Chartered Institute of Marketing to hold Graduation Ceremony and Membership Investiture 2018

The Graduation Ceremony and the Membership Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Sri Lanka is scheduled to be held on 22 October, from 5 p.m. onwards at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapakse Theatre. This year 272 students will be graduated, whilst 13 members (MCIM) will be invested at the ceremony.   

CIM Sri Lanka created history by hosting the first ever graduation ceremony in December, 1992 and this year, the CIM Sri Lanka will mark its 26th graduation ceremony and will recognise those who have successfully completed the postgraduate Diploma in April, July and December 2017 and April, July 2018.  

The Chartered Institute of Marketing is the largest community of professional marketers in the world with 100 years of heritage delivering education, membership and insight offerings to the marketing and sales profession. As the world’s largest institute for professional marketers with over 50,000 members globally, CIM places great emphasis in maintaining high standards of quality and integrity also develops and sets standards within marketing landscapes of UK and other regional countries in which it operates. The CIM curriculum is undoubtedly challenging as any credible qualification and is the only international qualification recognised by the Royal Charter in the United Kingdom. 

The Guest of Honour for this year’s Graduation Ceremony will be Professor Lakshman Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of University of Colombo. Professor Lakshman Dissanayake received his Bachelors’ Degree in Development Studies from the University of Colombo, obtaining First Class Honours in 1977. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Population Studies from the University of Colombo, Masters’ Degree in Demography from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and PhD from the University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts (United Kingdom). He is also the Senior Professor of Demography (Chair), University of Colombo. 

Professor Dissanayake has been honoured by various esteemed positions and awards both nationally and internationally by recognising his contribution to the field of Demography. Following are only a few that are selected from a vast number of academic distinctions. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett, University in the United Kingdom. He also serves as an Adjunct member of the Hugo Center for Population and Migration Research, University of Adelaide. 

In addition, he was conferred an Honorary Professorship by the Yunnan University in China in 2017. Professor Dissanayake is also a Member of the Research Advisory Group of the Department of Immigration and Border protection of the Australian Government. In addition, he also serves as a member of Migration Research Leaders Syndicate of the International Organisation of Migration. He was the former Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, founder Director of the Colombo University Community Extension Centre, and former Rector of the Sri Palee Campus of the University of Colombo. Professor Lakshman Dissanayake is a receiver of ‘Excellence in Research’ (University of Colombo) and ‘Excellence in Research: Highest Grant Recipient’ (Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors in Sri Lanka).

Professor Lakshman Dissanayake’s expertise includes population ageing, international migration, internal migration, irregular migration, regional demography, health demography, and population dynamics. He has published books, book chapters and numerous research articles in local and internationally reputed journals 

Rajiv David, Head of Education, CIM Sri Lanka, stated, “The objective of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Sri Lanka revolves around you, to develop well equipped marketers to better face the challenging corporate environment. Graduates who are conferred with the qualification from CIM can be proud ambassadors of a discipline of professional and responsible marketing. I urge you to continuously engage with us and be a part of The Chartered Institute of Marketing community, as you continue your career in one of the most exciting, dynamic and inspiring professions in the world. We will continue to support you in every way we can, through our many resources whether it be cutting-edge research, insights or training programs.” 

The CIM Sri Lanka is the first international branch of CIM and comprise the largest number of members, both professional and students of CIM outside the UK. The regional institute has always campaigned for greater recognition and excellence in the marketing profession in Sri Lanka, through education, training and development.