SLIM inaugurates June 2016 intake of Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) is the National Body for Marketing in Sri Lanka and has been promoting marketing excellence and elevating the status of marketing since 1970. It is a member of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) and Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL). Internationally it is affiliated with ESOMAR, the Federation of Marketing Research Industries, and American Marketing Association (AMA) and is a member of the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), which is affiliated to the World Marketing Association. 

The Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (PGDipM), is recognised as a renowned professional qualification for marketing in Sri Lanka. The program was ceremonially inaugurated by Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) recently at the SLIM Business School in Colombo. 

SLIM Secretary Pradeep Edward and SLIM senior lecturer Mahesh Fernando participated at the event, offering the prospective students an insightful overview of the program and its recognition. 

The PGDipM is a unique program which targets a range of individuals, ranging from school leavers with successful completion of A/L’s and marketers at junior and middle managerial levels. A holder of this professional qualification enjoys a greater deal of prospects both in terms of career and personal growth. SLIM PGDipM is highly recognised by all the top corporates and gives prominence to their students when in search of the cream of quality marketers.

The PGDipM covers a wide range of areas in marketing, allowing students to get an in depth understanding of various marketing practices at a more practical level. This is a very unique and a competitive qualification, both in Sri Lanka and in the Asia Pacific region. Therefore, a large number of marketers have achieved rapid career advancement and professional recognition locally and internationally, through this course of study. 

SLIM President Ruwan Liyanagamage commented on the contribution made by the diploma to the Sri Lankan marketing fraternity. “Over the years, SLIM as the oldest marketing body and the National Body for Marketing, has nourished the marketing field by producinghundreds of outstanding marketers. Many of them have obtained the PGDipM which has boosted their chances of success. I am confident that the next batch of students will follow on the footsteps of their predecessors and elevatethe Sri Lankan marketing platform to new heights.”

SLIM conducts regular reviews on PGDipM and the course has undergone many revisions in order to meet the ever growing challenges within the industry, and SLIM CEO/Executive Director Sanath Senanayake spoke about this evolution.

“We carried out a massive campaign to mark the re-launch of the course, where the relevant syllabuses, text books andcourse content were revised to suit current industry requirements. Now the program is ingeniously crafted with the right blend of assignments and exams as well as classroom presentations. Our aim is to contribute practical marketers with advanced communication skills and the correct attitude/aptitude to the marketing field.”

The part time course progresses over a period of 24 months and provides students with marketing competencies which are structured across four levels. It starts from the operational level and progresses to the managerial level, where the students are provided with a detailed understanding about the marketing tools. The strategic level delves into concepts such as Sustainability and Strategic Marketing Planning. Finally at the synthesis level students are expected to apply subject knowledge and technical skills obtained throughout the entire course of study, to analyse and conduct research on the prevailing business and marketing environment.