Cross Border Academy expands reach

Further catering to the growing needs of the hospitality industry, the Cross Border Academy provides enhanced opportunities for students of middle and low income families to study for an internationally-recognised hospitality management program right here in Sri Lanka.

The academy, which will be celebrating its third year anniversary this year, is the brainchild of Yatila Wijemanne, the founder and Managing Director. It is affiliated with Dimensions Education Group of Singapore, one of the largest and highly reputed educational institutions in Singapore, established in 1980.

Furthermore, the accreditation and quality controlling body of Cross Border is undertaken by Wissen Academy of Singapore, which is a partnered body of Dimensions Education Group.

The primary aim of establishing Cross Border Academy was fuelled by the need in Sri Lanka for a professional Hospitality Management institution, thus enabling Sri Lankan students to read towards internationally recognised hospitality management programs in Sri Lanka.

The program in hospitality for the students of middle and low income earning families has been introduced with the authorisation of the educational partners in Singapore. The introduction of this program undoubtedly would be of great assistance to Sri Lanka, as all successful students of Cross Border Academy receive on the job industrial attachments with pay on completion of the programme and on successful completion of the industrial attachment, guaranteed jobs.

Wijemanne said: “Our programs on hospitality have enabled many households with low and middle income to read a program that has international accreditation. We undertake specialist tailor made programs for in-house training within the hospitality industry. Furthermore, our easy payment scheme with no hidden charges will provide a platform for far greater number of students to join with Cross Border Academy, and on completion receive training for employment. As a result it will enable each household to uplift their standard of living.”

Arguably, Cross Border Academy, with strong industry recognition and partnerships, is perhaps the only education provider that bridges the gap between education and arrangement of employment. For instance, a student, who completes courses related to hotel management or baking industry, will be able to join directly as a job trainee in less than three weeks. Therefore, Cross Border is not only an education provider, but a catalyst in establishing the platform from qualification to employment. Simply, a ‘one stop institution’.

The team of lecturers are highly specialised and have been trained in Singapore for the purpose of enhancing the quality of teaching. In addition the learning environment is of international standard with spacious and air-conditioned lecture rooms, technology integrated teaching, personal tutoring and provision of learning material.

Since the inception of Cross Border Academy over three years ago, the education provider has grown by over 100% with each batch intake. Wijemanne said: “The student population in our academy has been growing quite significantly; as a result we had to re-locate to a venue larger in size, therefore, enabling us with the possibility of providing greater facilities for our students.”

Cross Border Academy is the gateway for professional hospitality education in Sri Lanka and thus supports the hospitality sector in solving their human resource requirements.