Commonwealth MBA/MPA Alumni Association meets

The inaugural meeting of the Alumni Association of Commonwealth Executive MBA and MPA [Business Administration (CEMBA) and Public Administration (CEMPA)] of Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Sri Lanka Chapter took place recently at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) its local partner.

The meeting brought together students from all the cohorts since its start in 2002.

Commonwealth of Learning Governor Board Member and coordinator of the programme in Sri Lanka Prof. Sudatta Ranasinghe was chief guest and inspiration behind the setting up of the alumni network. He spoke of the benefits offered to students by the collaboration of the Open University's flexible distance learning model with COL's considerable resources in delivering this internationally recognized programme at an affordable price. Ranasinghe is also OUSL's Management Studies Professor. He along with Management Studies Department Head S.A.D. Senanayaka and Dr. L.P.S. Gamini have been the guiding force behind this new alumni venture. The Commonwealth Government Heads created COL with its office in Vancouver as an intergovernmental organization to encourage development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies, COL helps developing nations improve access to quality education and training at reasonable costs. CEMBA and CEMPA programmes along with their learning material were created by COL using university academic expertise from its developed member states in the UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore along with those of the open universities of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The programme is governed by COL and has now been adopted by 10 countries in Asia, Africa and South America.

Former CEMBA and CEMPA students from Sri Lanka worked diligently in the last couple of months leading to this meeting to form the Sri Lankan Alumni Association. A presentation about the programme served as a refresher while a brainstorming session harnessed the collective wisdom of those present to decide on the basis of the local network aims for the future.

PIM Alumni Association past president Lakshman Abeysekera spoke at the event, sharing his experience from PIM, offering a glimpse into the possible future for a successfully run Sri Lanka Masters Alumni Organization.

Alumni Association's first AGM is planned for March and the organizers are keen to increase member numbers. All current and former students are invited to the AGM.

All students are encouraged to contact Dhananjaya to register and become part of what looks like the beginning of a dynamic professional network.