SLIM First to Launch OnLine Education in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), incorporated by an act of Parliament was the first self funded organization in Sri Lanka to launch on-line education in Sri Lanka. The programme was launched at Hotel Galadari recently.

Mr. R M P Dayawansa – President Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and Mr. N S Abeywardena – Director Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP), Mr. Rohan Somawansa VP Education SLIM, and Mr. Lalith Liyanage of DEMP graced the occasion. 

Distance Education Modernization Programme (DEMP) supported this programme by way of providing expertise, technical and financial support. 

Dayawansa, said  the SLIM  PG Diploma  qualification offered by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing is very popular and also well recognized. However, most of the time, only students from urban and suburban areas have access to this kind of education, since  the delivery centers are confined to urban areas.

He also said that, "In fact, the objective of the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing programme is to develop marketers with sound practical and theoretical knowledge. Our course contents have been developed accordingly and it enables our students to be confident to take on challenging situations on the job. The   PG Dip (SL) is a well designed programme of study which offers prospective students and practitioners of Marketing an opportunity to learn and apply sound theoretical concepts to their day to day business situations. And now we are delivering the SLIM programme online as well, with the intention of giving an opportunity to the interested parties from all over the country to get this qualification."     

When you follow a programme online, a student need not be physically present in the classroom for lectures, activities, and discussions. Assignments are posted by the instructor/facilitator in the classroom web site. Students can interact online, both with their fellow students and with the instructor by using the discussion forums and as well as they can use the social café to chat with the other colleagues who are connected   online   A person can save a lot on traveling time and traveling costs, when studies are done online.  There is enormous flexibility on time and other arrangements too. One can really make his or her higher education fun while enjoy benefits of learning.President SLIM said that "We are proud that there have been inquiries from people abroad too in addition to the local demand, for the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (Sri Lanka) programme on-line, making it a global qualification."

Director DEMP said that "The challenge the Sri Lankan tertiary system faces is equity of access, relevance and quality in higher education. The commitment of the state to the development of higher education is of central and paramount importance. Recognizing that conventional means will not significantly increase the Age Participation Rates (APR) in higher education, a US$60 million ADB funded Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP) was signed by the government in 2003 and is effective till 2009. Project's aim is to boost enrollment, quality and relevance of learning through distance education such that it will immediately facilitate on-line distance education delivery through National On-line Distance Education Service (NODES) composed of a national distance education ICT network and numerous multimedia access centres (NAC) established in various parts of the country. There are over 25 Partner Institutions engaged in the development and delivery of on-line programmes through NODES receiving financial and technical support from DEMP which includes SLIM." 

With the establishment of NODES in 2007 a key milestone was established. Another milestone was achieved in July,2008 with internationalization of the "Performance Indicators for Quality Assurance of Distance Higher Education in Sri Lanka" developed by DEMP  for use across the commonwealth by the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada. This will ensure the Sri Lankan tertiary education programmes delivered through distance education consistently meet national and international standards.