As the NIBM gets set to steer its course from the awarding of national diplomas and degrees to a university, awarding degrees and post-graduate degrees the Director General of NIBM Dr.E.A Weerasinghe expressed his hopes about the new institute and the plans for the establishment of National School of Business Management-NSBM.
Reminiscing about the past of the NIBM, the DG made it clear that it was not an easy uphill task to reach the present level. Dr.Weerasinghe reminded that nearly 42 years had passed since the NIBM was founded and many years were basically spent on increasing the productivity of state and private sector employees. Prior to 2006 NIBM was running at a loss of nearly 16 million and virtually on the verge of breakdown, when he assumed office as Chairman in 2006.
From the inception, Public sector and private sector employees were mainly registered for weekend-courses or late evenings. Therefore the institute appeared deserted during weekdays and morning hours. This was the scenario at the time expresses Dr.Weerasinghe candidly.
After a good survey of the situation The NIBM under Dr.Weerasinghe initiated a Five Year plan with a thrust into the future, to uplift the image and the success of the institute, by attracting more students into the NIBM Courses, with the able assistance of the present management.
Providing better facilities alone was not enough remarked Dr.Weerasinghe.Keeping to the ideals of “Mahinda Chinthanaya” of providing equal facilities in education to the rural youth NIBM established regional branches in Kandy, Kurunegala and Jaffna under Uthuru Wasanthaya.
With improvements to the setup the DG Dr.Weerasinghe stated that the NIBM has enrolled about 11000 students last year into courses ranging from Diplomas to Degrees and Post-Graduate Degrees. Even profit-wise the NIBM stood to gain, with an income around Rupees 700 Million, showing a profit of Rupees 200 Million. NIBM has therefore developed productively with intake of more students and improvements in management.
Continuing and making more improvements to the now stable NIBM is the all important task of the institute mentioned Dr.Weerasinghe.The five year plan initiated in 2006 has almost come to an end. How would the NIBM proceed to the future was the next question. Since the first five year plan ended in 2011 showing a complete success reaping the results of its expectations NIBM was now ready with its second five year plan for the future.
At a time when the country is so conscious about the state of higher education the NIBM thinks the time suitable for involving itself in the responsibility of launching its own complete university Dr.Weerasinghe added hopefully. As the NIBM is already engaged in many tasks a university is handling it can go further and beyond in making university education more complete and meaningful. With this in mind the NIBM has recognized the need to provide for the students many more facilities a university needs for example students require to develop such interests as their state of the Arts, Cultural activities, Sports and such other curricular activities. The planned NSBM would be provided with all such activities that a complete university should have.This new university,NSBM is designed to be constructed in Maha-Henawaththa in Homagama on an area of 26 acres with the which the Urban Development Authority has obliged to provide stated Dr.Weerasinghe.
The NSBM meant to be an ultra-modern university would be a subsidiary of NIBM and known as the National School Of Business Management(NSBM) and constructed on an estimate of Rupees 6 Billion allocated for the task without burdening the National Treasury stated Dr. Weerasinghe. The foundation to the NSBM would be laid in the first week of April this year and expected to be completed in two years Viz-2014.
NSBM would be a complete university in the style of a modern one complete with Administration blocks, Faculty blocks, Library, Health Centre, Swimming Pool, Auditorium, Gymnasium and Hostel facilities for 500 students. Actually it is planned as a “University City” as Oxford or Cambridge some of us are familiar with.
In keeping with government’s aspirations this area would be developed as a “Knowledge-Village” and come up as one of the best “knowledge centers” of the region.
The first and second year students at NIBM could continue their Degree programs at NSBM. Thus the NIBM under-graduates would be affiliated to NSBM for their final years at the university. The NSBM would also register students for Post-Graduate Degrees.
Though the NSBM would function as a university in Homagama from 2014 the NSBM has made arrangements for under-graduates to start their initial years at NIBM. With this in mind the official opening of the campus took place place on 21st February in Gangodowila Nugegoda in a spacious building rented for the purpose said the DG of NIBM and vice-chancellor of the NSBM Dr.Weerasinghe in an airing of the ambitious plan for a new campus equipped with 3 schools in Management, Computer Science and Engineering. The schools would provide for a multiple selection of courses in these schools.
Good management is the hallmark of success says the DG in his story of the success of the NIBM and his plans for the establishment of NSBM. Commitment, honest work, coorperation of all in the institute, faculty, students, other well wishers and the UGC’s interests are the main contributory factors mentions Dr.Weerasinghe with a warm sense of gratitude towards all who are behind the story of the success of the NIBM.
All information regarding the NSBM and its programs are available at the NIBM.
In this academic pursuit, NIBM and NSBM would be graciously supported by reputed world class universities of Dublin Ireland, Limkokwing Malaysia and University of Plymouth UK.(N.G.D.S.Ratnapala) |
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