MHRM Kelaniya Professional Fiesta 2014

•  A way forward to innovative HRM Master’s Education

The first journal of HRM Master’s students – ‘People Masters’ handed over to Commercial Bank of Sri Lanka Deputy General Manager – HR Isuru Thilakewardene by MHRM Coordinator Dr. D.U. Mohan – Text and pix by Kumarasiri Prasad – Airport Correspondent  

The students of the seventh batch reading for the Masters of Human Resources Management degree, conducted by the Department of Human Resource Management of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya has initiated a series of action learning events as a means of transforming knowledge into actions during their learning stint at the university. The culmination of the action learning events happened at the ‘MHRM Kelaniya Professional Fiesta-2014’, held at the Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo, on 28 December 2014. This Fiesta designed as a celebration day of sharing MHRM students’ action learning team outcomes, launching of its first journal of HRM master’s students – ‘People Masters’ and ‘MHRM Kelaniya People Link Forum’, awarding of three scholarships for three outstanding HRM undergraduate students, presenting two MOUs signed with two leading companies leading to fellowships and a colourful dinner. This event was innovatively designed to enhance MHRM Kelaniya students’ social capital and networks, time management skills, project design and implementation skills while creating a motivation to do action research quantitatively and qualitatively. Further, it aimed at branding the MHRM Kelaniya degree truly as the nation’s most prestigious master degree in HRM in the country after it pioneered in HRM postgraduate education in Sri Lanka. The MHRM coordinator Dr. D.U. Mohan guided the MHRM students to make this historic land mark in HRM masters’ education with the great support of the head of the HRM department, Dr. K.A.S. Dhammika, the Dean, of the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, Dr. D.M. Semasinghe, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara. Further the event was made colourful by the participation of key industry players and the teaching faculty of MHRM degree. A panel interview with four selected HR personalities in the local scenario was organised by a team. The intension of the team was to learn from their knowledge, experience and attitudes to understand how HR professionals apply theoretical knowledge into practice and to identify their perspectives on contemporary HRM. The invitees included Indika Gamage, Group Human Resource Manager, Esquel Group – Sri Lanka Supply Chain; Athula Hewapathirana, HR Manager, Lanka Wall tiles PLC; Ajith Siyabalapitiya, Deputy General Manager, Mass Holdings (Slimtex. Pannala); Samantha Rathnayake, HR practitioner/Consultant Academic Affairs, Sri Lanka Foundation. Another team conducted a CSR activity. They focussed on the long term benefits of orphans residing in the W.A. De Silva Balika Home in Wellawatte. The team managed to find donors to distribute needed goods among them, and provided moral support with the children and build their self-confidence by conducting a workshop with many events. Conducting an industry based workshop with an industry tour to understand how employee engagement is created in the local HRM domain was undertaken by another team. The tour was made to MAS Active Contourline Factory based in Pallekale. The HR Team in the factory has taken the students through their initiatives and their HR perspectives where the students received insights not only related to on ground operations but also a detailed understanding on the culture, people and its values. Another study and a survey were also made in the petroleum industry to compare and analyse the job satisfaction of the employees working on nightshifts. The team had duly pointed out many suggestions and recommendations to the firm which would support them to ensure optimum employee satisfaction. One of the projects also included establishment of a ‘people link’ forum which targeted to strengthen the collaborations between the University of Kelaniya and the industry. This team was successfully able to sign two MOUs with two organisations, launch of MHRM Kelaniya Facebook page and link in page, initiating a speech club and a resource person’s pool, and crafting a model of MHRM professional association. The guest of honour, Dr. D.M. Semasinghe, the Dean of Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya expressed that, “This type of activities undoubtedly help the students to develop their soft and life skills and it will be a great learning experience to enhance their qualities as HRM professionals. I am proud to say that students at MHRM batch seven have correctly identified this requirement and designed such an outstanding event. Though there were similar programs in this nature, MHRM Kelaniya Professional Fiesta is unique among others for its innovative blend of learning techniques that can mark its emblem in the university history.” Commercial Bank Sri Lanka Deputy General Manager – HR Isuru Thilekawardene, who delivered the keynote speech, also highly appreciated the innovative approach of this learning concept. Dr. K.A.S. Dhammika, the Head of the HRM department stated that, “MHRM Kelaniya always takes innovative steps as the pioneer in HRM postgraduate education in providing the new values to the nation.” The strategist behind the concept of MHRM Kelaniya Professional Fiesta, Dr. D.U. Mohan, the coordinator of MHRM Kelaniya degree, promised to deliver the best to the nation by taking the leading role of crafting the shape of HRM postgraduate education in line with the latest development taking place in the HRM field and the education field.