An attractive and unique EMBA at PIM

Those who participated on the tour at the Kasertsart University in Thailand

Some of the EMBA students at Siam Winery in Thailand during the recently-concluded study tour to Thailand

The Executive MBA (EMBA) program launched in 2016 at the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) is becoming popular, attractive and unique. 

The inaugural batch which was launched as a brainchild of Dr. Wickrama Weerasooria, under the guidance of Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri, successfully completed the program and graduated in November 2018. The second batch commenced in March 2018 will be completing the program and the other requirements in April this year.   

The EMBA at PIM was launched based on the market intelligence that the average age of MBAs’ is coming down and there is a niche and untapped segment in the market who aspire to gain knowledge as top Executives to take their companies to greater heights. Hence PIM meticulously planned and structured this EMBA to cater to the candidates who hold apex positions in their respective organisations. 

The candidates have to be more than 35 years old. More than 70% of the candidates, who are currently reading for the EMBA at PIM in the second batch are company directors, general managers, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, senior managers and entrepreneurs. Having experience is sound but gaining knowledge in this competitive world is also equally important. 

The entire program falls under the direct purview of Dr. Trevor Mendis, Head of Academic Affairs of PIM. The EMBA at PIM has been meticulously planned and carefully structured exactly focusing the target segment. This EMBA program for which the duration is one year, has classes only on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

The structure of the program has been designed in congruence with the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) and the final certificate is offered by the Sri Jayewardenepura University. The core courses (subjects) have been specially selected to cater to the caliber of the learning partners and the corporate world. 

Mode of delivery to impart knowledge comprises case study analysis, class room lectures, discussions on video presentations, along with industry experts sharing their experience and with few specially selected flying faculty and scholars from overseas universities. 

Each course (module) will carry a comprehensive assignment/presentation along with the final examination for each module. PIM intends to use the case studies developed by EMBAs’ for their final project which is known as the ‘Guided Independent Study’ (GIS), for other programs to synergise their academic affairs between different programs.

The EMBA at PIM has several value additions which provide the distinctive competences for PIM. Some of the value additions are; PIM sponsored overseas study tour in collaboration with a reputed university along with few corporate excursions where the learning partners (students) can really witness and experience as to how planning, production, quality, distribution supply chain costing, etc. are designed in large factories in other countries. 

The Globus Project which is a unique value addition where students have to, as a group run their own company on-line competing with the other companies around the world which is a compulsory elective. This undoubtedly provides ample confidence for them to run a company as if they are really competing against other companies focusing on key functional arenas. Marks are assigned based on a particular criteria and the position they gain against the other companies. 

Another value addition is a two-day residential workshop in a leading hotel which is also sponsored by PIM to experience of a different kind of knowledge with mind mapping, and other types of activities. PIM also invites various leading businessmen to share their experience with the EMBA students during this workshop. 

In addition, PIM provides lunch, tea and other snacks as the EMBA at PIM is on a totally different model completely moving away from the traditional type of other MBA programs. Needless to say, these value additions and unique features further augment the distinctive competences for the EMBA at PIM. The next batch of EMBA at PIM will commence in April.