Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Programme (ESBM)

Introduction Many business enterprises in Sri Lanka belongs to the small business category. Most of these enterprises are located outside the capital city of Colombo. Employment in the rural sector is also generated by small business ventures. The government has organized the socio economic significance of the small business sector and has instituted policies to encourage and promote small business activities. Conditions conducive for small business ventures exist in Sri Lanka. In spite of this, many small ventures have failed or have suffered slow growth. Reasons for such failures appear to be related to selection procedures of the ventures and improper management of the business. The Open University of Sri Lanka presents this programme to address these two crucial factors of business success, selection, and management of small business ventures. The structure of the programme and the approach to it are designed to ensure its usefulness as a training exercise for aspiring investors and businessmen and for those who aspire to become managers and other supportive in business organizations.

Programme Duration - One academic year

Meedium of Instruction
Sinhala, Tamil and English(An applicant is expected to demonstrate a fair level of competence in the chosen medium of instruction).

Entry Qualifications
Applicants must be 18 years of age or more, on the last day of receiving applications. And,

a) Successful completion of Level 1 of the Faculty Foundation Programme in Social Sciences or

b) Obtaining two credits or exemption from a foundation programme conducted by the Open University or

c) G.C.E. O/L passes in any six subjects at once in not more than two sittings or d) Any other qualification acceptable to the University Senate.

An Admission Test will be conducted when necessary.

Programme Structure and Approach 

The programme consists of seven courses

MCC 1201 - Entrepreneurship

MCC 1202 - Managing a Small Business

MCC 1103 - Basic Statistics and Economics

MCC 1204 - Introduction to Marketing

MCC 1105 - Introduction to Operations Management

MCC 1206 - Introduction to Accounts & Finance

MCC 1207 - Project Report

The Project Report to be written by the student with the guidance of the academic staff of the MSD provides an opportunity for students to develop a business venture proposal of their choice in a formal manner.This report will be evaluated for the award of the certificate.

Method of Evaluation

The performance of a student is evaluated on the basis of three sets of criteria:

1. Assignments
2. Project Report
3. Final Examination

Course Fee

Tuition Fee - Rs. 7,992.00 (2 credits)
Registration fee - Rs. 225.00
Facility fee - Rs. 900.00
Sports Club - Rs. 25.00
Total - Rs. 9,142.00

Payment by installment

Payments for this programme may be in two installments
Installment I - Rs. 5,945.20
Installment II - Rs. 3,196.80

Award of Certificate

On successful completion of the Final Examination, the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management of the Open University of Sri Lanka will be awarded in accordance with the provisions in the Open University regulations.

Note:Those who have successfully completed this Certificate Programme will qualify to seek admission to the Bachelor of Management Studies Degree Programme, without sitting for the admission test.

Additional Information
Additional information concerning registration for the ESBM program could be obtained from:

Public Relations Officer,
Public Relations and Information Division,
P.O. Box No.21,
The Open University of Sri Lanka,
Nawala,
Nugegoda.
Telephone Nos: 011- 2856325 011- 2853777-
Ext. 256 (Public Relations Officer) (Co-ordinator-ESBM)
Tel: 2881524, 2881413