Student research
APM is keen to support all students at all levels regarding their research into the management of projects. Our research department encourages students to submit their surveys and would like to see the project management community becoming involved by completing the surveys, if applicable, and answering questions which will assist students in their studies.
Two ways to promote your research
Via this page
Your input will help to develop the knowledge base of project management and drive the profession forward. Please see the Promote your research section below on how to upload your survey.
Via the APM Community platform
Members can promote their research via our Surveys and media requests feed on APM Community.
Surveys and media requests is a space where you can ask for help with your research, ask for survey's to be completed from a diverse range of professionals from a wide range of project and sectors.
Disclaimer: Please note that whilst APM are keen to advertise these research opportunities it is the responsibility of each student to follow their University's ethical guidelines.
List of current research by students
The following is a list of current and recent requests from students for assistance and contributions to aid their research activities. Please note that some of these are date sensitive.
Dynamism in External Stakeholder Engagement in infrastructure megaproject
Synopsis I am a PhD candidate at University College London, conducting research on Dynamism in External Stakeholder Engagement in infrastructure megaproject. Key research area covers:
- Various perspectives on external stakeholder engagement.
- Dynamism of external stakeholder engagement, how engagement has changed or evolved over time.
- Narratives surrounding protesters and promoters.
Requirement I am currently inviting participants for a 45-minute semistructured interview to share their experiences and insights on external stakeholder engagement in megaprojects.
Target audience Engagement managers, Local authorities, Environmental activists, Local community members.
Closing date 31 October 2026
If you're interested or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me at wei-zhang@ucl.ac.uk or reach out via LinkedIn.
International Project Decision-Making Practices Study
Synopsis I am a PhD Scholar in Management Sciences at Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan. This survey forms part of the instrument-development and validation phase of my doctoral research on project decision-making.
The study is developing and validating a survey instrument intended for use across different countries, sectors and project environments.
At this stage, the research is examining whether the instrument provides a clear, reliable and valid measure of project decision-making practices before its subsequent use in the main empirical study.
The broader research seeks to contribute to the evidence base on how project decisions are made and to support the future development of practical diagnostic approaches for project governance, planning, estimation and decision-making.
Requirement Participants are requested to complete one anonymous online survey. It takes approximately 10–15 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary.
Target audience Experienced project professionals from any country, sector or project environment who have had meaningful involvement in project planning, estimation, scope, risk, resources, governance, delivery, sponsorship, project controls, performance, or other significant project decisions.
Survey closing date 15 November 2026
Shaping Social Value Delivery in UK Regional Infrastructure
Synopsis Are you a project, programme, or social value professional delivering regional infrastructure in the UK?
While policy frameworks such as the Public Services Social Value Act 2012, PPN 06/20 mandate social value creation, delivery teams often face significant operational constraints. As part of my postgraduate dissertation at the University Northampton, I am conducting research to explore how project professionals navigate operational challenges in practice.
Requirement An interview via MS Teams (approx. 30 to 45 minutes). Express your interest
If you're interested to learn more, please feel free to contact me.
Target audience Local Authority Leads, Sponsors, Procurement Officers, Project Managers, Social Value and Sustainability Managers, Community Engagement Leads.
Survey closing date 20 November 2026
Across industry: Need for an SME Decarbonisation Toolkit for Measurement and Verification
Synopsis I’m Jordan Hutchinson, a Year 4 Construction Management student at the Technological University of the Shannon. I’m researching the need for a practical decarbonisation toolkit for construction SMEs with cross industry inputs.
Many SMEs deliver a large share of project work but often don’t have the time, staff, or systems to measure emissions consistently, and many existing carbon tools are designed for larger organisations. My dissertation is developing a lightweight toolkit (simple data inputs + clear outputs) to help SMEs identify emissions “hotspots” and prioritise practical actions.
Requirement Could you spare 8–10 minutes to complete this short survey? Responses are confidential and will be anonymised in analysis for academic purposes. Contact details (if provided) are collected separately for follow-up only.
Target audience Seeking responses from all industry stakeholders. It would really benefit the study if you could also share/forward the link to any relevant colleagues or contacts (especially those involved in sustainability, operations, procurement, or project delivery).