ANC Education: Pioneering Pathways to Success

As a proud member of CEG Education Holding, ANC Education stands as one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most esteemed educational conglomerates. Since its inception in 2002, ANC has been dedicated to providing students of all ages with comprehensive learning pathways, guiding them from their initial steps in education to graduation and beyond.

Achievements:
– 3500+ Successful Student Transfers: Facilitating seamless transitions to prestigious universities in the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.
– 8000+ Local Undergraduates: Empowering students through our robust US and UK degree programmes in Business, IT, and Psychology.
– 3000+ Postgraduate Students: Advancing careers with our esteemed MBA, LLM, and MSc programmes.

We interviewed Mr. Danushan Karuppiah, Deputy General Manager – Enrolment Management at ANC Education, to explore the strengths of their MBA programme.

Q: What distinctive elements of your MBA programme make it stand out in the landscape of business education in Sri Lanka?

This MBA is offered by the University of West London (UWL) of the UK. It is the highest-ranked British MBA ever offered in Sri Lanka; The UWL is ranked #32 in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2024); It is an unmatched opportunity for local students to earn a world-class MBA without having to go overseas. Credentials and transcripts students receive represent equal value to those issued in the UK, and ANC graduates are invited to attend the UK graduation if they wish to. ANC-UWL partnership boasts 3000+ success stories (and counting).

UWL programs are delivered at ANC on a mirror model. Our students have access to UWL library and lesson materials via Blackboard Learn. And assignments are second marked by the UWL faculty and moderated by another university from the UK. The university evaluates the performance of our students to the same standards maintained there in the UK.

Q: What innovative approaches does your MBA programme incorporate to prepare students for the dynamic business environment?

UWL degree programmes are designed with the direct input from employers from both public and private sectors. The MBA develops professional skills and entrepreneurial talent of graduate students and business professionals seeking fast career progression in organisations competing in the face of constant change.

As far as the curriculum is concerned, students complete 8 modules within a span of 12 to 15 months: Global marketing and Digital Business, Managing People, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Business Ethics, Business Intelligence, New Venture Development, Accounting for Decision Makers, MBA Project (Dissertation). This world-class MBA also provides a fast-track route to CIMA/ ACCA/ CA passed finalists, allowing them to earn 50% exemptions.

The majority of our MBA students are already employed; the MBA helps them improve their effectiveness as managers and leaders, transforming their prospects for managerial careers. The programme develops students’ critical awareness of the complexity of leading, managing, and developing people at work besides ethical leadership. They are also equipped with the tools necessary for the assessment of risk, the evaluation of competing strategies, to support the allocation of resources and appreciate the financial implications of key business decisions.

All in all, this comprehensive MBA programme at ANC equips graduates and business professionals with all the tools necessary to excel in a dynamic business landscape.

Q: Highlight the expertise and accomplishments of your faculty members, and if applicable, how your institution guides students to undertake research as part of their dissertation requirements.

As already mentioned, the University of West London is very career-focused, and its constant pursuit is to bridge the gap between theory and practice. In a bid to encourage academic-industry collaborations, the university is connected with over 200 business organisations. Also, UWL faculty members maintain their connections with various organisations in the UK, US, and Europe. This experience is shared with ANC faculty who drive the learning experience of our students.

Our lecturers are also required to have both academic and industry experience. Faculty members from various fields of business, such as finance, HR, marketing, strategic management, accounting, international business, etc. come together to enhance the learning experience of our students. They offer practical insights through real-world examples, better preparing them for the future. Above all, students enjoy learning from people with first-hand experience.

Ranked among the top universities in the UK for the overall quality of its research, the UWL promotes research and scholarship. The MBA Project is a compulsory core module of the curriculum. It is the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and expertise of their studies to critically explore a topic related to a business/ management problem (often related to their current/ potential work environment) in depth. It’s noteworthy that many ANC students have been able to produce excellent dissertations and secure distinctions for their work while adhering to the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

Q: Discuss how your programme equips students with the skills and connections needed to succeed in their careers, including partnerships with industry and alumni success stories.

Each MBA module (and assignment) is designed to ensure that students are provided with a solid foundation in business and finance to help them become successful business leaders and entrepreneurs: Besides subject specific hard skills, the curriculum equips students with soft skills, such as leadership, negotiation, conflict resolution, teamwork, effective communication, and ethics. Group assignments, class discussions, and networking events (graced by influential business leaders and UWL faculty members) encourage collaboration, the exchange of different perspectives, creativity, and critical thinking.

In addition to working in partnership with a number of reputed business organisations including several multinational companies to help our students secure internships, ANC Education organises career fairs every year. Employers are invited to share information about job openings and internship opportunities for our students and graduates, interview them for open positions, and offer career guidance necessary for them to be prepared for future openings.