IIHE raises student aspirations with University of Wales UK degree

The Sri Lankan market for educational products targeting undergraduate and post graduate studies has grown tremendously mainly due to the inability of the national tertiary education system to meet such demands. It is estimated that annually, although over 125,000 students qualify to enter National Universities, only about 25,000 are selected.

At the post graduate level too a qualification such as an MBA is much sought after as a requirement for strategic level management positions.  In the industry, it is generally accepted that despite the much-hyped promises, the level of qualifications offered by various institutions are less than desirable when it comes to quality and authenticity. Experts agree that those in search of genuine world class qualifications must seek institutions directly associated with a Parent University to ensure that the awards are what they promise to be.

The Imperial Institute of Higher Education (IIHE) is such an Institution that has been directly associated with the University of Wales (UOW), recognized globally as a prestigious University in UK. Located at Tower Building, Station Road, Bambalapitiya, IIHE brings a world class education to Sri Lankan students at their state-of-the-art campus.

Diyamanthi Guneratne Finance Director of The Bela Group is a Chartered Accountant who is enrolled for her MBA at IIHE. She says that the MBA from University of Wales offered through IIHE perfectly balances the specialized functional knowledge and cross-functional  expertise required for strategic level  managers. “Here at IIHE we are studying for a genuine, British post graduate qualification. The teaching and learning methods using local and adapted International based case studies ensure that knowledge and skills are transferred effectively.” She adds that an excellent lecture panel that is approved by the UOW adds value and enhances the quality of learning.  

Naren Godamune who is a Director at Acquity Partners and a fellow MBA student, agrees. “I find the General Management perspective in the University of Wales MBA offered here at IIHE, excellent. It is common knowledge that an MBA takes a minimum of 12 months if full time or 24 months if part time to ensure all relevant areas of study are covered. Continuous assessments and exam based testing of knowledge are necessary to ensure that knowledge and skills are transferred”, he asserts. Naren is a professional with a clear vision of becoming a world class CEO; he is convinced about the potential the MBA at IIHE offers in reaching his goal.

Diyamanthi  and Naren stress on the specific academic criteria implemented by UOW at IIHE that meet global standards in terms of quality and content. The recognition of IIHE’s MBA, they agree, is reflected in the positions such alumni currently hold - Thusitha Ranasinghe, CEO of Maximus a company that won global accolades for pioneering the process of turning elephant waste into paper and Ray Abeywardena, CEO of Acuity Partners are two such outstanding personalities.

In addition to a world class MBA that employers have come to recognize as exceptional, IIHE also offers the Bachelor of Science (B Sc) degrees in Management and Software Engineering from the University of Wales that virtually serves as a benchmark in undergraduate studies in Sri Lanka. Consisting of a top caliber lecturer panel and a syllabus on par with international standards, the BSc at IIHE offers students tremendous opportunities, says Shalini Mathangaweera, a past pupil of St Bridget’s Convent who is studying for her B Sc at IIHE.

Fellow students such as Inoshi Ratnasekera and Savitta de Alwis are confident of the global potential of their degree. “The quality of the degree at IIHE is very high – our studies are focused in imparting knowledge needed for a changing world and there’s a lot of emphasis on practical aspects in addition to theory. We are required to undertake real life problem solving which requires us to study problems companies face and to recommend solutions, says Inoshi, a past pupil of Musaeus College.   She adds that she did a comparison between degrees offered in the local market before she chose IIHE. She points out that the ‘student culture’ at IIHE is very comfortable; “there are other campuses in Sri Lanka where the culture does not facilitate a good learning environment.” Savitta, who studied at Asian International School, agrees with her and says that she finds the B Sc offered by the University of Wales at IIHE extremely career focused.

IIHE’s students agree that what sets IIHE apart is the full fledged, legally valid degrees offered directly by the University of Wales right here in Sri Lanka. IIHE is currently enrolling students for its graduate and post graduate studies.