SLIIT Business School students have once again solidified their names in global academia, achieving a remarkable milestone through the research publication in Heliyon, a prestigious international Scopus-indexed (Q1) Journal within the Top 14% globally with a Scimago H Index of 69. This accomplishment not only highlights the academic prowess of the students but also showcases SLIIT’s commitment to fostering globally recognized research initiatives.

In their final year, four outstanding students from BBA (Hons) Specialising in Business Analytics degree of SLIIT’s Business School, namely D H S Weerasinghe, M P S Thiwanka, D S P Biyanwila, and S D Bogahage, embarked on a research project. The dynamic landscape of education, shaped by the rapid adaptations forced by the pandemic, served as the foundation for their research publication. Their study, titled “Effect of E-learning on Management Undergraduates’ Academic Success during COVID-19: A Study at Non-State Universities in Sri Lanka,” led to the publication of their research in Heliyon Journal.

Under the guidance of Mr. Ranitha Weerarathna, Senior Lecturer-SLIIT Business School, along with Ms. Geethma Pathirana, Lecturer- SLIIT Business School, and Ms. Nilmini Rathnayake, Lecturer-SLIIT Business School, the research team meticulously analyzed the impact of e-learning on academic success. Explaining the paper, the team stated, “The prime objective of this study is to examine the impact of e-learning on university undergraduates’ academic success in the context of management faculties in non-state universities in Sri Lanka. The findings revealed that e-learning has a significant positive impact on academic success, along with a strong correlation. The major findings of this study give insights for higher educational institutions to create new initiatives to direct undergraduates toward academic success with e-learning exposure.”

They further added, “From the beginning of the research, our main goal was to accomplish our research and publish it at an international level. We were consistently focused and dedicated as a team to completing all allocated work and commitments on time, which resulted in an outstanding grade in the Comprehensive Research Project (CRP) module with the assistance and supervision of the research supervisors. Everyone gave us a lot of support to complete this research. We received a very good contribution & feedback from all the students, including all the staff in our university”.

In recognition of this milestone, the Dean of SLIIT Business School, Prof Suren Peter, extended his warmest congratulations to the group and stated, “This groundbreaking research, published in a high-impact journal like Heliyon, showcases the caliber of research conducted by our students. These publications are also a testament to the dedication and passion of our exceptional academic staff. Their commitment to pushing students beyond their comfort zones plays a pivotal role in enabling them to realize and reach their full potential.”

Mr. Ranitha Weerarathna, the research supervisor, expressed his pride in the team’s accomplishment, stating, “The successful publication of this research is a testament to the dedication and academic excellence of our students. It not only contributes to the academic discourse but also enhances the visibility of SLIIT as a hub for innovative research.”

SLIIT extends hearty congratulations to these students for their exceptional and uncommon accomplishments.