SLIM inaugurates ‘Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing’ for 2017

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body for marketing, inaugurated its Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing (PGDIP) program for 2017 on 29 January at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management. 

The event was conducted in order to raise awareness and educate the new batch of students joining PGDIP, about the curricular and the value that it could add to an individual as a fully-fledged marketing professional. The large patronage that graced the occasion represented a cross section of young employees, marketing practitioners, corporate and public sector middle managers and students of SLIM. 

Intakes for the PGDIP program are now open and students can follow the course at the SLIM Business Schools in Colombo, Kandy and Matara.

Guest speaker at the inauguration was Dileep Mudadeniya, Vice President of John Keells/Head of Brand Marketing Cinnamon Hotels and Founder of the Centre of Research and Sustainable Studies in Tourism. Mudadeniya placed special emphasis upon the definition of marketing, it being a management process that anticipates, identifies the needs and desires of customers and fulfils them profitably.

“I switched from Law to Marketing because it is a process that enables us to make people happy by fulfilling their needs and wants. The top 30 brands have evolved lately in the corporate sector due to the philosophical nature of marketing and not because of finance. Every successful marketer should be fully equipped with the four aspects; passion, customer centric, differentiation and experience gathering,” stated Mudadeniya.

PGDIP is a unique program of study, which offers prospective students and practitioners of marketing an opportunity to learn the finer points in marketing and blend theoretical concepts with diverse, day to day business scenarios. 

The 24-month part-time program consists of four levels and gears students with marketing competencies from the operational to the management level. Students are provided with a detailed understanding on marketing tools. The strategic level focuses on concepts such as Sustainability and Strategic Marketing Planning and every student is required to carry out an individual research study at the final level.

A budding marketer can secure his/her career path towards obtaining an MBA by qualifying in SLIM-PGDIP.

SLIM Vice President Pradeep Edward, the Director/CEO of GAP Holdings, stressed the importance of gearing oneself with the knowledge in marketing to excel in the existing vibrant business environment. 

“SLIM has designed the PGDIP program especially to groom quality marketing personnel, who can add value to the marketing fraternity here in Sri Lanka and beyond. Post Graduate Diploma holders of SLIM are even employed by companies beyond our territories and are functioning at senior managerial levels,” he said.

The SLIM Vice President also shed light on the wide spectrum of activities SLIM students are exposed to beyond marketing studies. He brought to notice that the student’s committee offers SLIM members the opportunity to take part in various national events conducted by SLIM such as SLIM-NASCO, the Marketers’ Ball, the EFFIES and SLIM Toastmasters.

He added that in a global context Marketing has evolved to become a way-of-life and PGDIP program is designed to encompass and cater to all these factors. 

From left: Academic Affairs Assistant Manager Madhusoothanan, SLIM Vice President Pradeep Edward, John Keells Group Vice President Dileep Mudadeniya, Education and Trainings AGM Sanjeewa Jayaweera

“The cream of resource personnel in the country is conducting the program. These resource personnel have a wealth of experience in the local and international marketing spheres. Thus you can learn from their experience and the multiple support sessions conducted by them to enhance your knowledge in marketing,” said Edward. 

In the opinion of SLIM’s CEO/Executive Director Sanath Senanayake, SLIM-PGDIP is a contemporary course for students. The course’s content, syllabus and textbooks have been revised according to the changes in the marketing atmosphere in the world and to satiate current industry requirements. 

“The right blend of assignments, individual/group presentations and exams has elevated the PGDIP qualification to its pinnacle. The program will evolve with the changing marketing scenarios in the world to produce fully-fledged marketers who can rub shoulders with veterans in the sphere,” said Senanayake.

The credible and value adding courses/training programs and affordable prices of SLIM have made the marketing fraternity and the corporate sector in Sri Lanka perceive SLIM as an invaluable mentoring entity for over four decades.