DeVry University lures Sri Lankan students

A public quoted company with a history reaching back to almost 80 years, DeVry University with its network covering almost 90 locations in USA and Canada offers the best higher education opportunity to students.

Known as a career university with 88 per cent of total graduates who have actively obtained employment within 180 days of graduation, the university offers a varied learning option tailored to fit the style and schedule of the students.

Dean of International Admissions DeVry University Chow Lee, who down in Sri Lanka for a brief visit, told the Daily FT that studying at the university could be beneficial for local students, especially those who have their sights set on being employed in USA and Canada.

Since 1975, 245,988 undergraduate students system-wide have graduated from DeVry University, and 90% of those in the active job market were employed in career-related positions within six months of graduation.

With a student base of 85,000 and with 70,000 of them being undergraduates, the university offers programmes covering a large subject base, which includes biomedical engineering technology, business administration, computer engineering technology, computer information system, electronic engineering technology, game and simulation programming, network and communication management and technical management.

The graduate degree programme includes accounting and financial management, business administration, HRM, information system management, network and communication management, project management and public administration.

“We also have a separate medical school and a nursing school, which I believe would certainly call out a large set of Sri Lankans,” Lee said.

The university has six colleges under its name – College of Business Management, College of Engineering and Information Technology, College of Health Science, College of Liberal Arts and Science, College of Media Art and Technology and Keller Graduate School of Management. Through this, the university offers education service on par with the highest quality universities in USA.

The most popular degree programmes are accounting and finance and project management, Lee asserted, “We are very strong in our bachelor’s degree programme.”

Currently the second biggest for-profit education in USA, DeVry grows at a rate of three to five campuses every year. However, all programmes conducted are the same in every university.

“Students can choose out of three modes of learning to follow their degree programmes. There is the online learning process for those who are employed on a full time basis, onsite learning for those who prefer the traditional form of education and blended learning where both online and onsite learning is available,” Lee said.

Online education has become the popular mode of learning, he agreed, stating that 60 per cent of students prefer it, while only 40 per cent choose to learn onsite.

Lee asserted that the university was looking at working with local universities to promote education in USA. “We hope Sri Lanka will grow in time for us to set up operations here. If Sri Lanka becomes the knowledge hub it aspires to be, DeVry will definitely look at setting up office here.”

Currently the university has US$ 400 million waiting to be invested in expanding its operations.

Lee was in Sri Lanka on the request of Scholarships for USA (Pvt) Ltd.