SLIIT, in collaboration with the world-renowned Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan Unive

To meet the demands of the dynamic fashion industry and support Sri Lanka’s ambitious export goals, SLIIT is excited to launch the BSc (Hons) Degree in Fashion Business and Management offered by the Manchester Fashion Institute, part of Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met). Holding over a century-long history in higher education, Manchester Met is renowned for its Manchester Fashion Institute, one of UK’s largest fashion schools. It offers degrees in fashion design, business, and communication. Manchester Fashion Institute has also been ranked among the top 50 fashion schools in the world, that not only encourages the students to explore cutting-edge fashion technology and design but also covers every aspect of fashion communication and business, from art direction and marketing to buying and merchandising.

This innovative degree course delivered exclusively at SLIIT in Sri Lanka is designed to help students acquire skills in the fashion industry of the future, with an emphasis on developing critical thinking and business acumen. To create a successful career in the fashion industry, it is essential to cultivate a vision, together with an entrepreneurial mindset and ability to manage and market a business, on which this degree programme places a strong emphasis.

Prof. Nimal Rajapakse, Deputy Vice Chancellor, SLIIT, said, “We are extremely pleased to launch the new BSc (Hons) Degree in Fashion Business and Management in partnership with Manchester Met, one of the largest universities in the UK. This will be a great opportunity for graduates aspiring to become changemakers in the industry. I believe Manchester Fashion Institute, ranked among the top 50 fashion schools in the world, will help students reach their full academic and creative potential. As SLIIT has a strong focus on industry-relevant degrees and developing employable graduates, those who enrol for this degree programme will be exposed to a curriculum focused on fashion business innovation, which is meant to foster individual creativity while paving a path to reach goals and future employability”.

SLIIT, recognised for offering innovative and pathbreaking courses to boost local and international career prospects, will take students on a journey that places them at the forefront of the fashion industry in preparation to excel as future leaders with this new degree programme.

Prof. Samantha Thelijjagoda, Dean of SLIIT Business School, added, “The SLIIT Business School designs programmes to open more doors for students when they graduate. The BSc (Hons) Degree in Fashion Business and Management will provide students with a solid grounding in fashion management theory and practical approaches to a wide range of areas in the fashion industry. It encourages students to become leaders and innovators in the business of fashion.”

Real-world scenarios and contexts are used to support teaching and learning in the course, challenging students to engage in contemporary business issues through live projects and problem-based learning. In addition, students will gain invaluable knowledge of global business strategy, digital-driven marketing, finance, sustainability, supply chain, data analytics, and innovative entrepreneurship.

Today’s fashion industry offers numerous career opportunities for graduates with employment in a wide variety of sectors within the industry. These pathways include prospects at independent design houses to global brands, and associated enterprises. Graduates will be well prepared to secure various roles and functions in Marketing, International Brand Management, Digital Enterprise, Multichannel Management, Buying, Merchandising, Logistics and Supply Chain, Retail Management, Project Management and Strategic Management.

Prospective students interested in enrolling for the BSc (Hons) Fashion Business and Management require three passes in any stream at the GCE Advanced Level (Local) or three D passes in any stream from the Edexcel / Cambridge conducted examinations. Prospective students all need to secure a pass in the Aptitude Test conducted by SLIIT.

Students with pending Advanced Level results may also apply. The standard entry route for the programme will be from the SLIIT Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration and the successful completion of three fashion modules within the HND.