Unveiling the Power of Research: MBA Pioneers from SLIIT Business School Set New Standards
View(s):The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) has within a short period of time established itself as one of the leading higher education institutions in the country. The SLIIT Business School, offers its students a unique educational experience in order to prepare them to succeed in this dynamic business environment. On top of the knowledge and competencies learnt through different course modules, the students in their final year, identify a business or societal problem, and are trained to analaytically address this, following a rigorous methodlogical process. These research findings which are then disseminated through publications in reputed international journals have brought in wide recognition to the both the academic faculty and the students. SLIIT Business School is proud to highlight the outstanding research achievement of two exceptional students from the SLIIT MBA programme.
Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka
Mr. Asanka Weerasena, a distinguished alumnus of SLIIT Business School and Senior Systems Engineer at Sri Lankan Airlines, under the guidance of Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka published a research article titled “Factors affecting the adoption of online school education in rural areas in Sri Lanka” in the renowned journal “Educational Technology Research and Development.” The prestigious journal in education technology is Scopus indexed, with H-index of 101, and a CiteScore of 8.1, making it to the top 5% of Scopus publications.
Ms. Lakshmi Kanchana, an accomplished graduate of SLIIT Business School, achieved a remarkable milestone with her research publication on “Factors impacting employee turnover intentions among professionals in Sri Lankan startups” was published in the esteemed journal “PLOS ONE.” Known for its wide coverage of original research in science and medicine, “PLOS ONE” has an impressive H-index of 404 and a substantial international readership. The support and guidance of Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka and the support of SLIIT university’s resources were crucial to the success of the study. Ms. Kanchana currently serves as a senior software engineer at Ceyentra Technologies (Pvt) Ltd.
Conducting a brief interview with Mr. Asanka Weerasena and Ms. Lakshmi Kanchana, we came across a few valuable insights.
Q: Congratulations to both of you on your recent publications! Could you please elaborate on the research you conducted?
Asanka: My publication examined factors affecting the adoption of online education in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on a case study covering 16 districts in Sri Lanka, the research utilised the ordered probit regression model to investigate these factors. The study found that attitude, perceived use, awareness, and new technology adoption positively influenced student adoption of online education. Online education has proven to be an effective and feasible solution during the pandemic. These findings are valuable for educational institutions to address issues such as low use, attitude, awareness, and issues in technology adoption. Policymakers can also benefit from these insights in order to overcome similar situations in the future.
Lakshmi: In my journal paper, I examined employee turnover intentions among professionals in Sri Lankan startups. The study revealed that job satisfaction and co-worker support, negatively affected turnover intentions, while leader-member exchange had a positive impact. Notably, male employees in their thirties showed a significant positive relationship with high turnover. These findings align with existing research and have implications for organisations to improve job satisfaction, enhance co-worker support, and consider factors like leader-member exchange. Additionally, gender and age should be considered when developing strategies to reduce turnover.
Asanka: Commitment determines success. A significan portion of credit should go to my research supervisor, Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka for his passion, support and guidance throughout the process. SLIIT seamlessly transitioned to the vitual platform during the COVID-pandemic, offering all necessary facilities for focused studies. The knowledgeable faculty and university culture mortivated me to excel, leading not only to this publication but also to being recognised for Best Performance in Master of Business Administration.
Lakshmi: I am deeply grateful to SLIIT, the MBA programme lecturers, my supervisor, colleagues, workplace, and family for their unwavering support to publish my paper in PLOS ONE. I owe a special thanks to my supervisor, Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka, whose guidance was crucial in completing this paper. He taught me the principles of research methodology and improved my research skills, empowering me to apply my knowledge to a pressing issue.
Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka, the supervisor for both research papers, shared his views on the significance of H-index rankings and the achievements of the students.
A publication in a high H-Index ranking journal is significant, as it enhances the reputation of the institute and the authors, while attracting funding opportunities in the future. It signifies a greater impact, wider exposure, and broader dissemination of research work. Early-career researchers like Mr. Weerasena and Ms. Kanchana can leverage their publications to further pursue their careers and explore doctoral studies. I guided and supported the students, helping them set research goals, establish deadlines, while utilizing the university’s resources. Collaboration with fellow SLIIT students was encouraged to share and maximize their research potential.
Both Asanka Weerasena and Lakshmi Kanchan have made significant societal contributions through their publications. Asanka’s study sheds light on the challenges of online education adoption in rural areas, and useful for setting educational policies to ensure equal access to quality education. Meanwhile, Lakshmi’s research identifies key factors affecting employee retention, offering recommendations to enhance satisfaction and reduce turnover, thereby promoting stability and growth in the startup ecosystem. Ultimately, these studies aim to create a favorable work environment, improve job satisfaction, and contribute to Sri Lanka’s socioeconomic development.
The Dean of SLIIT Business School, Prof. Suren Peter, also shared his thoughts on the matter.
Research plays a vital role in furthering knowledge, and we provide the eco system for our students to develop their research skills at SLIIT Business School. The recognition received by Mr. Weerasena and Ms. Kanchana in renowned indexed international journals, ‘Educational Technology Research and Development’ and ‘PLOS ONE,’ respectively, signifies the impact of their work. We congratulate them and challenge them to continue to create a positive impact in society.
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Rahula Attalage provided his thoughts on this achievement. He added
A: I extend my congratulations to Mr. Asanka Weerasena and Ms. Lakshmi Kanchana for their outstanding achievements in publishing their research papers. Their exemplary work, guided by Prof. Ruwan Jayathilaka, showcases the exceptional talent, skill and dedication fostered at SLIIT Business School. Such achievements are a testament to the high-quality research conducted at our institution, emphasising the importance we place on advancing knowledge towards improving lives.
Article links –
Is the best option still in low adoption? An investigation on factors affecting the adoption of online school education in rural areas in Sri Lanka https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/
s11423-023-10201-8
Factors impacting employee turnover intentions among professionals in Sri Lankan startups -https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281729
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