CIMA award for Virtual Business School of Colombo

The Virtual Business School of Colombo was rewarded by the CIMA international body in UK for becoming the first CIMA academic institute in the world to record an 80 percent student pass rate.

In recognition of the achievement, Gajendra Liyanaarachchi, Managing Director Virtual Business School was presented the prestigious 'CIMA Tutor of the Year 2006' award from UK for adopting an innovative approach in conducting lectures and examinations.

This is the first time a Sri Lankan CIMA lecturer won the award. Previously it had been won by lecturers in UK.

The CIMA international body in UK rewards lecturers of its registered institutes annually for adopting innovative methods in lecturing.

Liyanaarachchi said the Virtual Business School was set up in 2005 recognising the need for a student oriented approach for CIMA education in the country.

The mission of the institute is to build the future of students by helping them to achieve excellence in the corporate world.

The success of a student depends on a good teacher who has not only to see that the student passes the examinations but also helps him or her to plan ahead to meet future challenges.

"Our institute believes in preparing students to face the future with optimism and confidence who could contribute to the development of the country. That is why we are focused on a student oriented approach maintaining personal reports on each student," he said.

Liyanaarachchi said the personalised education system adopted by the institute was the key to achieve phenomenal pass rates which are above any global standard.

While the international pass rate for CIMA final examinations is around 47 percent in Sri Lanka it is 24 percent.