To be a center of excellence in teaching, learning and researching to strengthen human resources for the development of the progressive society within the global context.

The Institute of Human Resource Advancement (IHRA) at the University of Colombo aims to provide nationally competitive and internationally recognized opportunities for learning, research, and development. Established in 1975 as the Institute of Workers Education, IHRA has evolved over four decades, adapting to changes in the private sector, knowledge economy, and globalization. Originally focused on educating work-groups, IHRA has transitioned to developing human talents in managerial and professional work groups.

Throughout its history, IHRA has maintained high academic standards and, in 2006, expanded its offerings to include Master’s degrees. In 2015-2016, the institute revised its academic programs to include disciplines such as Human Resource Management, Business Management, Geo-Informatics, Service Management, Disaster Analysis, and more.

IHRA envisions itself as an institute of excellence committed to advancing human resources, fostering mature and intelligent knowledge-users capable of addressing global challenges. The institute is undergoing a transformation to obtain local and global accreditations, uphold good governance standards, become a sought-after employer brand, and serve as a socially responsible public institute. The goal is to see IHRA as a fully-fledged public higher learning institute offering certificates to higher degrees for all workgroups by 2022. The vision extends to IHRA being a regionally competitive institute in Colombo, contributing to the transformation of Sri Lanka into a progressive society, with students and alumni playing an effective role in societal development.