Project management is evolving. Today, delivering projects on time, within budget, is no longer enough. Projects are increasingly expected to create long-term environmental, social and economic impact while supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions. At the same time professionals should adapt to those changes and create an ecosystem of mutual support and development.
This is exactly where the SPM² project makes a difference!
Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, the SPM² is developing an innovative methodology that extends the European Commission’s PM² framework by embedding sustainability principles throughout the entire project lifecycle.
SPM² is an EU-funded project that enhances the PM² project management methodology by integrating sustainability principles into project workflows, training, and certification. Τhe SPM² project is designed to embed sustainability into project management education across Europe. By adapting the European Commission’s PM² methodology, this project provides a tailored framework that integrates sustainable practices within project management processes, equipping future professionals to address environmental challenges with practical and innovative solutions.
SPM² seeks to bridge the gap between project management education and the evolving needs of a green economy by developing a standardized curriculum, digital resources, and a modular micro-credential system. This framework will empower higher education institutions (HEIs) and vocational education and training (VET) centers to deliver training that aligns with the EU’s Green Deal, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and labour market expectations for sustainability-focused skills.
With this newsletter, we keep you informed about the project’s progress, key deliverables and opportunities to engage with the growing SPM² community.
We are pleased to introduce some of the project’s flagship results:
The SPM² Guide: A New Perspective on Project Management
The SPM² Guide is a structured extension of the PM² Project Management Methodology Guide 3.1 that systematically integrates sustainability into project management while preserving the original PM² framework.
Rather than replacing PM², SPM² builds on its existing strengths, including:
• the governance model based on sides and layers,
• the RASCI responsibility structure,
• the four project lifecycle phases,
• the standardized management processes, and
• the established project artefacts.
The guide recognizes that modern projects are no longer evaluated only by the traditional constraints of time, cost, and scope, but also by their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts and their contribution to long-term organizational and societal value. Driven by evolving regulations (such as the EU Green Deal and CSRD) and increasing stakeholder expectations, sustainability must become an integral part of project governance rather than a separate reporting activity.
To achieve this, the SPM² Guide enhances PM² by:
• assigning sustainability responsibilities across governance layers,
• integrating sustainability into project decision-making, risk management, procurement, and acceptance processes,
• incorporating sustainability considerations into project initiation and planning artefacts, and
• promoting a long-term value perspective throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Overall, the SPM² Guide is a methodological enhancement that embeds sustainability into PM² without changing its fundamental governance structure or management principles, enabling organizations to manage projects that deliver both successful outcomes and sustainable long-term value.
The SPM² Industry Survey Report: Mapping Competence Gaps for Sustainable Project Management
The SPM² Industry Survey Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of Sustainable Project Management (SPM) across industries, identifying the competencies, challenges, and educational needs that will shape the future of the profession. Based on responses from 986 professionals across 15 countries, representing a wide range of industries, organizational roles, and experience levels, the report offers valuable evidence on how sustainability is currently integrated into project management practices and where further development is needed.
The findings reveal that while sustainability is widely recognized as a strategic priority, organizations continue to face significant competency gaps in translating sustainability principles into everyday project management practices. Respondents consistently rated sustainability-related competencies as highly important but reported lower levels of organizational performance in areas such as sustainable decision-making, stakeholder engagement, governance, and long-term value creation.
The report also highlights the growing demand for practical and flexible learning opportunities. Professionals strongly support the integration of Sustainable Project Management into higher education, professional certification schemes, and lifelong learning, with a clear preference for short courses, employer-led workshops, and micro-credentials that can be directly applied in practice.
These findings provide the evidence base for the development of the SPM² Guide, competency framework, educational resources, and future training programmes, ensuring they address real industry needs and support project professionals in delivering sustainable, resilient, and high-impact projects.
