Upamali Amarakoon wins UQ Dean’s Award

27 April 2015 04:18 am

University of Kelaniya Industrial Management Department Lecturer Dr. Upamali Amarakoon has been awarded the prestigious Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis for her doctoral thesis recently completed at the UQ Business
School of the University of Queensland (UQ) Australia. 
The UQ Dean’s Award gives formal recognition to outstanding PhD and MPhil graduates, who have demonstrated research higher degree excellence. Candidates for the award are nominated by independent thesis examiners who are world leaders in the respective field of research, based on the substantial contribution a thesis makes to the field of research. 
Dr. Amarakoon’s thesis titled ‘The Role of Human Resource Innovation for Firms’ Competitive Advantage’ was based on a study of HRM innovation in Australian manufacturing and service firms. It examined the factors driving and facilitating HR innovation, characteristics of HR professionals pursuing innovations, types of HR innovations pursued and how HR innovations contribute to a firm’s competitive advantage. 
Pleasantly surprised by receiving the award, Dr. Amarakoon said, “This prestigious award is recognition of all my hard work over my doctoral studies and support structures that are in place at the UQ Business School. I now look forward to sharing these findings with HR practitioners and HR policy planners. I am thankful to my Principal advisor Professor Jay Weerawardena and Associate advisor Professor Martie-Louise Verreynne for their invaluable support and guidance right throughout my PhD candidature.”
Dr. Amarakoon is a daughter of Gamani Amarakoon and Asoka Dissanayake and the wife of Anushka Wanigasuriya.