IPM Sri Lanka successfully completes 2nd Certified HR Auditor Program

IPM Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in HRM – successfully completed the second Certified HR Auditor Program recently with 25 HR professionals representing top corporate and blue chip companies receiving the world recognised HR Auditor Certification. This is the second such program conducted jointly by IPM and TV Rao Learning Systems, India and was held over a duration of five days at the Gregory Room, Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. 

Prof. T. V. Rao – globally respected HR Guru and the founder of TV Rao Learning Systems, was the Course Director. IPM Sri Lanka Past President and experienced HR professional Jayanta Jayaratna assisted Prof. Rao as the local Lead Consultant in conducting the program.

“HR audit is a necessary and beneficial tool for companies to scientifically and logically assess the suitability of HR policies and practices including gap analysis in achieving their strategic goals,” said Rohitha Amarapala, President, IPM Sri Lanka. 

“As a professional institute which always strives to add value to and upgrade the HR industry in Sri Lanka, we are proud to announce that we have now created a network of professionally certified HR auditors numbering over 50 to undertake HR audits in Sri Lanka,” he added.

“We had an excellent program for the second batch of Certified HR Auditors course by IPM jointly with TVRLS. The participants were very senior HR professionals from a variety of organisations in Sri Lanka. The formation of the HR Auditors’ Network facilitated by IPM opens a new chapter in the history of HR in Sri Lanka. It opens new avenues for continued learning and lifting up HR’s impact on organisational effectiveness. I hope Sri Lankan organisations come forward to have a re-look at their HR through HR audit and lift themselves up,” said Prof. Rao.

“It is people who build organisations, communities and countries. HR can play a significant role in unleashing the hidden human potential. In many places HR is perceived more as a ‘control’ function and ‘apprehended or feared’ and less as a development function to identify and multiply talent. It is high time to change this perception from control to leveraging human talent through HR audits which aims at finding strengths and leveraging them besides pointing out areas that need improvements. Auditors would henceforth play a very positive role in lifting up the image of HR,” added Prof. Rao.

“Introduction of HR audit process to Sri Lanka by IPM Sri Lanka is a landmark in the development of the discipline of Human Resource Management in our country. Having conducted the first ever program in September 2015, IPM Sri Lanka arranged the repeat of the program from 19th to 23rd January 2016 in view of the demand. Both programs have produced 53 Certified HR auditors for the first time in Sri Lanka. This pioneering and historic effort by IPM Sri Lanka would provide the HRM practitioners as well as participating organisations the know-how and competencies to assess the current quality of HRM policies, systems and practices and identify areas for change and improvement with specific recommendations,” said Jayaratna.

The participants at the second Certified HR Auditor program too were upbeat about the course as well as the practical benefits and value-add that it brings to the industry.

David Muller from Mas Fabrics Ltd. – Matrix of Sri Lankan blue chip MAS said: “As a growing regional hub, Sri Lanka needs to be on-par or to exceed the standards and capabilities of our regional and global competitors. The Certified HR Auditor conducted by IPM Sri Lanka is a great program that facilitates this goal. The experienced faculty from overseas too was good and did an excellent job of transferring knowledge. The course material and delivery which was made relevant to the participants in a Sri Lankan context was most valuable and gave the participants an in-depth knowledge of HR audit principles and practice. They were also humble enough to share the benefits of organisations carrying out audits I take this opportunity to thank IPM Sri Lanka for giving us this unique opportunity of being certified in HR audit and upgrading our skills and adding to the Sri Lankan HR talent pool.”

“HR audit is a new concept and the certification program was very comprehensive. Since the course contents were delivered very effectively, I was able to gain an in-depth understanding of the value and application of HR audit in an organisation. Having followed the certified HR audit course, we are now knowledgeable and well-equipped to conduct an HR audit in any organisation,” said Chaya Ranaweera from Pan Asia Bank PLC.

K.M.C Perera from Bank of Ceylon said: “An HR audit is a valuable and practical exercise which can be conducted in any organisation to understand how well HR is contributing to the achievement of corporate goals. We gained new knowledge by following the Certified HR Auditor program, which was delivered and facilitated in a most professional manner.”