ABE, a stepping stone to business management qualifications

BY HIRAN H. Senewiratne

THE Association of Business Executives (ABE), is the best British Business Management qualification especially for those who aspire to be successful business executives and entrepreneurs in the country, Executive Director-ABE, Sri Lanka Dr Punarjeeva Karunanayake said.

The ABE qualification is an overall qualification for any professional which is the Sri Lanka's most cost-effective programme when compared with other British professional qualifications in the country.

Early this year, the Ceylinco Group took over the entire management operations of the ABE in Sri Lanka and ABE UK appointed them to overlook Maldives operations as well.

It recognises and encourages this professional qualification as a career in professional business management and a professional development path for those who want to improve existing management skills in corporate sector entities and be recognised.

Current student population is more than 800 and has more than 2000 have qualified as ABE professionals in this one and a half year programme.

According to Dr. Karunanayake students with GCE (O/L) qualification could start with certificate level while those who are with A/L have to follow second and final stages i.e. Diploma and Advanced Diploma. Members of the Institute of Bankers, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) CIMA and CIM professionals could enter the final stage of ABE.

It has also negotiated with Seylan Bank HSBC, Hatton National Bank, The Finance to help students by introducing loan schemes. Sri Lanka's pass rate is more than 70 per cent which is a healthy rate, he said.

Once this is completed one could enter overseas universities to study for a Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA degree programmes.

Certain universities such as University of Western Sydney, Manipal in India, Walls and Lekester and Open University of Sri Lanka have recognised this qualification as an entry qualification for their MBA programmes.

Dr Karunanayake said that any provision of British management education leading to awards which are valued in their own right, but which are also recognised as an accepted route into the later stages of a number of UK and overseas professional or university qualifications as well.

ABE UK have been awarded prestigious Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) standard certification by the British Queen.

He said that the ABE examination structure is flexible and allows students to complete the programme in a timescale most suitable to their own circumstances. There is no time limit in which to complete ABE qualifications.

On successful completion of one of the ABE programmes, a second qualification can be achieved by completing a few additional subjects. For example, a student who attains the ABE Diploma in Business Administration only has to acquire two more modules to complete the ABE Diploma in travel, tourism and hospitality.

If, for any reason, students cannot continue with their studies, they can always take a break and resume the course when it is convenient for them.

Students can study for an ABE programme at an ABE accredited centre including ABS, LBS, Oxonia which are tuition centres in the country.

Dr Karunanayake said that once completed this qualification, the Leeds Metropolitan University of UK will give six months course work at Sterling Pounds 700 for their Business degree programme while being in Sri Lanka.

It also has regional centres in Gampaha, Kandy and Jaffna and is planning to go to its own building in Colombo next year.

The Ceylinco Group has been appointed to market and develop the ABE qualification in the Middle East and North African regions which covers 19 countries.

ABE which manages Ceylinco Group have initiated a programme for unemployed local graduates to qualify themselves after doing the final stage and they have to self-study using ABE study manuals, recommended textbooks, subject syllabuses and Past questions and answers of first two stages, he said.

Its employability is very high because its curriculum is more practical based to suit the modern business world, he said.

It has also signed an agreement with Jobs Net to assist and support unemployed graduates in the country.

ABE is available in more than 100 countries and its recognises more than 500 universities all over the world for final year bachelors degree programmes.