CIMA and UCL establish a strategic partnership to professionally empower UCL undergraduates

From left: CIMA Sri Lanka Markets Manager Sivasubramaniam Vithushan, Chief Operating Officer Erandi Dodamwala, Chief Executive Officer Gihan Silva, CIMA Sri Lanka Country Manager FCMA CGMA Zahara Ansary, Head of Marketing and Student Enrolment Kalhari Meegoda, Marketing and Student Enrolment Manager Gopiraja Thangarasu 

Sri Lanka’s premier transnational higher education provider, UCL and CIMA established a strategic partnership to enable the undergraduates at UCL to complete the prestigious CIMA Professional qualification through the CGMA Finance Leadership Program (FLP) memorandum of understanding was signed on 9 August at UCL Auditorium, presided over by senior officials of both entities.

The strategic alliance with CIMA is of great value to the UCL undergraduates as CIMA is a globally reputed 103-year-old entity panning 180 countries across the globe and recognised as the largest management accounting body in the world. With the formation of The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA and CIMA) when CIMA partnered with AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) in 2016, they are now the leading and largest professional accountancy body in the world constituting 690,000 members, students and engaged professionals.

Interestingly, Sri Lanka has the largest body of professionals outside UK who seek this professional qualification and its graduates have found recognition in global boardrooms holding key positions.  

Undergraduate from UCL who have successfully completed the first year of their honours degree in International Business can join the Operational stage of the CIMA Professional Qualification and be recognised as future leaders in the global corporate world. A special student rate will also be on offer for the students of UCL.

Likewise, the undergraduates at UCL who will benefit from this alliance are affiliated to the earliest established British University to offer a degree program in Sri Lanka, the University of Central Lancashire, a globally recognised university with a rich history of 194 years of academic excellence, which will enhance the value of the partnership.

Leading the UCL Team, Chief Executive Officer Gihan Silva, accorded a warm welcome to the professionals from CIMA and opined that the partnership with CIMA would immensely benefit the high-quality undergraduates at UCL to further their professional ambitions by possessing a world- class British Degree combined with a professional qualification in the ilk of CIMA. 

Speaking at the event, AICPA and CIMA Sri Lanka Country Manager FCMA CGMA Zahara Ansary stated: “This is a great opportunity enabled for UCL undergraduates to complete the prestigious CIMA Professional qualification through the CGMA Finance Leadership Program (FLP) route. FLP is provided at an affordable pricing with flexible learning and a digital approach towards gaining the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation. 

“We are happy to partner with UCL and look forward to helping these students succeed whilst working closely with UCL in enabling such a pathway towards success”.

It is envisioned that the high-quality undergraduates at UCL will bring repute to both entities and reach the pinnacle of achievement in many spheres of Management and Entrepreneurship in the future.