IPM Sri Lanka, the nation’s leader in human resources management, in partnership with the University of Salford’s Salford Business School inaugurated its prestigious and world recognized M.Sc. in Human Resources Management and Development in Sri Lanka recently. 
The inauguration ceremony of the first batch was held at the auditorium of IPM Sri Lanka head office ‘HR House’ in Colombo 5 amidst a large gathering of human resources professionals representing IPM Sri Lanka, University of Salford, IPM Council Members, Members and faculty, academics and human resources management students. 
Salford University Associate Dean-International Eileen Roddy joined the inauguration ceremony via a video conference from Manchester, UK. The inauguration of the M.Sc. Programme in Human Resources Management and Development comes hot on the heels of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Salford University and IPM Sri Lanka on October 26, 2016.
“We are honoured to partner with the University of Salford to inaugurate the Salford Business School M.Sc. Degree Programme in Human Resources Management and Development in Sri Lanka to bring you the best of HR for an enriching experience. We trust that you will enjoy the programme, learn from the best and excel in your roles and careers,” said IPM Sri Lanka President Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri. 
“This postgraduate programme will no doubt be a cornerstone in developing globally competitive HR professionals, which is one of IPM’s primary objectives to ensure the long-term prosperity of our country,” he added.
CBL Foods International Ltd Director/Chief Executive Officer Samaitha Perera conducted an interesting presentation at the inauguration explaining how gaining knowledge from advanced degrees such as the M.Sc. in HRM and Development helps to develop and strengthen individual competencies and capacity which ultimately reflects in the increased output and productivity.   
“We are delighted to partner IPM to jointly offer the M.Sc. in Human Resources Management and Development in Sri Lanka. A postgraduate degree in HRM will help to enhance and develop the knowledge and capacity of HR professionals. We are confident that IPM will be able to enhance the standards of learning and delivery with the excellent facilities and faculty that they possess,” 
said Roddy.
The M.Sc. Programme in Human Resources Management and Development from the University of Salford is ideal for those who want to specialize in human resource management and develop a thorough understanding of human resources management practices across a variety of organisational settings, with an emphasis on strategic, international and comparative subject matter.
It will also help to enhance employability by developing the skills needed to motivate, manage and reward employees in any organisational setting. This programme is designed for candidates with a background in business or business-related studies, who wish to specialize in HRM. 
On completion of the M.Sc., they will have developed as a Manager of People by acquiring specialist knowledge and the application of theory and practice in the main specialist areas which comprise HRM.
Furthermore, the programme will ensure that the M.Sc. graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and specialist skills to effectively select, motivate, manage and reward employees to maximize their potential and the potential of their respective organisations while becoming a reflective practitioner enhancing learning and development capabilities.
The prerequisites to follow the M.Sc. programme are either the IPM Professional Qualification in Human Resources Management (PQHRM) or a recognized honours degree in human resources management or any other qualification acceptable to the Salford Business School, University of Salford, UK.
The programme will be block-delivered in three semesters with a total duration of 16-18 months and is structured to achieve a qualification that follows the curriculum of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), UK. 
IPM Sri Lanka keeps pace with the new trends and concepts in HR by engaging continuously with the business community to share experiences, thoughts and insights in order to enrich and enhance the HR profession. It actively encourages and promotes members’ participation at international conferences and forums to provide exposure, build networks and conduct research into areas of interest to the HR profession in Sri Lanka. 
IPM was founded in 1959 and was subsequently incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1976. IPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Human Resources Management and also to the World Federation of People Management Association.
IPM, being a professional institute is also a constituent member of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) Sri Lanka. Currently IPM comprises of over 900 professional members who serve in both public and private organisations.