SLIM inaugurates Postgraduate Diploma in marketing program for 2016

From left: Assistant Manager Academic Affairs Madhusoothanan, SLIM Senior Lecturer Mahesh Fernando, SLIM Vice President Pradeep Edward and SLIM Assistant Secretary Thilanka Abeywardena

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) had the inauguration of its Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing (PgDipM) program on 24 July at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management.

The event was conducted with a view to educating the new batch of students of PGDM curricular and the value it could add to an individual’s persona to be groomed as a fully-fledged marketing professional. Over 250 participants who graced the occasion represented a cross section of marketing practitioners, corporate and public sector employees and SLIM students. 

PGDM is a unique program of study which offers prospective students and practitioners of marketing an opportunity to learn finer points in marketing and blend those theoretical concepts with day to day diverse business scenarios. The 24 month part time program gears students with marketing competencies from operational to synthesis level.

PGDM being the premier product of SLIM has qualified over a vast number students to date. The Post Graduate Diploma confers an individual with the capacity to function as a dynamic marketing practitioner in the local marketing sphere and beyond. Further, a budding marketer can secure his/her career path towards obtaining an MBA by qualifying on SLIM, PGDM.

SLIM Vice President Pradeep Edward welcoming the gathering wished them for a brighter future with SLIM PGDM qualification. He stressed the importance of gearing oneself with the knowledge in marketing to excel in the existing vibrant business environment. 

He commented, “SLIM has designed the PGDM program especially to groom quality marketing personnel who could add value to the marketing fraternity in Sri Lanka and beyond. Cream of resource personnel in the country is conducting the program. In addition, the other facilities such as world class lecture halls with air conditioning and library facility are in place to provide the comfort to students.”

He quoted famous Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg as saying “careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder” and disclosed that Post Graduate Diploma holders of SLIM are employed even by companies beyond our territories and are functioning in senior managerial levels. “Thus marketing practitioners must strive to gain knowledge in both theoretical and practical aspects in marketing to add value to their respective companies. Then they will have an edge when handling dynamic marketing oriented business scenarios,” added the SLIM Vice President.

SLIM Assistant Secretary Thilanka Abeywardena shed light on a wide spectrum of activities which SLIM students are exposed to, beyond marketing studies. She brought to notice of the participants, the opportunities offered to take part in National Level events conducted by SLIM.

Abeywardena also shared some of her personal and business experiences with the participants to focus on the bigger picture of learning marketing. She said marketing globally has evolved to become a way-of-life and PGDM program is designed to encompass and cater all these factors. 

“There is a developing trend for non-marketers to learn marketing in the present context, thus they follow SLIM preliminary level and advanced courses to groom as marketing oriented individuals. This is an endorsement marketing is not merely a qualification but also a lifestyle,” said SLIM senior lecturer Mahesh Fernando.

In his address Fernando stressed the importance of greater customer care in day-to-day business scenarios and invited participants to focus on the customer as a constant practice. Further he requested participants to proactively interact with all resource personnel while at their stint in SLIM to enhance knowledge in practical aspects of marketing. 

“These resource personnel have a wealth of experiences in the local and international marketing spheres. Thus you could learn from their experiences to enhance your knowledge in marketing to add value to your organisations,” he said. 

Refreshments to participants were sponsored by Fonterra. Fonterra has been affiliated with SLIM and extend their support in numerous ways.

SLIM is the national body for marketing and offers the most sought after proprietary postgraduate and diploma programmes in the fields of marketing and sales. The SLIM calendar includes premier annual events such as SLIM Brand Excellence, Effie Awards, People’s Choice Awards and NASCO. 

SLIM is a member of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) and Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL). Internationally it is affiliated with ESOMAR, the Federation of Marketing Research Industries and is a member of the Asia Marketing Federation, which is affiliated to the World Marketing Association.