PIM launches MBA program in the Middle-East

Sri Lanka entered the education market in the Middle-East this week as the Minister of Education Susil Premajayanth declared open the Postgraduate Institute of Management’s (PIM’s) MBA degree program in Dubai on September 15th, a press release said. At a ceremonial opening session well-attended by both Sri Lankan expatriates and nationals of the United Arab Emirates, the Education Minister hailed the new initiative by the Postgraduate Institute of Management and the Sri Lankan professionals led by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers, Sri Lanka Branch in the Emirates, as historic, innovative and courageous. ‘Dubai is the right choice for this novel step because the economic growth and potential in this country is enormous’ declared the Minister.

The PIM’s International Center in Dubai, set up in the Knowledge Village which provides infrastructural facilities for foreign universities operating in Dubai, attracted over 140 applicants to its MBA program and it admitted 88 candidates for the first batch (2007/09). The center provides facilities for 180 students with modern class-rooms, seminar rooms, library and an IT center. The academic sessions commenced on September 17th.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Ayub Kazim, Executive Director of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority, welcomed the entry of the Sri Lankan University to the Dubai education system and expressed the hope that it would add a competitive and useful alternative to the already existing programs of education in the country. Globalisation is affecting every sphere of activity in the economy and the globalisation of higher education would strengthen human resource development options for professionals while encouraging more productive investment and business relations among countries.