Professionals

IHRA advancing the cause of earn and learn

Hiran H. Senewiratne

HUMAN RESOURCES ADVANCEMENT: The Institute of Human Resource Advancement (IHRA) operating under the University of Colombo has evolved from the Institute of Workers' Education (IWE). It is one of the few institutes in the country that caters to those who are prepared to work and earn, its Director Dr K. Hirimburegama said.

The main target group is income earning employees in the public and private sector.

Those who have capabilities but missed the traditional educational process due to economic, health, family problems, no parental guidance, no study environment at home/school and those who did not like the traditional memory based examinations can follow courses here.

The Institute's mission is to facilitate a comprehensive higher level of education through total quality management to improve capabilities of "earn and learn" work-group consisting employees, employers and entrepreneurs.

It also facilitates in advancing their analytical and critical thinking capabilities, ethical standards, entrepreneurship skills, leadership qualities and understanding their responsibilities and rights that are interdependent, he said.

Dr. Hirimburegama said the internal undergraduate programme is by Government paying for education and direct intake for the Bachelor of Labour Education (BLE) Degree from the University of Colombo is the main programme.

Currently, there are about 700 working undergraduates for the BLE degree. Every year, about 300 are taken both for Sinhala and English media streams.

It conducts student-paying courses like English certificate courses designed for those working and young school leavers during weekends with well-experienced teachers.

Students pay for diploma courses for middle level Government and private sector employees on specialised areas such as narcotics control, health education and rural development.

It also conducts many diploma programmes like the Diploma in Drug Abuse Management studies in collaboration with the Dangerous Drug Control Board, Diploma in Health Promotion in collaboration with the Health Education Bureau and Diploma in Rural Development Studies in collaboration with several Government organisations. It also has a course on Shipping and International Trade as well, the course director said.

More than 250 students follow these student paying diploma courses annually, which are mostly for employed students in public and private sector organisations.

The funds provided by the Government is not sufficient to maintain the institute and the balance money is earned by having student-paying week-end courses which have been organised for middle income generating employed categories.

The government paid working student category is served partially by another group of working students, those who pay their own money.

However, both groups have interdependence for infrastructure. Accordingly, the Government has provided only 50 per cent of the total expenditure of the institute and the institute is proud about its 50 per cent earning capability while serving the middle income generating groups and school leavers Dr. Hirimburegama said.