CIMA and Association of Human Resource Professionals enter into strategic collaboration

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Association of Human Resource Professionals entered into a collaborative agreement to enhance human talent and capabilities in Sri Lanka. 

The agreement entered under the theme of ‘collaborating to create competencies’ will see the two organisations’ using their prowess on several strategic initiatives. These include upskilling programs, senior management development programs and initiatives that would help to harness a future-ready workforce.

The partnership will also focus on the organisations’ collaborating on joint events, knowledge sharing and thought leadership sessions and formulation of a talent assessment kit for the recruitment of finance professionals. 

The Association of Human Resource Professionals (HRP) is the only professional network of practicing HR professionals in Sri Lanka. With its 21-year history, AHRP continues to make significant contributions to uplifting the standards of the HR profession in the country with a host of initiatives and interventions.

AHRP serves as a source of information and support for human resources professionals, as well as a forum for human resources professionals to meet, fraternise and exchange ideas including thought leadership. 

In order to promote understanding, cooperation and partnership within Sri Lanka and across the South Asia region, the body continually seeks to collaborate or form strategic alliances with international experts in human resources and industrial relations, whilst also recognising industry leaders and rewarding ground-breaking initiatives in bringing HR to the strategic forefront of organisations.

Founded in 1919, CIMA is the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants. As part of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), CIMA and its members and students operate in 192 countries and territories, working at the heart of business — in industry, commerce, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its professional qualification and professional experience requirements to ensure it remains the employer’s choice when recruiting financially trained business leaders.

CIMA’s multifaceted upskilling programs assist organisations and individuals to build competencies and skills necessary to thrive in business. CIMA’s strategic alliances with global organisations have had a profound effect in curating learning programs catering to employee development needs. 

CIMA’s ‘new digital learning solutions’ as a part of the ‘promoting competencies globally initiative’ supported by the Association – where micro credential learning programmes form a wide variety of in-demand and emerging topics. These well-researched and structured professional development programs will allow employees to harness contemporary business skills and competencies required in today’s rapidly transforming digital world.

Commenting on the agreement, Association of Human Resource Professionals Sri Lanka President Ishan Dantanarayana stated, “Globally and in Sri Lanka a new way of work has evolved with significant workforce also working from home. With it there is also a pursuit for new knowledge and re-skilling with new skills. Accordingly, HR too has evolved too immensely. Global best practices and latest knowledge and insights created by learning opportunities have become critical. Talent pool is no longer country specific but rather global. 

“Hence, professional development through collaboration, networking and knowledge sharing and keeping abreast of the latest developments, becomes critical. AHRP together with our partnership with SHRM – the world’s largest HR organisation and the vast experience our members bring into this partnership with CIMA, provides tremendous opportunities to co-create multiple initiatives that can add much value. Further, the strength that AHRP brings in terms of a specialised HR knowledge and the finance and business-related strength of CIMA, is a ‘win-win’ for both our professional bodies and the fraternity. Thus, we are extremely delighted of this collaboration.” 

CIMA Country Manager in Sri Lanka Zahara Ansary FCMA, CGMA stated, “In these exceptional times digital technology and new ways of work are changing the way organisations operate across the world, creating the need for a more agile and strategically capable workforce. Thus, initiatives and collaborations of this nature will be of critical importance in enhancing competencies and capabilities of human talent. 

“Investment and concentration on human factors are critical for the success of today’s organisations and we believe that this collaboration with AHRP will lead to benefits for our Sri Lankan talent and help our economy grow further. This collaboration also provides opportunity for the C-Suite and senior management in the HR field to embark on the best qualification for business through our various fast track routes whereby they need to complete lesser exams to qualify.”

The agreement was officially launched at the fourth HR Think Tank organised by the Association of Human Resource Professionals on 12 August, virtually.