Brandix links with Colombo University in latest alliance with
academia
The Brandix Group's initiative to forge closer links with national
higher education institutions for mutual benefit took an important step
forward recently with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the University of Colombo.
The agreement enables Sri Lanka's largest apparel exporter to support
undergraduates of the University's Faculty of Management and Finance,
focusing on the latter's Department of Human Resources Management, with
a view to developing skills and knowledge that will benefit the apparel
industry and facilitate career advancement.
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Colombo University Vice Chancellor Prof. Kshanika
Hirimburegama (3rd right) and Brandix Group Chief People
Officer Ishan Dantanarayana exchange the agreement in the
presence of (from left) Prof. H D Karunaratne - Dean,
Faculty of Management and Finance, Ashanthi Fernando, Head
of Group HR Operations at Brandix, T L R Silva - Acting
Registrar and Dr. Pavithra Kailasapathy - Head, Department
of Human Resources Management of the University of Colombo. |
This is the fourth such collaboration agreement between Brandix and a
local university to promote engagement between academia and industry
specialists.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU at the Senate Hall at College
House, Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University, Professor Kshanika
Hirimburegama described the partnership as a "win-win-win" for the
institution, the students and the country. "We would like to promote
public-private partnerships of this nature as part of the globalisation
of the University of Colombo," she said, pointing out that the
university was already ranked 8th in South Asia.
Ishan Dantanarayana, Chief People Officer of the Brandix Group said
Brandix had grown into a global company with its expansion into India
and Bangladesh and its offices in Europe and the USA.
"Anyone joining Brandix gets a global perspective," he said. "We are
therefore pleased to see the level of globalisation that the University
of Colombo is thinking of, and look forward to providing opportunities
for undergraduate internships and sponsorships."
He said one of the first programmes to benefit students of the
university would be a Competency Development Programme to be launched by
Brandix shortly.
Under the terms of the MoU between the two organisations, the
University of Colombo will provide opportunities for Brandix to
interview undergraduates and provide training to selected candidates;
for managers from the Brandix Group to conduct guest lectures at the
Faculty on topics of relevance; and for students and lecturers to
participate in training programmes conducted by Brandix.
Brandix will also explore the possibility of working with the Faculty
of Management and Finance on various social activities organized by its
Students Association and on providing financial support for activities
conducted by the Faculty to improve the skills and attitudes of
undergraduates.
The Brandix Group is supported by 38 manufacturing locations in Sri
Lanka, India and Bangladesh.
The Group provides direct employment to over 42,000 associates in
total, while providing indirect employment to an equivalent number. The
Group's foray into India in the form of Brandix India Apparel City - a
1,000 acre self-sufficient industrial park - is based on the 'Fibre to
Store' concept and uses the advantages of scale and strong business
fundamentals to leverage global expertise to offer 'total solutions'
within the site. Brandix has also set up a large operating unit in
Bangladesh extending its regional presence in South Asia.
In July 2011, Brandix was adjudged 'Asia's Best Employer Brand' at
the CMO Asia Awards for Excellence in Branding and Marketing in
Singapore. Brandix was also ranked among the Top 5 Employer Brands in
Sri Lanka in a recent national survey covering top companies in the
country. |
