SLIM initiates School business clubs

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) will introduce 'Business Clubs' to schools in the country to arm the Sri Lankan student population with the extra-curricular knowledge and skills they would require to face challenging work environments confidently, once they end their school careers.

"As an institute incorporated by an Act of Parliament, we felt it was our duty and responsibility to help Sri Lankan students gain skills and knowledge related to marketing from their younger days itself, since it would mould them to fit in to most of the openings in the Sri Lankan job market.

Nearly 75% of the vacancies in the country's job market are either directly or indirectly related to marketing. This is the reason why the SLIM decided to carry out this project as part of its social responsibility program", said Director of Education of the SLIM, Dr. Egerton Senanayake.

Members of the 'School Business Clubs' will also have the opportunity to preview today's corporate world and the role of marketing in it, through being present at the various forums and functions organised by us. SLIM will also provide individuals from its immense pool of resource personnel, to guide the members of the 'School Business Clubs' on various topics pertaining to them, he said.

The first 'School Business Club' was inaugurated recently at Carey College, Colombo, at a function attended by school officials and students and those involved in the 'School Business Club' program from the SLIM.

"The principal and staff of Carey College were very supportive of this project. We have already spoken to officials of many other schools in Colombo as well as the outstations, on our intention of initiating 'School Business Clubs'. We have received a positive response from all of them. Thus I believe that we will be able to make this an islandwide project", said President of SLIM, Sarath Fernando.