Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Friday, 5 July 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially launched Colombo’s newest international higher education college, ‘UTS Insearch Sri Lanka’.
Attending the launch event were: Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Holly, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) Iain Watt, UTS InsearchManaging Director Alex Murphy, and more than 200 dignitaries, business leaders and educators from Colombo.
The launch will see UTS bring its latest developments in higher education learning from Sydney to support the skills and knowledge Sri Lankan students need for international study and career success. The initial investment in Sri Lanka is more than $2 million and affirms Australia’s commitment and close ties to Sri Lanka.
“I am pleased to be a part of the launch of the UTS degree pathway (Diploma) programs here in Sri Lanka. This will provide students with a pathway to one of Australia’s most innovative and technology focused universities, with the opportunity to complete their studies in Sydney, Australia,” said PrimeMinister Wickremesinghe.
Australia is a welcoming destination for Sri Lankan students, with more than 170,000 people of Sri Lankan heritage already part of the Australian community. According to UNESCO, Australia is the top destination for internationally mobile students from Sri Lanka, with almost 40% of the 19,000 Sri Lankans who study abroad each year choosing to study in Australia.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Holly also supported the launch. “The establishment of a UTS Insearch branch campus in Colombo is a significant milestone in the relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka and is another example of Australia’s excellence in providing educational opportunities in Sri Lanka,” said Holly.
Developing a new campus in Colombo
UTS Insearch Sri Lanka will offer UTS Foundation Studies and first year university-equivalent programs in Business, Engineering and Information Technology from a new building, situated on Thurstan Road, Colombo. Classrooms are being equipped to an international standard, with teaching scheduled to commence in October 2019.
“This is about creating an inspiring learning environment for students – we are excited to be bringing our innovative approach to education to Colombo,” said University of Technology Sydney Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International)Iain Watt.
The Colombo campus will draw upon the depth of experience of UTS Insearch, which provides English language and education pathways for the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, and through partnerships in China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, South Korea and Vietnam.
“We are investing more than $2 million in developing our college and courses here, contributing to Sri Lanka’s exciting future and growing economy. Our teachers will use the approaches to helping students develop and embed university-level academic skills,” saidUTS InsearchManaging DirectorAlex Murphy.
UTS Insearch Sri Lanka programs allow students to develop the academic skills and knowledge for success at university. They use the teaching and learning styles typical of international universities, encouraging students to develop critical skills in areas as communication and presentations, assignment and exam strategies, group work and team skills, to prepare them to navigate studying and living internationally.
Upon successful completion of the applicable courses at UTS Insearch Sri Lanka, students meet the requirements for entry into the second year of their degrees at the University of Technology Sydney, depending on the course chosen.
Scholarships available
To celebrate their entry into the market, UTS Insearch Sri Lanka College has announced plans to offer 10 merit-based scholarships for its top students who commence their studies with its inaugural academic session this year. The scholarships, worth a total of 8 million Sri Lankan Rupees, will cover the full tuition for a two or three semester diploma, or the UTS Foundation Studies program at UTS Insearch Sri Lanka.
In addition, UTS will offer scholarships to students who complete their diploma program with UTS Insearch Sri Lanka, and continue to pursue their Bachelor’s degree at UTS in Sydney. These include two 25% fee-waiver scholarships for the most academically outstanding students studying at UTS each semester. Students from UTS Insearch Sri Lanka will be eligible for other scholarships for ongoing support with future UTS course fees.
Enrolment will commence shortly for the first classes to be run in October 2019, with local students being assured of an innovative and dynamic learning experience.
The University of Technology Sydney is a dynamic and innovative university, ranked 1st as Australia’s top young university in the 2019 QS Top 50 under 50, and ranked overall 140th in the world; reflecting its strength in research, teaching, employability and internationalisation.
UTS’s purpose is to advance knowledge and learning through research-inspired teaching, research with impact and partnerships with industry, the professions and community. It has a culturally diverse campus and vibrant international exchange study and research programs that prepare graduates for the workplaces of today and the future.
It is part of the Australian Technology Network of universities – a group of prominent universities committed to working with industry and government to deliver practical and professional courses. With a total enrolment of more than 44,000 students, UTS is one of the largest universities in Australia.
Pix by Chamila Karunarathna
