SLIM reaches yet another milestone: Celebrating 20 years in the hill country

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) has been in the forefront of educating and promoting the fraternity in all aspects of the profession. As the National body for Marketing in Sri Lanka SLIM has progressively been spreading its reach to different areas of the country.   

Following decades of making successful inroads to many parts of the island SLIM celebrated another milestone, the 20th anniversary celebration of its presence in the hill country with more than 100 guests which consisted special invitees, Lecturers, past students of SLIM and top corporates at the Hotel Earl’s Regent Kandy recently.   

SLIM was established in 1970 in Colombo. Following its success in educating young marketers in the western province, SLIM set up an operating centre in the hill country in 1999 to provide aspiring marketers with an opportunity for a quality education in marketing. 

The operations in Kandy were initiated with a mini office being set up for student and examination registrations in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

SLIM – Kandy initially offered the Preliminary Certificate in Marketing (PCM) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (PGDIP) programs. With the increasing demand for more such educational programs a SLIM branch was opened in Kandy in 2005. 

Having expanded over the years, the Kandy branch currently offers the following courses: The Preliminary Certificate of Marketing (PCM), which is considered one of the most effective short courses in Marketing. The Certification in Digital Marketing (CDM), designed to discover the rudiments of various aspects of digital marketing and the online communication eco system, and Certification in Services Marketing (CSM), designed to introduce the changing nature of services marketing environment, concepts and strategies unique to service businesses and provide skills to manage services efficiently. The Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (PGDIP) is considered to be a qualification on par with other such internationally recognised qualifications.  

SLIM has also served as the longest-standing accredited institute for the Chartered Institute of Marketing-UK (CIM), as well as for the National Diploma in Strategic Brand management (NDSM), which caters to sales career minded candidates seeking to acquire specific competencies to differentiate themselves from conventional sales personnel. Certified Professional Marketer (CPM – Asia) is the highest recognition given to a marketer with competencies in academic and practical understanding of the Asian Region.

Offering customised programs to corporates and providing public training, SLIM – Kandy has made its mark as a mentor in the marketing arena in the hill country. Offering world class facilities including A/C classrooms, free Wi-Fi access, free library facilities and convenient services such as weekend classes, SLIM – Kandy prides itself in maintaining international standards. Always providing quality education with innovative and updated knowledge taught by experienced industry professionals and academics, SLIM ensures the best marketing education in the country. 

Sharing his thoughts on this milestone, SLIM President and Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics CEO Pradeep Edward stated: “With 20 years of providing education to the hill country, SLIM prides itself in educating aspiring marketers not only in Colombo, but throughout the whole island. With innovation being the keyword, SLIM takes every opportunity to promote and further develop Sri Lanka’s marketing industry. SLIM as the leading institute for marketing in Sri Lanka is determined to elevate the status of marketing in the country by recognising the best from the best by providing knowledge on the latest developments to the marketing fraternity.”  

SLIM always endeavours to achieve world education benchmark standards. In line with this objective SLIM has obtained both ISO 9001:2015 certification in recognition of SLIM’s superior quality management system and ISO 2990:2010  for Learning Service Provider (LSP), proving non-formal education and training services, which enables SLIM to retain and ensure the high standard of quality education to all students including Kandy and Matara.

SLIM CEO/Executive Director Sanath Senananyake said: “SLIM – Kandy has provided education to thousands of graduates and diploma holders over the years. The institute also pays tribute to the Kandy Students’ Association (KSSA), hailed as the foremost pioneering student body of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing. With the intention of ensuring a quality education for local marketers, the SLIM Kandy operation also offers career guidance programs for school children, with O/L and A/L seminars, experience sharing forums, corporate gatherings, Marketing Roks school programs and sponsorships for schools activities are among some of them.”

With the aid of all the SLIM branches in the country, the national body for marketing in Sri Lanka continues its efforts in developing the marketing fraternity while providing quality education to the future marketers of Sri Lanka.