Chathushka Kiriella
MSc International Human
Resource Management, 2022
Sri Lanka
In terms of the study experience, we have all the information we need at our disposal and the lecturers are very helpful, making the classes interactive and encouraging us to talk and share our experience.”
After completing my A Levels, I chose to specialise in Human Resource Management and joined the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Sri Lanka, the country’s leading HR institution. My sociable nature and passion for supporting others made HR and leadership feel like the right path. I later earned my undergraduate degree in Commerce and Management at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura before joining a leading garment company as an HR Executive in employee relations. In this role, I resolved workers’ issues efficiently, minimising production disruptions. When I left to pursue further studies in India, many employees expressed gratitude for my support, confirming HR as my true calling. Many remain in touch to this day.
In India, I completed my first master’s degree before returning to Sri Lanka as a lecturer, moving from HR practice into academia. To strengthen my expertise as a trainer, I pursued a Higher National Diploma. In 2015, while teaching International HRM at Northshore College, a partner of the University of the West of England (UWE), I became determined to continue my studies in International HRM and training. Although my initial PhD applications were unsuccessful, I decided to complete an MSc first, which ultimately led me to UWE Bristol.
Having worked with UWE through Northshore, I already knew its reputation. In March 2021, my partner, daughter, and I moved to Bristol to begin this new chapter. We quickly settled into city life, enjoying landmarks such as the Harbourside and Clifton Suspension Bridge. My studies began online due to Covid-19 restrictions, but once face-to-face teaching resumed, I fully experienced UWE’s supportive learning environment.
Academic support at UWE was central to my success. Lecturers encouraged discussion and critical thinking, while resources such as Blackboard, study skills sessions, and academic guidance helped me achieve distinction in both my dissertation and overall degree. I am especially grateful to my supervisor, Dr Hilary Drew, whose guidance helped me secure an exceptional dissertation mark of 87. I also valued the diverse perspectives of classmates from different countries, which enriched the learning experience.
Earlier this year, I was delighted to be appointed as a lecturer in HRM at UWE. My teaching experience, academic performance, and passion for the profession contributed to this achievement, which has also enabled me to support my parents financially during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. Alongside academics, I revitalised the inactive UWE Sri Lankan Society and later became its president. Under my leadership, the society organised cultural events and won two Student Union awards, including Committee of the Year. These experiences highlighted UWE’s vibrant community beyond academics.
One highlight was the Management Consultancy module, where my group worked directly with a client to develop practical business solutions. Our recommendations, particularly around social media engagement via TikTok and Instagram, were successfully implemented. This experience strengthened my employability and showcased UWE’s emphasis on practical learning, which contrasted with the largely theoretical nature of my previous studies.
Today, I am proud of my journey. My long-term ambition is to become a professor, and with UWE’s support, I feel confident about achieving my goals while building a stable future for my family in the UK.