback directly supports the development of new sustainability-focused certification pathways and micro-credentials that reflect evolving professional expectations.
• Practical Tools & Guidance: The findings guide the creation of tools, templates, and updated PM² guidance that enable professionals to align their projects with sustainability goals more effectively.
• Support for ESG Integration: The survey reinforces the demand for stronger alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, helping embed these considerations into project planning and delivery practices.

Empowering the Next Generation of Project Managers

The SPM² project enhances the PM² methodology by embedding sustainability principles across all project management stages. By doing so, it prepares students and professionals to tackle environmental challenges and lead sustainability-focused projects.

Key Objectives of the SPM² Project

• Developing the SPM² Guide & Digital Hub – A comprehensive online platform with best practices, tools, and learning materials for sustainable project management.
• Standardizing SPM² Curriculum – Integrating sustainability-focused training into higher education institutions (HEIs) and vocational education and training (VET) centers.
• Launching Micro-Credentials & Certification – Offering industry-recognized, stackable certifications that support professional growth and mobility.
• Establishing International Recognition – Collaborating with certification bodies to ensure SPM² becomes a widely accepted standard for sustainable project management.