Learning Expedition 2014 - A remarkable event

Learning Expedition 2014 is the 4th study tour arranged by Clique College from 11th March to 16th March 2014 in Sri Lanka specially covering Kandy and Nuwera Eliya and Colombo city limits.

Visit to MAS Linear

This Study Tour was was promoted as a trip of a lifetime and it certainly was for my self and hope it was the same with students as well. Study tours are expensive, it requires investment of both in money and time, and it is very important that such tours are of value to the participants and their studies. As with the three previous study tours, this tour was no exception. It was worth a great deal more than the cost of participation. This was the only time where 45 students participated in the tour and 10 -15 were in the waiting list. It shows that the interest of the students for the tour and the proper marketing initiatives by the organisers. 

Clique College Business Development Manager and Learning Expedition Co- organiser, Mr. M.F.M Roshan, said the tour, was part of Clique College’s commitment to giving local students an international perspective.

2 years at Clique

It was after the completion of CIMA, I was looking for a job on August 2010. I applied to few places and was unfortunate that I had no previous experience in a senior position or I didn’t have the certificate or maybe I had the wrong qualification as some seems not to know what it is.

Clique College Graduation 2012

I found out that many people prefer expatriates to work in the Accounting department especially as Accountants and senior even with the same experience with Maldivians. In the end they end up paying more than what they will have to pay for the Maldivians. I am sure there has to be reasons for this. It is a happy note that thought the situation is like that it is changing fast with number of Maldivians getting qualified in the field.

From my brother I got the opportunity to apply for a post of Business Development Manager at Clique College. I sent the CV and was called for an interview. I was interviewed by the Managing Director of Clique College and that was the start.

Learning Expedition Colombo 2011...

A study tour was arranged by Clique College with Student Association WITS and was dubbed as "Learning Expedition Colombo 2011" to Sri Lanka from 22nd March to 26th March 2011.

Students before departure

I have not being in a study tour before. I was not very familiar with it. This is one reason I was very keen in working in the project. Everything that has been done was new to me. I was all the day busy making arrangements for the tour. Students were expecting a lot from the tour. No one has been in a study and is excited how it would be. I hear from students that they feel it would be boring. 

There were 14 students who confirmed and paid to go for the tour. All the arrangements were done except for the visits that we have to make. I met with the students to inform that what they have to do prior to the departure and assured them that it would be enjoyable. Rules were made and instructions were given. President of Clique College met with the students to inform them the purpose of the trip and what they have to gain from the trip.

Everything was so packed, and works left to do. I was busy with visit arrangements while president helped me to get the necessary documents for the tour. Students were trying their best to do the presentation. I am happy here to note that I saw 14 enthusiastic students and I was glad they wanted to be a part of it.

Heyboanara Trip 2011.................

It was on 14^th February 2011, WITS- the student Association of Clique College was officially inaugurated for the academic year 2011. WITS comprise of 13 member, 5 of them are executive and 8 of them being non-executive. Their first event for the year was “Heybonara Trip”.

It was challenging as they got only few days ahead of them for the deadline 25^th February 2011. There are few constraints to have the event, one being an island to go. No one wants to go to Kuda Bandos including me and you right? If we go to an inhabited island there could be problems that WITS would lose control over the students and if anything happens they would be held responsible for and the aim of the trip could not be achieved.

WITS tried all the possible options and still they were not able to get an island. All the resorts are either fully occupied or highly occupied so that they would not want a group of locals to disturb tourists’ privacy. The resorts under renovation has also being approached but had no luck.

Finally WITS decided to go to Kuda Villingili near Thulusdhoo which belongs to yatch tours. None of the WITS council member has gone to that island but there were few people who said the island is OK and some says it is not. WITS decided to go because it’s the only island available and also an island most of us have never gone.

More than 90 people bought the ticket including staff and the management. It was a good turn out since its being long time there was no trip like this. There were about more than 75 participants in the event. We reached there around 8 in the morning but were able get settle only around 11. Boat could not go near and so we had so much of difficulties in getting into the island with all those materials we took.  So, the well planned trip started with changes in the plan.