IIHE steps up collaboration of professional education bodies to serve students better

Monday, 15 March 2021 03:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Education institutes, particularly tertiary and professional, are faced with challenges to prepare students for jobs that are yet to be created. The challenge is beyond one’s imagination and will be impacted by the society’s post-COVID economic conditions and technical advancements which have not yet been invented.

The role of education therefore will go beyond teaching, but rather developing competencies. In a world where knowledge is available in abundance, the purpose of education has thus evolved to shaping the minds of the students.

General awareness of eco systems, cultures, intellect, cognitive skills and more importantly moral maturity and sense of responsibility are essential. IIHE, having been in the industry of higher education for 25 years has realised that a stand-alone approach will not serve the national purpose by providing a future-ready workforce. It is therefore, a larger eco system that you need to operate by forming networks or partnerships with other higher and professional education institutes. These partnerships may expand to include businesses and technological companies.

At the beginning of this new decade, IIHE has taken the initiative to collaborate with professional education bodies, namely Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA) by recognising their curriculums to allow a fast track for MBA from University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) which is the third oldest university in England and Wales. The higher purpose of this initiative is to accelerate the supply of cross-fertilised talents of Sri Lankan business world.

The world is still faced with the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a devastating impact on the main drivers of Sri Lankan economy, e.g. exports of garments, tourism, and migrant labour force. The pandemic has even shrunk the global trade to such an extent even the concept of globalisation seems to be replaced by internalisation. It therefore becomes a national obligation for institutes like IIHE to reformulate the intent of their businesses and the current offer that has been made to the professional bodies is an outcome of such intent. IIHE welcomes members and affiliates who have completed the exams to grab this opportunity to enhance their relevance to the current economic conditions and secure employment.