In this exclusive interview, we are honoured to speak with Dr Asanga Ranasinghe, the newly appointed Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Dr Ranasinghe also serves as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution. With over 30 years of extensive experience spanning both the industry and academia. Dr Ranasinghe has demonstrated remarkable leadership both in Sri Lanka and on the international stage. His illustrious career includes pivotal roles in multinational corporations and public listed companies, where he has served as a statutory and independent director on various boards.

Dr Ranasinghe’s academic journey began with an honours degree in Chemistry from the University of Colombo, followed by a Master’s degree from PIM, and culminating in a doctorate in the emerging field of Shopper Marketing.

Additionally, he is a Fellow and a Chartered Marketer of the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK. Join us as we delve into Dr Ranasinghe’s insights on leadership, management, and the future of business education.

Q: Congratulations on your new appointment as the Director of PIM. How do you feel about taking on this role, and what motivates you most as you step into this leadership position?

PIM is a special place as the business school of Sri Lanka’s “largest” university – the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. My aim is to make PIM “THE Business School for the New World.”

As in any country, Sri Lanka’s higher education system is a critical component in our journey toward economic recovery and sustainable development, and PIM’s role is crucial as the centre of management excellence, more now than ever before. My aim is to help PIM produce “future-ready leaders.”

Q: As the new Director of PIM, what are your primary goals and vision for the institute in the coming years, and how do you plan to build upon the existing foundation of excellence?

I have a single-minded goal of making PIM “THE Business School for the New World” by making it the centre for management excellence.

Our edifice of excellence is anchored around 4 value drivers. They are innovative teaching and learning, insightful research and publications, enriching collaborations and partnerships, and futuristic capacity building and leadership development.

We will enable this value creation through the enablers of world-class quality, exemplary governance, inspiring sustainability, and thought-leading digital excellence.

Q: PIM is currently a member of the Association of the Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is pursuing accreditation by this global body. Can you share your strategy and the steps being taken to achieve this accreditation?

We strive to enhance our qualifications and certifications to be globally recognised so that it gives an edge to our learning partners in the new world. Currently, PIM is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which is the world’s leading body in terms of accreditations of academic programmes. Very soon, we will have South Asian Quality Assurance Systems for Management Schools (SAQS) accreditation, after which we will focus on upgrading to the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). SAQS is the South Asian system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration. EQUIS is a comprehensive quality review system for business and management schools. Its rigorous peer-review process signals the school’s overall quality, viability, and self-improvement commitment to students, employers, and academic partners worldwide.

We are also working on getting the world-famous Association of MBAs (AMBA) accreditation for our MBA programme, which is Sri Lanka’s most sought after master’s level qualification among business practitioners.

Q: The PIM offers a diverse range of programmes, including the flagship MBA and MPA. Are there any new programmes or significant updates to existing ones that you plan to introduce to meet the evolving needs of students and industry?

PIM programmes are of two types; the first of the two is qualification-led programmes which are at three levels.

At the postgraduate diploma level, we have the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDip-Mgmt), which is at SLQF level 8.

At the Master’s level, we have the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), at SLQF level 9.

We have the public sector-focused Master of Public Administration (MPA) programmes at both SLQF levels 9 and 10.

Our flagship Master of Business Administration (MBA) is at SLQF level 10, which is at a higher level than most MBAs available in the Sri Lankan market.

At SLQF level 12, we have our pinnacle of qualifications, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

The second type of qualification is certifications offered for executive development and professional skills development.

PIM consultancy cell and industry research unit are upcoming initiatives that will strengthen our industry collaborations.

Q: One of PIM’s missions is to pursue innovative teaching and cutting-edge research. Can you elaborate on the initiatives or plans you have to enhance teaching methodologies and foster a stronger research culture within the institute?

PIM constantly reviews and revises its curriculum of the existing programmes and introduces new subjects and units based on industry and market needs. We use state-of-the-art facilities along with teaching and learning tools to give our learning partners a world-class experience.

Research is one of the main priorities of the PIM (a key value driver of the PIM strategy).

PIM MBA is probably the only MBA in Sri Lanka that trains our learning partners to solve real-world problems or identify gaps in current knowledge as well as embark on an entrepreneurship project through various research options. As a first initiative by a Sri Lankan MBA provider, MBA students of PIM have the option to select one research project from five options, namely Management Research Project (MRP), Management Skills Research Project (MSRP), Management Case Study Research Project (MCRP), Entrepreneurship Skills Research Project (ESRP), and Management Field Research Project (MFRP). Of these, MRPs and MCRPs focus on social research and the others focus on applied research.

In terms of resources, we have a highly qualified faculty for research supervision, a fully-fledged research centre, and a research advisory committee made up of local and foreign experts. We actively promote our learning partners to make use of the PIM research grants to scale up their research and move into publications in ranked and international journals.

Q: PIM has a presence in several international locations through study groups and blended learning modes. How do you envision expanding PIM’s reach both regionally within Sri Lanka and internationally?

PIM currently has an international presence of the MBA programme in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman, targeting Sri Lankan expatriates living abroad.

PIM has also been recognised by the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) programme to send scholarship awardees for the MBA programme.

We also have Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with several overseas universities for providing training in international management for their students and strengthening academic cooperation.

We have overseas alumni associations of PIM that work continuously with us on networking and member development programmes.

We offer student exchange visits and currently have an EMBA programme for Chinese students.

Q: PIM has been active in conducting client-focused training and Executive Development Programmes (EDPs). How do you plan to strengthen and expand these partnerships with the business community to ensure that the institute remains a vital partner in their growth?

PIM has a strong EDP Centre providing customised programmes for both corporates and the public sector of our country, encompassing skills, competencies, and leadership development. Our Future Leaders Programme is very well sought after among top corporates in Sri Lanka. We plan to take this initiative to overseas destinations as well.

Q: With sustainability and exemplary governance being core aspects of PIM’s mission, how do you plan to integrate these values into the daily operations and long-term strategic planning of the institute?

Exemplary governance and inspiring sustainability are key enablers of the PIM edifice of excellence. PIM has established clear policies and procedures to ensure transparency and accountability at all levels through a robust governance framework. We conduct regular audits and assessments to evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and PIM-defined ethical standards, ensure the achievement of the agreed strategic objectives as per the Corporate Plan, and implement robust risk management strategies to identify and mitigate potential risks to the reputation of the PIM brand and its stakeholders.

Upcoming plans include developing and implementing the PIM Sustainability (economic, ecological, societal) Plan for all PIM operations and facilities and establishing partnerships with local communities and organisations to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development initiatives.

Q: What is your opinion on the current leadership practices in Sri Lanka, and how do you believe they impact the country’s economic and social development?

Sri Lanka today is in dire need of authentic leaders, not only in politics but also in the private and public sectors. For me, authenticity in leadership starts with integrity, honesty, and empathy. It’s all about having a global mindset and passion for growth—leaders who strive by working with and through people to do well by doing good. Leaders who put the country and the organisation ahead of self.