National HR Issue : HR contirbution towards Global Competitivness of Sri Lanka

Public Lecture and a panel discussion on Global Competitiveness of Sri Lanka and How HR can influence  will be held on 20th February 2013 at the HR House. 

Global Competitiveness Index (GCI)  is calculated and published by the World Economic Forum. GCI index is an annual publication. 

GCI is calculated based of 12 major elements, which they identify as pliers. You can read more about the GCI after downloading the report, which is available Free of Charge. We observed the performance of GCI for Sri Lanka for last three years. The overall position behaved as follows;

• 2010 - 2011  Position 62
• 2011 - 2012  Position 52
• 2011 - 2013  Position 68

We were happy when Sri Lanka's position improve in 2012, yet we identified that there are some gaps we need to fill. Yet worried us when the position falls in 2012. You will be able to gain a detailed understanding of the Sri Lanka's position by observing the ranking of all the pillars in the following radar diagrams. 

Sri Lanka's position 2010-2011

Sri Lanka's position 2011-2012

The National Issues, Stake Holder Relations and Research & Publications Committee (NISRRP) is in the opinion that there are some pillars in the GCI, that can be improved through HR initiatives. There are some direct contribution towards some pillars from HR and there may be indirect contribution towards many other pillars. Fact remains there is no formal attempt to analyze and identify how HR could help the country in order to improve the GCI.

Sri Lanka's position 2012-1013

Pillar of "Labor Market efficiency" is one of the pillars that IPM has identified as an area that HR can influence directly.  At the same time, IPM believes that Institutions pillar can be improved by improving HR in the Public Sector. However, a formal attempt should be made in order to understand what and how HR could influence the Global Competitiveness of Sri Lanka.  

For this purpose, NISRRP is organizing an event on 16th January 2013.

There will be a public lecture on understanding the Global Competitiveness Index, followed by a form discussion, with an attempt to understand how HR can influence GCI of Sri Lanka. 

Key note address of the event will be delivered by Dr. Anura Ekanayake. and the panel discussion will be held with the participation of Dr. Lloyd Fernando, Dr. Dan Seevaratnem, and Mr. Ishan Danthanarayana. 

Council Decisions taken at the 673rd Council Meeting

This document does not stand itself as the official decisions of the Council, the official document of the Council remains the Minutes of the Council Meeting, after same was scrutinized at the next council meeting.

IPM Graduation Ceremony 2012 & Corporate Video Profile

Whilst all agreed that the event was well conducted and that the new corporate video was effective. It was also agreed to add a little solemnity to the event next year in line with university graduations.

The President explained on action taken by IPM to resolve the issue created by Mr. Jayantha Jayaratne who at the last minute refused to sponsor the best student’s gold medal after having done so for 10 years. The solution was to have an IPM President’s gold medal this year and which is to be followed in the future too.

Mrs. Sumithra Fernando volunteered to speak to Mr Jayantha Jayaratne on the future of the gold medal sponsored by him.

It was agreed to consider the following too for the best student as proposed by Mr. Shanka Fernando,

·         Complementary registration for next IPM HR conference.

·         Participation in next member exchange programme with NIPM India.  

·         Invitation to make brief presentation at the next IPM graduation ceremony.

IPM Market Research

A market research will be conducted by a professional research agency which was approved by the Council at a previous meeting. 03 quotations were received from well-known parties, and the basis of selection would be price, quality and meeting expectations.

Design an E- News Letter.

The President appreciated the work done by Mr. Aruna Dayantha and for his commitment in this regard. Said this is an achievement made for IPM in light of comments made at a previous meeting by a council member that those who loose at the AGM elections should not be co-opted to the council. CEO too appreciated the services rendered by Mr Dayantha to the IPM and said the staff too is very appreciative for the support he gives to IT matters.

All agreed to the proposal made by Mr Priyankara Seneviratne to generate revenue through the E-News letter.

Web based customer satisfaction survey for IPM stake holders

On the invitation of the Standing Committee Chairman, Dr Ajantha Dharmasiri, committee deputy chairman Mr. Aruna Dayanatha a presentation on survey results. Dr Dharmasiri proposed that student feed back be obtained on their biggest issue, their MOT. CEO requested to repeat the presentation to the IPM staff.

All Island marketing campaign for GCE A/L, School Leavers (After A/L Exam)

CEO informed that the campaign is a success with the PCGD programme income going above the budgeted. Hence Rs. 1.2 million spent on the campaign is covered.

IPM Staff Residential Training Program on Leadership and Evening Get Together on  12^th & 13^th November 2012 at Mass Fabric Park.(MIMT)

The budget was approved as per the breakdown mailed to Council members as requested at the last meeting.

Monthly Financial Review

Mr. Ajith Dammika-Manager Finance presented the highlights of previous month’s P&L and Balance Sheets. He explained even though the income is healthy sustaining same with the same products is going to be an issue unless new products are introduced.

In response CEO proposed and obtained approval in principle to negotiate with EDEXEL to globally endorse our programmes.

Maj Rohitha Amarapala proposed for IPM to take over a Kandy based hotel school now on offer and expand IPM presence in Kandy.  Mr PG Tennakoon to carry out a feasibility study under the guidance of CEO and submit report to the Council at next meeting.

Mr. Shanaka Fernando proposed for IPM to focus on industry based HR training such as hospitality utilizing above facility to which the CEO responded stating that a lead is already taken in this regard by signing a MOU related to the plantation industry.

Mr Shanaka Fernando proposed and Dr Ajantha Dharmasiri seconded that the Financial review for Sep 2012 is in order.

Mr Priyankara Seneviratne proposed and Council agreed to re-launch Negombo programmes.

Financial approvals granted

1. Quote from Abans for A/C to Canteen (3^rd Floor) – approved.
2. Permanent OD facility from HNB (as a stand by facility) – approved.
3. Grant of Rs 50,000.00 for Mr PG Tennakoon (on account of his beloved father’s funeral) – approved.
4. EPF / ETF deductions from Transport Allowances – approved.
5. Budget (with IPM funding) for Christmas party – approved subject to 50% of IPM funded amount returned within a year.
6. POC for E- learning – approved. 

Utilization of IPM building space more productively 

President explained to the Council that thoughtful engineering advice is required to explore the possibilities of using basement either as car park or conversion to extra class rooms & use of roof top to store approved items.

The Council approved the above proposal subject to detailed report from the engineering consultant who was instrumental for phase i and phase ii development of the building.

S. K. V. PEIRIS FIPM

Mr.Peiris had his education at Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda. He joined the Public Service in October 1956  and had served in the then Department of Government Electrical Undertakings. With the vesting of that Department in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Mr.Peiris had joined the Ceylon Electricity Board in 1971. From February 1973 till he retired from service in April 1995 he had served the Ceylon Electricity Board as an Administrative Assistant, Senior Administrative Assistant, Administrative Officer and Personnel Officer. His entire career in the Ceylon Electricity Board, in the positions referred to above, had been in the Personnel Department of the Board.

 

 

After obtaining the Diploma in Personnel Management from the NIBM, Mr. Peiris enrolled himself as an “Associate Member ” ( AMIPM) of the Institute of Personnel Management (IPM) in 1984 and was upgraded as a “ Member ” (MIPM) in 1986. In March 2012 Mr. Peiris was promoted to the category “Fellow ” (FIMP).

 

 

Mr. Peiris has been actively involved in the promotion of aquatic sports and lifesaving in Sri Lanka and has served as the President and Secretary of the National Controlling bodies of these sports. He was the first Sri Lankan to be appointed as an International Swimming Referee by the World body for Aquatic Sports, the FINA, in 1993 and has officiated at several International Swimming Meets abroad and in Sri Lanka.

 

 

At present he is serving as the Personal Assistant to the Chairman of Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited (LECO).

 

 

Mr. Peiris also continues his social activities in the field of aquatic sports and lifesaving.

W.M.FRANCIS FONSEKA FIPM

 

Weeranarayana Mudalige George Francis Fonseka, started his career as a Management Trainee at Ranweli Resort Hotel, Waikkal. In 1981, he joined Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, as a commissioned officer. He  had served as a Major and was release in 1996. He joined Sri Lanka Telecom in 1996 and became the Manager Security in 1997 and Deputy General Manager in 1999 and the General Manager Security in 2005.

 

He completed his National Diploma in Human Resources Management at Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka in March 2002. By September 2004 completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Business Finance Administration at Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka  and obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration  from the  University of Southern Queensland in May 2008.

Thereafter c complete his  Certificate in Health & Safety  from the  National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health in May 2010 and obtained Higher Diploma in International Relations at Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies in July 2010. In 2011 he completed his Diploma in Health & Safety at National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health/IPM SL  And is Now studying for Diploma in Psychology & Counseling at ICBT

 

He is a Member of Industrial Security Foundation, and the Secretary, Military Christian Fellowship, Sri Lanka, Former General Manager / Security and now General Manager Health & Safety Sri Lanka Telecom. He contributed several Safety Guidelines such as Road Safety, Computer User Safety, Fire Safety, Food Safety, Janitorial Safety and Planning for Emergencies to SLT internal website. During his tenure as General Manager Security in Sri Lanka Telecom he managed 300 SLT Security personnel and 1200 outsourced security personnel to protect Sri Lanka Telecom Installations Island wide. He was a member of Ceylon Rugby and Football club during 1977 to 1979 and played Cricket for Nomads Sports Club.

 

He has followed many Leadership programs in Institute of Management in Singapore. He participated for an advance program on Video Motion and Detection in Israel. He has attended many Fire and Safety Management programs in United Kingdom and elsewhere. He became an Associate Member of IPM in September 2002, and a member of IPM in December 2006, and became a Fellow Member of IPM in December 2011.

Major General Rohan Kaduwela

Major General Rohan Anil Kaduwela AMIPM, is a Council Member of the Governing Council 2012/13. He serves as the Chairman of the Audit, Constitutional & Legal Affairs Committee 2012/13, and as the Deputy Chairman of the IT Committee 2012/13.

 

During the past three years he had served in the IPM Governing Council, as Chairman of HR Service Providers Exhibition. Was a member of the National HR Conference committee for the last five years, and a member of the Membership Development Committee and a member of the CSR committee for  a year respectively.

 

He is an old boy of St. Thomas' College Matale.

 

He joined the Sri Lanka army in 1980 as an Officer Cadet and subsequently commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant.  Was recently promoted to the rank of Major General of Sri Lanka Army. He presently functions as the Chief Signal Officer, and as an Advisor to the Army Commander on Signal Matters. In previous appointment he was the 'Director Internal Audit at Army Head Quarters'

 

He has undergone foreign training in USA, Australia, Italy, India and Pakistan. Further he had addressed many international conferences.

POWERS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUONCIL

Extracts from the By-Laws (This text would not constitute an official by laws for IPM, members shall obtain a copy of the by-laws from IPM should one wish to have an extensive study of the by-laws)

54. The Council is the Executive Body of the Institute. The Members of the Council are individually and collectively responsible for the overall management of its activities. to recougnize the dignity of office and for professional identification the Council Members shall ware a Cloak appropriately designed and isued by the institute. The said Cloak shall be worn at special and importat cerominies of the Institute as long as one remails a Member of the Council.

55. Te direction and management of the Institute are vested in the Council, subject to the provisions in the Act. By-laws and Rules of the Institute and for all resolutions of Special General Meeting of Corporate Members which have been duly summoned and held in accrodance with the by-laws when such resolutions have been duly entered on the Minutes and singned by the Chairman of such meetings.

56. The Council shall meet as often as necessary. provided that there shall at least be a meeting once a month. All decisions of the Council shall be by mejority of votes of those having the rights to vote properly given therat and in the case of a tie the President or other person presiding shall have a second or casting vote and one third of the total number of the Coroprate Members in the Council shall be the quorum.

57. The decisions of the Council on all matters dealt with by them  in accrodance with the provisions of the By-Laws and Rules as aforesaid bshall be fial and binding on all Fellows, Members, Associate Members, Affiliates, Service Subscriber Representative and Student Members. Such decisions shall be properly recorded by the Hony. Secratary.

58. The Council may appointe Sub-Committees for specific period which may consist of Members of the Council and other Members including Non-corporate Memers and wherever appropriate or necessary persons from different professions to facilitate the achieveing of objectives the Institute. All Sub-committees shall conform to any directions that may be given to them by the Council and subject to such directions, may regulate their procedure as they think fit.

59. In the event of absance of the President and of all the Vice-Presidents, a duly notified reguler meeting may elect any member of te Council to take the Chair.

60. The newly elected Council shall meet within fourteen days of such election and shall formulate the Annual Budget of the Institute comprising the expected income and the predicted expenditure for the ensuring year which shall be formally adopted at the first monthly council meeting to be held within thirty days of the Annual General Meeting. Any variation from such budget thereafter shall be closly monitored by the Hony. Treasurer and on monthly basis shall notify the Council and obtain approval for such change in expenditure.

61. A statement of the funds of the Institute and of the receipts and payments during the past financial year, terminating on the 31st March, shall be made under the direction of the Council, and after having verified and signed by the Author, shall be laid before the Annual General Meeting.

62. The Council Shall draw up a Yearly Performance Report on the state of the Institute, which shall be presented at the Annual General Meting.

63. The Council may make, amend and rescind Rules for the Purposes specified in the by-laws but so that the same be repugnant to these by-laws and provided that no such Rules, amendment or resession shall come in to operation until the same has been approved by Special General Meeting of the Institute. weather before or after the same has been made, amended or rescinded by the Council.

64. The Council may make, amend and rescind Rules for the better ordering of any matter referred to in by-laws, other than matters to be governed by Rules or otherwise for the better governance of the Institute and its affairs, but so that the same be not not repugnant to these By-Laws or the Rules.

65. The Council shall maintian or cause to be maintained abd publihs a Register of the members of the Institute which is referred herein as Roll.

66. The Council shall ensure the maintenance of professional standards among the members of the Institute and other personnel practicing or acting as Personnel/ Human Resource Manager or Consultant and take all actions deeemed necessary to se that the members adheare to the professional ethics and conducts as laid down and reviewed from time to time by the Council.

67. The Institute with the view to support the operations and management of its activities and to uphold highest stndards in professionalism, is empowered to engadge Secratarial Staff permanent, temporory, or casual as approved and decided by the Council for the smooth functioning of the institute. The selection of such staff, remunaration and other terms of employment shall be approved by the Council on written recommendation of the President and the Hony. Secratary.

68. The Council shall ensure proper financial administration procedures in keeping with the generally accepted Accounting principles are strictly folowed by those authorized to handle the finances of the Institute. All expenditure to the incurred in accrodance with a regulatory system set out by the Council. In an emergency, the written prior approval of the president, Hony. Secratary and the Hony. Treasurer should be obtained and thereafter submited for ratification to the next Council Meeting with due notice in the form of Council Paper.

Council decision taken at the 672 Meeting held on 26th September 2012

This document does not stand itself as the official decisions of the Council, the official document of the Council remains the Minutes of the Council Meeting, after same was scrutinized at the next council meeting.

Council decision taken at the 672 Meeting held on 26^th September 2012 (Subject to ratification)
1.Inform the membership about recent By-Law changes, seconded at the Special General Meeting  held on 28^th July 2012.

2.The Council decided to revamp the current IT architecture of the Institute. A detailed plan was submitted by its’ standing committee chairman, Mr. Aruna Dayanatha –Member of the Governing Council

3.Council decided re-negotiate with bankers for better interest rates both lending and borrowing rates and select the best. Responsibility was vested with Finance Division.
4.The Council decided to appoint Mr. Athula Amarasena as the new Director of Studies with effect from 1^st October 2012. He is also a corporate member of IPM.

5.The Council approved the theme for 2012 IPM Graduation as a pinnacle and a flagship event of the year. The 2012’s theme concept was presented by the Manager Marketing and Manager Business School.

Also Council approved the proposal on corporate Video of IPM which is significant for building the corporate image of IPM in its flagship events.

6. Activation of Members’ Lounge

At the request of Standing Committee Chairman, Major Rohitha Amarapala, Mr. Priyal Perera, A fellow member of IPM, presented to the Council with budgets. Whilst Council approved the activation plan, it was decided to provide financial support to the project through free lecture hours (minimum 10hours) of IPM professional study programmes on a voluntary basis; faculty comprised of both within the Council and IPM Members who are in the faculty; also suggested to invite a few strategic partners as sponsors for the project.

A committee was appointed to this task, namely M/S Samitha Perera, Mr.Dhammika Fernando, Mr.Priyankara Seneviratne, Mr. Neminda Karunarathne headed by standing committee chairman Major Rohitha Amarapala.

7.Re organizing of IPM Staff

The Council approved the proposal submitted by Mr. C. Gannile- Honorary Secretary of IPM. The theme of the proposal was to enhance greater productivity, optimize available human resources towards improvement of service excellence to IPM Stakeholders. The proposed changes detailed below to be made effective from 1^st October 2012.
·New Confidential Secretary’s duties: Will handle correspondence of IPM President/IPM Secretary‘s and CEO. She will also administer the International Desk.
·HR Executive Shachithra will relinquish secretarial duties and will be dedicated towards HR Functions, inclusive of maintaining personal files of staff. All such HR functions will come under purview of CEO. 
·As there is an immediate need to establish a “ front –desk” to tackle customer enquiries, complaints etc. that requires ‘Customer Care’ Diluksha will move over to Business School Office and mann this desk along with another lady proficient in customer care. This move will reduce the stress of BS Staff who are essentially back room operatives and are currently compelled to handle customer enquiries for which they are not trained; amidst their tasks.
·Currently acting Librarian Upeksha to be confirmed in her position and be appointed as Librarian w.e.f. 1^ST October 2012. Written recommendation already submitted.
· Himali to concentrate on ‘Member Services –this will also include arranging monthly guest lectures for the benefit of Members
·Re designation of Mr. P.G. Tennakoon –currently Director Finance & Administration to that of Director Finance, Administrations  and  Strategic Provincial Business Expansions .All Allowances hitherto enjoyed by him (including Acting CEO’s Allowance) will continue.
·Mr.S.H.Ajith Dammika- presently Manager Finance to be re designated  Finance & Administration { Logistics & Maintenance)


08.Free leadership Development Program for members and Council members on First come      

first served basis [50 participants – 2 day residential program at Mass Fabric Park, Thulhiriya]

The Council approved the above proposal submitted by Major Rohitha Amarapala, Standing committee chairman subject to submission of further details which should go to IPM members with due notice.

09.Release of IPM staff members for following IPM courses.

The Council approved the proposal submitted by the President AVM Rohitha Ranasinghe. It was further decided to appoint a senior staff member as a coordinator to activate the procedure with a staff bond which will be framed by Mrs. S.N. Fernando, who is a fellow member, senior lawyer and a Council member.

10.Finding Suitable Faculty members from IPM Corporate Members.

For professional study areas such as Health and Safety , IT, Marketing , Research methods, Finance, Quantitative techniques  Council decided to open the opportunities to its members first as explained by the president

11.Receipt of Certificate of Conformity (COC) for IPM Building

President explained that after a 5 year long waited certificate was finally granted by CMC Colombo.  Council made special thanks to Mr. P.G. Tennakoon Director Finance and Administration for his untiring efforts with the guidance of new CEO, Mr, Dyan Senevirathne and the Council.

12.Scrutiny of prospective students (participants) for PQHRM IPM premier qualification

Council decided to select candidates with a more rigorous selection process towards attracting better quality students for future programs.

13.Utilization of IPM building space more productively 

President explained to the Council that thoughtful engineering advice is required to explore the possibilities of using basement either as car park or conversion to extra class rooms & use of roof top to store approved items.

The Council approved the above proposal subject to detailed report from the engineering consultant who was instrumental for phase i and phase ii development of the building.

14. Participation of Annual Sessions of OPA (Organization Professional Association)

Council approved the following personnel to attend (From the Council and IPM staff)

AVM Rohitha Ranasinghe, Mr. Kumar Kirinde, Mr. Shanaka Fernando, Mr. Dhammika Fernando, Mr. Samitha Perera, Mr. P.G.Tennakoon , Mr. Dyan Seneviratne, Mr. C. Gannile, Brig Rohan Kaduwela, Mr.L.S.Peiris.

15. Design an E- News Letter.

The Proposal Submitted by IT Committee Chairman Mr. Aruna Dayanatha and Hony Editor Mr. Shanaka Fernando was approved by the Council with an annual subscription fee of 213$ for use of the web space.

16. Web based customer satisfaction survey for IPM stake holders

The Standing Committee Chairman, Mr. Aruna Dayanatha placed a proposal for the above; whilst  Council appreciated his initiatives it also approved the above to implement as early as possible.

17. All Island marketing campaign for GCE A/L, School Leavers (After A/L Exam)

Standing committee Chairman, Mr. Samitha Perera, presented the dramatic results achieved within a month’s time of the campaign with an increase of 105% for PCGD programme . Council appreciated the initiative and the proposal which was approved at the last Council meeting.

18. New membership suitability form

The Council approved Pre-Qualification membership suitability form  attached herewith which is of a simple nature, submitted by Major Rohitha Amarapala.

19. IPM Corporate and Marketing Communication

The Council approved the above plan submitted by Mr. Samitha Perera, which will comprise five (05) free articles to be published.

20. IPM Market Research

A market research will be conducted by a professional research agency which was approved by the Council at the previous meeting. Mr. Samitha Perera further informed that 03 quotation were received from well-known parties, The basis of selection would be price, quality and meeting expectations.

21. New membership enrolments

The Council approved the proposal submitted by Mr. C. Gannile Hony, Secretary with remarks of interview panel. It was decided to offer the following membership categories to the new candidates as detailed below.

Name	Category
Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy	Associate Category
Mrs. Lihini Meegalla	Affiliate Category
Ms. Lakmini Rajapaksha	Associate Category
Mrs. Thilini Prasadini Edirisinghe	Associate Category
Mrs. Rasika Ranatunga	Associate Category
Mr. Namal Welipitiya	Associate Category
Mr. Manjula Keerthiratne	Associate Category
Mr. Dharma Sri  Thilakaratna	Affiliate Category
Mr. Rasika Prasanna Nanayakkara	Affiliate Category
Mr. Sanjaya Senaratne	Affiliate Category
Mr. Dinesh Dhananjaya Bandara	Associate Category

Council wishes them a pleasant long standing professional relationship with the Institute.

22. Employee confirmation 

The Council approved the staff recommendation of  confirmations channelled through Hony. Secretary,

Name	Designation
Ms. Upeksha Kodikara	Librarian
Mrs. Chandima Garumanna	Manager Marketing
Mr.  Ajith Dammika	Manager Finance & Admin

23. IPM Staff Residential Training Program on Leadership and Evening Get Together on  12^th & 13^th November 2012 at Mass Fabric Park.(MIMT)

The Council approved the proposal submitted by Mr. C. Gannile Hony. Secretary IPM which was a longley felt need for staff development.

New Director Studies was appointed to IPM Business School

 

Mr. Athula Amarasena, AMIPM, assumed duties a the Director Studies of IPM Business School. on 1st October 2012. Mr. Amarasena is a holder of National Diploma In HRM, and an associate member of IPM. He has served IPM many different occasions as mentioned below;

· Student Counselor 2006-2009

· Senior Lecturer serving  all the study courses of IPM since 2006

· Quality Assurance Coordinator of study courses in 2009

· Accountant in private sector with CIMA qualification

· Served as HR professional in the manufacturing sector since 2000

· Served as Disciplinary and Labour Law consultant to many organizations from 2010

 

Contact details

1. E-mail    : dsathula@ipmlk.org

2. Direct    :011-2856844

3. Mobile  : 0773908252

Presidents Message October 2012

Dear Members,

 
As the new Council year commences, your Council and I have been making plans to raise the bar of the IPM by making it a more effective organization to the Corporate Members, Affiliates, HR Professionals, HR Students and indeed to the entire country in general. I believe it's my duty to outline the priorities we have proposed for this year.
The main focus would be to ensure that you as Corporate Members of the IPM together with other primary stakeholders will be marching in one direction, i.e. servicing the entire gamut of the HR Profession as per the mandate given to us by the Parliament of Sri Lanka in particular and by extension, by the People of the Country in general.
 This year we have made arrangements to restructure the Standing Committees. Accordingly we have introduced new Standing Committees to strengthen the IPM even stronger as an organization. There are factors [enumerated below] that are top-most in our list of priorities. It is my belief that these are areas that we have to put right as being fundamental in our quest to take IPM to the ‘next level’.
 1. What is beyond PQHRM
Our analysis show that the students of PQHRM, the premier product of IPM caters for HR Assistants at large and Job Seekers. The HR Managers and Directors are mostly completely left out.
 Consequently the top-tier of corporate establishments perceive IPM as an institute that only produces HR Assistants. We have been debating this issue: "Why there is no representation at the board room" for many years. We have yet to provide that extra, critical support to the HR Managers that would pave their path aimed at enhancing their credentials towards taking up a seat in the Board Room.
We are therefore in the process of making appropriate plans and even factoring Internships, improving soft-skills and other dynamic interventions whilst continuing with the present program.


 2. Quality over Quantity
We have been concentrating on the number of students that we enroll to IPM Business School, virtually turning a blind eye towards the standards of the students we enroll. This policy has resulted in many serious doubts being expressed on the quality of outputs from the Business School.
 In the meanwhile we continue to obtain assessment of Lecturers/Resource Persons from the students. Such assessments made by students enable to categorize Resource Persons in a spectrum varying from Excellent to Poor. As the measurement criteria is only too well known we need to ensure that we strive to be assessed as Excellent at each Lecture. Those who continue to be evaluated as below average need to turn the searchlight on themselves and analyze their thought-process and performance; perhaps they need to upgrade their skills & knowledge in backdrop of the vast strides being made globally in the entire canvass of new thinking and delivery of training & development.  
 I am strongly of the opinion that we should focus on the Quality over Quantity. Thus this year it will be the pursuit of quality of students and the quality of deliverables - focused on making the final product brimming with quality; more significantly, honed towards the needs of the corporate world.
 3. Walking the talk
We have been teaching the best HR practices to thousands of students in the Country. We have contributed tens of thousands of HR Professionals to the Society. Yet, ironically HR Practices need to be visibly noticed and indeed practiced by the staff of IPM and I dare say, even by lecturers.
In short, all relevant must practice the fundamentals of ‘Customer Care’; we need to have a paradigm shift in this critical area. Let us all practice what we preach!
 We shall install best practices of what we teach in Business School, within the Business School, that business school is capable of delivering high quality service and products to the Customers.
 Dear Members, while we wish to spotlight aforementioned three factors as priorities that should receive the undivided attention of all, the Governing Council and all the Standing Committees are actively working towards making IPM a better institute to all the Stakeholders.
We may face many obstacles; there can be discouraging situations; even distorted information spilling out, which may be far from the truth!
Yet we expect your continued support towards the relentless “pursuit of success" as we are committed to do so.
 I am grateful to the membership for giving me an effective and professional Governing Council for this year.
The stand-out quality of the Council you appointed is their "Visionary" thinking!
So let’s get together and make our vision a reality soon
I take this opportunity of wishing each and every one of you all success!


AIR VICE MARSHALL K R A RANASINGHE [retd]
 PRESIDENT IPM