CIPM 4th Research Symposium focuses on changing role of HRM

The 4th CIPM Research Symposium in progress online

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in human resource management, conducted its 4th Research Symposium recently, with an emphasis on ‘Embracing the changing role of HRM’. 

The CIPM Research Symposium is organised to disseminate research and development findings, creativity and innovations in Human Resource Management (HRM) and related areas for the benefit of students, practitioners, academia, researchers, government and non-government officials and the public. 

It was organised by the CIPM Standing Committee on Applied Research, HR Symposium and HR Publications, headed by Dr. Chandana Jayawardena of Peradeniya University, who redesigned the symposium in 2019 to enhance the CIPM research culture to materialise the academic efforts of the HRM community in fulfilling the aspirations of the public at large.

The symposium was held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 30 July. It attracted 80 research papers from the HR community, out of which 31 papers were accepted and presented in the ‘Oral’ and ‘Poster’ categories. The symposium consisted of the inauguration event, three technical sessions for the categories of HR practitioners, CIPM students and university that were held concurrently, and the panel discussion with HR industry experts. 

University of Moratuwa Former Vice Chancellor and Senior Professor Prof. Ananda Jayawardane was the Chief Guest and the Keynote Speaker of the Symposium. Over 150 online participants, including the CIPM President and Council Members of CIPM Sri Lanka, past presidents, members, faculty, and CIPM students participated together with a few foreign scholars. 

Addressing the participants, CIPM Sri Lanka President Jayantha Amerasinghe illustrated the importance and value of research for a better understanding of the HR issues and problems prevalent in the workplaces and to address these matters with localised solutions. He also commended the involvement and contribution of the CIPM Symposium Chairman Dr. Chandana Jayawardena and the Standing Committee on Applied Research towards the success of CIPM Sri Lanka. Speaking at the Symposium, Dr. Jayawardena indicated that dissemination of HRM research and development findings will be achieved through the research symposium and developing annual compilation of publications making them accessible, transparent, lucid and defendable. Prof. Ananda Jayawardane elaborated on the challenges and opportunities in embracing the changing role of HRM in the keynote address.

The highlight of the symposium was the panel discussion conducted as a plenary session with the participation of industry HR experts. They deliberated on the impact of HR strategies and practices on the effectiveness of organisations. 

The expert panel consisted of Sunil Dissanayake – CEO, BMICH, Sarath Kumara – HR Director, Camso Loadstar, Sujith Jayasekara – Senior General Manager, Brandix, Chryshanthi Lokuhetti – Chief HR Manager, Sampath Bank, and HR veteran Jayanta Jayaratne as a Special Guest. 

The session was moderated by the symposium Chairman. The three technical sessions reached out to HR professionals, CIPM Students, and university scholars to broad-base and popularise the concept and importance of applied research in the field of HR. The preliminary findings of the first study undertaken by the CIPM Standing Committee of Applied Research was also presented. The Poster session, which was also held online, allowed researchers to present their research through creative, informative digital posters.