Education

No denying the importance of English

By Hafiz Marikar

A leading international figure recently highlighted the importance of English in the local education curriculum. Speaking on the occasion of the annual prize giving of Trinity College, Kandy, Chief Guest M.V.Mushin was to question if Sri Lanka has gone too far in its 'localisation,' in a world that has rapidly globalised.

M.V.Mushin is a former Vice President and CIO of the World Bank. A distinguished old boy of Trinity College Kandy, he was the chief guest at the annual prize giving of the school. He was received by the Principal, Rod Gilbert and the rest of the staff members.

"Over the years, English in our educational system was relegated to basically a subject or to be kind, to second class status. Let's pause a bit ..have we gone too far in our localisation, in a world that has rapidly globalised?" he questioned addressing the gathering.

"The Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Amartya Sen recounts the parable in Sanskrit literature of the Kupamanduka. Kupa in Sanskrit means a 'well.' Maduka means a 'frog.'  The parable is the story of a frog which lives in a well. He has never been outside that well. His world view is entirely confined to that well. He considers it an intrusion if something new is brought into the well.  And if new light is thrown outside the well or if he is fished out, he quickly jumps back into the well and is happy and content," said Mushin.

"I dare say that in today's context of what is happening in the world, there is a great danger of many of us becoming Kupamandukas --frogs in a well!  How can we - whether we are staff or students - not become frogs in a well? How can we be more prepared; to paraphrase Shakespeare,  to take at the flood, the tide of globalisation so that it leads unto fortune? 

"When I talk of the well, I want to put it in the context of globalisation.  As we all know, because of the developments world over, there is a strong inter-dependence of countries in whatever hemisphere and within whatever boundaries they exist. A new meaning has been given to the concept of globalisation. Simply put, it means the end of geography," Mushin said.

Speaking on the occasion Principal Gilbert homed in on a few home truths that are relevant to the entire education sector in Sri Lanka. Calling them 'eternal principles' he outlined four such foundational values.

"Firstly - we reminded ourselves that 'all persons are equally valuable' - whatever their ethnicity, their language, their religious background, their colour, their ability, their economic status, and -yes - even their gender, not an easy one for an all male establishment to acknowledge.

"Secondly - we explored the value of 'respect for authority,' and, Thirdly - 'respect for the individual.'

"These are two sides of the same coin. The respect for authority must go along with respect for the individual, otherwise we can misuse authority, or misuse individual freedom.

"Fourthly - and perhaps most importantly, we explored our respect for 'Truth.' Our belief in truthfulness, honesty and openness is the bedrock of all that we must do. And not just truth in its relative form - which is just 'truth' to suit our own convenience - but truth in its absolute form; that truth that has been revealed to us in the moral code of Scripture. That is the truth which must be the foundation of all our actions and behaviour.

A/L top scorers opt for cima

High flyers at the 2007 A/L examination, those with the highest Z scores in the Maths and Commerce streams, Charith Mendis of Royal College and Tharani Gamage of Visakha Vidiyalaya have opted to follow CIMA despite a distinct assurance of seats in universities. 

Tharani Gamage is the youngest in her family. Her father is a bank officer while her mother serves as a teacher. Speaking to the media at a press conference to announce Super Brand status and recognise these students, Gamage had this to say: "Today the world is so complex. Competitors are emerging from every corner. We see too many qualified but unemployed youth. Have they trained for the need of the country? Unless we plan our future well in advance we will be wasting our skills and success gained through education."

When asked why she chose CIMA, this is what she said: "CIMA is the leading membership body that offers an internationally recognised professional qualification in management accountancy, which focuses on accounting for business and produces the best professionals in accounting throughout the world. CIMA people take their pathway beyond accountancy by using finance skills to focus on future success rather than past performance and they are helping to drive the world's top organisations.

"CIMA is different from other accounting qualifications because the unique skills of CIMA qualified professionals give the members a fundamental understanding of all aspects of business so that they make key decisions and manage risks. I have no doubt that I have made the correct decision in selecting CIMA which upholds ethical and professional standards to maintain public confidence in management accountancy as my future career."

Charith Mendis said that he was motivated to follow CIMA by his aunt, who is a CIMA passed finalist. "Professional education is just as important as academic education" is the advice Charith received from her that made him decide on studying CIMA. He now also plans on entering university to pursue his studies in the field of engineering.

 Over the last two years there has been a growing demand for CIMA students both in the local and overseas markets and reports indicate that this trend will continue given the investment and business opportunities available.

CIMA has become increasingly popular amongst school students - many opt to study CIMA alongside the school curriculum, undergraduates from different fields and those with other professional qualifications.

First Free Fall Life Boat in SA at CINEC

To provide for enhanced safety training and keep Sri Lankan seafarers ahead of their counterparts in South Asia, CINEC Maritime Campus recently launched its Free Fall Life Boat for training at its survival training facility in Kalutara.

The safest and quickest mode of escape from a stricken ship is by way of a Free Fall Life Boat. The CINEC Survival Centre is the only facility in Sri Lanka to train seafarers in handling a variety of survival craft including life boats with on load release mechanism. The centre is also equipped with Fast Rescue Craft and fully enclosed Mechanised Life Boats.

The Free Fall Life Boat which was launched is of the latest design and custom built for training for CINEC. The bow of the boat is of tougher construction to absorb stress due to continuous drops it will experience during training. The boat which accommodates 20 passengers is the first of its design and installed by Fassmer, an internationally reputed Life Boat manufacturer in Germany. It is surveyed and classed according to Germanisher Lloyds.

Being the only facility in South Asia, CINEC will train seafarers from Sri Lanka and the region in the use and operation of Free Fall Life Boats. This facility will also provide training for those working onboard offshore oil installations and other facilities which extensively facilitates the use of Free Fall Life Boats for quick evacuation.

For CINEC, an ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certificated educational campus and twice recipient of the National Quality Award for education, the facilitation of advanced training for seafarers has always been a priority. As such many foreign ship owners have sought the services of CINEC to train their seafarers in Sri Lanka.

Schol for English teacher to visit UK

The Bell Sri Lanka Scholarship has been created to give a Sri Lankan teacher or educational manager the opportunity to attend a two week, all expenses paid English language programme at Bell Bedgebury Language Centre in the UK.

The scholarship is funded by the Bell Educational Trust, which helps over 100,000 students from more than 120 countries through one of its 41 worldwide teaching centres and e-channels, primarily to learn English and other languages. The scholarship has been created to commemorate the third anniversary of the tsunami. Bell's previous charitable work in Sri Lanka include the building of two pre-schools in the tsunami-hit areas of Koholankala and Mahawelikada-ara.

Promoting the scholarship locally is Gateway, which produces educational programmes that meet international standards.

To apply, download an application form from either www.gatewayworldwide.com or www.bell-worldwide.com/aboutBell/scholarshipsSriLanka.asp. Complete the application form and include a written statement of up to 500 words on why you think you are best suited to benefit from the scholarship. The Bell Educational Trust is looking for a teacher/educator that can put into use the skills learnt on the two-week scholarship to benefit other students in Sri Lanka.

Applications should be emailed to Scholarship.Bell@gateway.lk or posted to: HR Department, Gateway Language Centre, 6, Rodney Street, Colombo 8. Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday March 17, 2008.

A British Degree in Business for the busy exec.

The Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT - Sri Lanka) has announced the commencement of its part-time Business Administration Degree Programme for the next intake of students on March 1. The programme has been specially designed to suit the working professionals and busy executives and registration of new students is now in progress.

Sri Lankan corporate sector can boast of a large pool of talented and career minded employees who can benefit from formal training in business management. Even those with professional qualifications aspire to earn an academic qualification; not surprisingly, a recognised degree in business would serve as the cornerstone for long-term career advancement. Taking these aspirations of the employed into consideration, APIIT - Sri Lanka together with Staffordshire University in the UK, has taken steps to offer the part-time degree programme in Business Administration specially designed to suit the busy executives.

The APIIT part-time degree programme comprises an initial Diploma followed by the Degree. The Diploma, which is quality-assured by Staffordshire University, UK, is a qualification that can stand on its own and is designed to impart knowledge and skills in relation to the operation of business in an IT environment.  The Diploma leads to the second year of the Staffordshire University Degree in Business Administration.

The part-time Business Administration Degree awarded by Staffordshire University, UK is facilitated and delivered through the APIIT Business School.  While the programme is designed to cover comprehensively all areas of business, the course content is advantageously integrated with the theory and practice of information technology. This unique blend of Business with IT ensures that the graduates will be able to use the full potential of Information Technology in analysing and solving business problems giving them a cutting edge in their professional career.

The programme is conducted as per the prescribed standards set by Staffordshire University.  There is close monitoring of the facilities and the conduct of the programmes by Staffordshire University to assure that the required quality standards are maintained.  Further, as a higher education institute offering British degree programmes in Sri Lanka, APIIT - Sri Lanka comes under the purview of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) of the United Kingdom. The Quality Assurance Agency is an independent body that evaluates British University awards with a view to safeguarding public interest in sound education standards.

In order to maintain international standards, APIIT infrastructure facilities including computer laboratories, library, and classrooms are constantly upgraded; undoubtedly, the facilities are amongst the best in the country and are comparable to facilities available in developed countries. Laboratories are equipped with modern equipment and the library is stocked with adequate copies of text books and other reading material to support the ongoing academic programmes.  Students are also given access to six leading e-libraries in the world.

The part-time degree in Business Administration is conducted by a highly qualified and competent panel of lecturers. The programme attracts students from diverse backgrounds in commerce and industry.  These students bring their own experiences to the classroom discussions and make the entire teaching/ learning process dynamic and closely integrated with the business practices in the real world. Thus, students will go through a rich educational experience highlighting the fact that, in education, the journey is as important as the destination.

APIIT - Sri Lanka has been established with Board of Investment approval to offer tertiary education in IT and Business Studies under a franchise arrangement with the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology - Malaysia and Staffordshire University, UK.  APIIT - Sri Lanka offers Staffordshire University, UK degree programmes in Business Management and Computing/ IT in Colombo. 

APIIT - Sri Lanka's principal purpose is to produce internationally recognised business and computing professionals who will meet the demands of the industry and commerce, and add value to the organisations they work for while developing rewarding careers and fulfilling lives. To achieve these objectives, APIIT - Sri Lanka provides excellent opportunities for classroom learning, independent and group studies and research.

Pathe - easy way to study abroad

In today's competitive world, it is important for the youth to attain a proper education and to enhance their career prospects in order to be competitive and have that extra edge. With the educational options being limited in our country it has become imperative for students to seek higher education overseas.

PATHE Academy's Overseas Student Placement Department (OSPD) with a management team of over 15 years of experience in placing students in universities across the globe, is probably one of the most experienced in handling the educational needs of Sri Lankan students. PATHE Academy's association with top universities across the globe has made its prime objective of providing a proficient and innovative mode of higher education, a success.

Opportunities to live, study and work in another culture expands the horizons and increases opportunities of employment in multi-national companies. With this in mind, PATHE Academy offers students the chance to attend top ranking universities across the world. PATHE OSPD also helps a student in meeting his financial needs through scholarships and student loans. A special scheme to pay fees through any major credit card on installments up to one year with 0% interest is one of the attractive projects of the year.

In a step towards seeking education in foreign countries easier and hassle free, PATHE OSPD has opened a spacious, fully equipped modern resource centre at Maya Avenue in Colombo 6. PATHE OSPD will cater to all the needs of a student from the time he/she registers and will help and guide the students throughout their education period.

One of the main features which differentiates PATHE from others is that students starting with O/L qualifications applying through the PATHE network will be given a 100% guarantee of admission and visa to degree programmes. PATHE has made relevant agreements so that students will leave for the relevant universities within 20 days of applying. Admissions to over 800 specialties are available to prospective students which cover all major disciplines. PATHE has been helping over 300 students yearly to secure admissions.

Students can directly apply to universities abroad as well as follow a part of the programme in Sri Lanka. Some of the most popular programmes which are done in Sri Lanka are beauty therapy, hairdressing salon management, ICT diplomas /degrees, hospitality management, tourism management and medical programmes. To provide these world recognised programmes PATHE has linked up with Folk University - Sweden, Totally Indigo - Australia, Confederation of Tourism Hotel & Catering Management and European College. PATHE delivers quality education for affiliated programmes in Sri Lanka using the latest technology.

PATHE provides extensive preparation programmes and is also an accredited test centre to provide TOEFL iBT exams and IELTS.

City & Guilds Retail

Qualifications now available in SL

Keells Retail Academy recently received for the first time in Sri Lanka approval to carry out Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes in Retail Qualifications offered by City and Guilds.

The Certificate level provides an introduction to the theory and practice of retailing for individuals employed in a store selling goods to a customer; whilst the Diploma level provides more practice involving a broader range of skills appropriate to individuals who may also supervise other people. The Advanced Diploma, develops specific skills, appropriate to individuals preparing for or working in first level management in retailing.

"With the rapid expansion of Keells Super outlets we believe that we need to offer specialised training to our employees," said Executive Vice President, John Keells Holdings PLC and Sector Head - Retail Sector, Roshanie Moraes.

"City and Guilds is both recognised and respected, and we are honoured that they have granted Keells Retail Academy the approval to function as a centre in Sri Lanka for retailing courses. We hope that many will benefit from this step".

"As an internationally reputed awarding body we are indeed very happy to partner with John Keells Group to offer our Retail Qualifications through their training academy," said Country Manager - Sri Lanka, City & Guilds, Mufthy Hashim.

City and Guilds is UK's leading provider of vocational qualifications, offering over 500 awards across a wide range of industries and covering an array of qualifications from entry level to the highest level of professional achievements.

BCS accreditation for ESOFT

Q: Tell us something about the BCS.

A: BCS was established in the year 1957 and are celebrating 50 years of global service.  Apart from coordinating ICT policy and various other aspects with the UK Government, BCS awards various levels of membership which are obtained by sitting for a professional examination or via exemption.

Students that complete all three levels namely the Certificate, Diploma, and Professional Graduate Diploma together with the Project are awarded a qualification which is equivalent to a UK Honours Degree. There are many course providers globally for the BCS Professional Examinations in IT, and they are categorized as 'Registered' and 'Accredited'.

Q: What's the difference between a Registered Course Provider and an Accredited Course Provider?

A: Any institute can become a Registered Course Provider.  It is the entry-level registration where you promise to follow a code of practice which requires them to ensure that students are treated fairly and are properly informed about the examinations. 

Accreditation on the other hand, is not given to everyone.  It is a higher level accomplishment where the BCS examiners assess the way in which the course material is delivered.  Obviously, this is not something that can just be gotten - you have to work hard for it.

Q: You must be proud of the accomplishment that ESOFT has achieved?

A: Definitely. Accreditation is a long process where you send an application containing information about the way you conduct the programme, along with detailed profiles of the lecturing panel.  They have to be qualified, competent, experienced people, most of whom are retained on a full time basis.  They also assess the past performances of the candidates that have sat for the examinations, and the BCS reserves the right to send an evaluation team to the site.

Accreditation is not something that you can obtain and then forget about.  The BCS can have representatives visiting the institute without prior notice to carry out evaluations.  You really need to be committed to delivering a quality product in a high quality manner, if you are to retain your accreditation.

There is only one other institution in Sri Lanka with accreditation, and if you visit the BCS website you can clearly see that they are only accredited for the Certificate and Diploma Levels of the programme.  ESOFT is proud of the fact that our Colombo and Kandy Centres have been accredited for all three levels, namely the Certificate, Diploma, and Professional Graduate Diploma Levels of the Programme.  Our centre in Kurunegala has also received accreditation for the Certificate and Diploma Levels.  This is truly a unique accomplishment for Sri Lanka.

Q: From a prospective student's point of view, how is all this relevant?

A: Certain institutions advertise in the papers saying that they are the leaders, new leaders, gurus of BCS, etc.  That is certainly hype.  Anyone can claim anything they want, but they should have the proof and the age to back it up.  We have been involved in the BCS programme since 2001.  We have the largest student numbers in Sri Lanka. Even BCS UK can confirm that.  We send the most number of candidates for the exams. The British Council can confirm that also. We also have some of the best pass rates in the country. We have also been producing prize winners both locally and internationally.

From a student's point of view, we have had our services validated by the BCS, thereby giving the student an assurance that ESOFT is a trusted institute with an established code of conduct. ESOFT does not mislead the public.  We are Number One due to our actions, commitment, number of candidates that we have produced, number of Sri Lankan prizes (five) and World Prizes (eight) that our students have claimed.  These are not mere words.  Actions speak louder than words.

Q: So you mean to say that although it is the same qualification, studying at ESOFT gives the candidate an advantage over the others?

A: Definitely yes, because our students gain employment easily in high profile organisations in the ICT industry.  Industry leaders can vouch that our students are high performers in their professions and are rated number one1.  Therefore, our students are always in demand.  This is exemplified by the fact that our notice boards are pasted with vacancies and employment opportunities for students even before they complete their qualifications.

Q: What benefits can a potential student expect from you?

A: We provide a range of benefits.  To highlight a few:

ú Students who complete all three levels will receive a valuable internationally printed tamper proof certificate from us certifying their accomplishment.  Potential employers can then verify your information and accomplishments through our website.

* Students have access to our dedicated panel of lecturers.  Utilisation of external Lecturers is kept to a minimum.  Our lecturers are also qualified either professionally or academically, and also consist of resource people with Masters qualifications.

* All students receive study material in the form of text books and tutorials.

* We use a multimedia approach for teaching most technical subjects thereby giving them a greater insight.

* Students are given unlimited access to our Computer Lab with 50 plus machines, all Pentium 4.  The lab also has dedicated internet access, and is open all seven days of the week.

* We offer a wide range of subjects thereby giving the students the ability to mix and match the subjects with their professional requirements.

* Extensive support is also given for students doing their projects.  We offer academic supervision, and hands-on classes for .Net and PHP Development.

* Access to library facilities, counseling and career guidance support, etc.

Q: ESOFT prides itself on being an innovator.  What new things have been taking shape?

A: ESOFT has been innovating a lot when it comes to products such as the BCS Professional Examinations in IT.  We introduced text books for the Certificate and Diploma levels of the programme, thereby allowing the student to save time on taking notes.  Also, as the material is produced by our very own lecturer panel, the students can read-up on the material prior to coming for the class, thereby giving them an extra advantage.

We introduced comprehensive revision programmes allowing self studying students and students from other institutes to brush up on their skills.

When it comes to projects, we introduced comprehensive practical hands-on classes with industry professionals, giving students the ability to complete their projects with confidence.

We also introduced the BCS Fulltime Programme known as BCS-Plus, which aims to give the student additional knowledge in practical areas of computing such as software development, hardware, linux, networking, etc whilst learning the BCS material as well.  In as little as 18 to 20 months, the student completes the BCS Professional Qualification whilst earning valuable certifications in other areas.  As the BCS qualification is equivalent to a UK Honours Degree, the student can then proceed on to Masters level academic programmes as well.

Convenient e-learning at Singapore Informatics

Imagine, your are a programmer, with deadlines almost weekly or daily, working round the clock, which demands frequent late evening/nights of code churning and debugging and still you want a degree.

Picture you as a vice president/director of a multinational corporation. Now you feel it is the right time for a MBA but with meetings today in Colombo, tomorrow in the Middle East and next day in Tokyo, a programme with fixed classroom schedules does not suit you.

Say you are not a senior executive but just after your A/L working for a BPO - a five day job but on a shift/roster basis. What about your higher studies, do you take leave constantly for your studies or swap your shifts with your colleagues? If so for how long?

In today's knowledge economy work is not confined to the 8 to 5 routine. When you work with multinationals or multinational companies across different time zones some times you might find yourself telecommuting (working from home) or teleconferencing with your subordinates. Finding time within a fixed work schedule in today's context is extremely difficult.

The answer to this is e-learning. You may ask is it just another form of 'distance learning'? Of course it is, but it is the 'contemporary counterpart' of distance learning.

Among the pioneer e-learning providers in Sri Lanka is Singapore Informatics, a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Education.

Informatics Education is a leading training and education provider listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Informatics Holdings Limited is a world class institute for quality lifelong learning services and is ranked among the Forbes Global 200 Best Small Companies in the world.

Singapore Informatics started its e-learning degree programme way back in 2002. Today Singapore Informatics has produced hundreds of graduates and Master Degree holders. Singapore Informatics' e-learning programme strength is basically driven from its supplementary industry competent lecture panel, its infrastructure, its experience of over a decade of excellence in education, apart from its core strength of being a partner of the worlds largest e-learning training provider, PurpleTrain.com

Singapore informatics offers e-learning degree programmes in both business and computing with leading universities like University of Portsmouth, University of Wales, etc.

PurpleTrain.com is the e-learning service provider which offers a one-stop service for business and IT education programmes, corporate training courses and education-related services.  By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective on-line training solution. Over 700 on-line courses are available, offering masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programmes. Its online learning community now stands at over 72,000 users.

PurpleTrain.com is a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Education.

Six reasons to study at Singapore Informatics:

1. The pioneer e-learning programme for Degree and Masters programmes in Sri Lanka

2. Provides more direct contact hours with the resource personnel than some fully taught programmes

3. Every module is facilitated  by a facilitator through online chats, discussion rooms and private e-mails resulting in convenience and flexibility

4. Rich variety of course materials accessible 24*7*365

5. Powered by PurpleTrain.com

6.         At Singapore Informatics Sri Lanka you will encounter only a small fraction of the cost (less than 25 %) to get the same degree as you would get on campus.

Grooming school leavers to enter corporate world

The Imperial Institute of Higher Education was established in 1996 and is the only validated centre of the University of Wales in Sri Lanka offering both the University of Wales BSc (Hon) Business Management and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees and is amongst the oldest institutions offering foreign internal degrees in Sri Lanka.

The programmes are designed to ensure employability and hence are continuously reviewed to ensure that the teaching reflects the current market trends and the employers' requirement. The degree programmes cover a wide range of subjects and skills allowing the students to move in to a variety of areas of specialisation, built on a firm foundation.

University of Wales is the second largest university in UK awarding 14,000 initial degrees and about 3,000 higher degrees annually, also making it the second largest degree-awarding body in Great Britain. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales is the chancellor of this university. Students of Imperial Institute of Higher Education can obtain a University of Wales' qualification here in Sri Lanka with substantial savings in costs.

The BSc (Hons) Business Management programme has been designed to cater to both students wishing to specialise as well as those wishing to obtain a general degree. Thus in addition to students being able to choose subjects that are in their area of interest in the second year of their study, in the third year of study students can choose from among three pathways available to specialise, namely Finance, Marketing or Human Resource Management or 'pick and mix' modules so as to become a generalist.

Students go through a comprehensive and exhilarating learning experience through innovative subjects such as Real Life Problem Solving, seminar in marketing and the individual dissertations done by each student. The graduates go out to the corporate world with confidence and are employed by blue chip companies even before they receive their graduation certificate.

The latest addition to the programmes offered by Imperial Institute is the BSc (Hons) Computing, which was developed in collaboration with both local and UK academics and the software industry, on a foundation of quality, with the goal of producing trained computing professionals who can perform at the international level. The degree programme is of four year duration with the third year being the industrial placement year. 

The two currently offered specialisations are in Computing with Software Engineering and Computing with Management.

Last year IIHE took the initiative to launch a tailor made corporate sponsorship programme which resembles 'day release' programmes offered in European universities for the Computing degrees. It facilitates corporate companies to groom and train their employees whilst they are being employed full time at the organisation. The first batch of students was sponsored by John Keells Computer Services (JKCS). The second phase will be starting in March 2008 with the participation of many other companies.

The University of Wales employs a range of measures, including the use of moderators, external examiners, and regular course review and visits to ensure that the standards maintained at the institute are worthy of those leading to a degree awarded by the university. This is the on-going process of continuous assessment by the University of Wales. Quality of students are ensured by only recruiting students with a minimum of two passes in GCE A/L, so that they are intellectually sound to handle an undergraduate programme. The semesters begin in March and September each year.

Your career decision made easy by ACBT

ACBT, Sri Lanka's leading Australian institute has recorded phenomenal growth over the past few years, confirming its dominance in Sri Lanka. Student enrollments continue to show a sharp increase with each new semester recording more students than the previous one. The institute's commitment to offering the highest standards of education has been well-endorsed by Sri Lankan students and parents.

ACBT's learning environment enhances the teaching and learning experience by enabling its lecturers to provide students with not only classroom teaching but access to online course materials,  interactive activities and assessments to help students to scientifically think and innovatively imagine to be able to shape tomorrow's world, said Marketing Manager, ACBT, Pubudu Alahakoon.

Hailed as the finest Australian institute in Sri Lanka, ACBT continues to dominate Sri Lanka's international higher educational sphere.  Students at ACBT have the option to earn a degree from the coveted Edith Cowan University recognised by the Australian government or transfer credits to many universities in Australia.

The Edith Cowan University is a responsive and forward-thinking institution that provides well-designed academic programmes in course and research, and is noted for innovation in course content, research, creative pursuits and its contribution to the community, be it the government or corporate sector. In the 2006 Australian Good Universities Guide to MBA and Executive Short Courses, the ECU Business Faculty was awarded a five star rating in the category of Academic Qualifications for its MBA programme, and a four star rating from the Graduate Management Association.

The environment at ACBT offers the quintessential academic exposure that moulds youth into seasoned 'apprentice' material. The student body consists of students from a variety of social backgrounds including a fair share from outstations. Currently, around 100 foreign students of Maldivian, Chinese and Indian origin are fast-tracking their way to professionalism at ACBT. The multi-cultural background saturates students into the very substance of success. In this situation students are given an opportunity to experience a multi cultural environment - this is another advantage for the students when they seek foreign employment.

The employment benefits offered to students studying at ACBT are vast. Many ACBT graduates have already gained employment in leading companies both locally and  globally. "Most of our students get offers even before the completion of their degree. ACBT is a well-recognised institution therefore students studying at ACBT gain employment easily. This is because our course contents are not only theoretical but also practical and built to global industrial needs," noted Alahakoon.

International degree programmes offered at ACBT are a student's best ticket to a successful career. One could either directly be a part of a specific degree programme after A/L examination or complete the eight-month foundation course after the O/L examination, which is equivalent to A/L and is recognised by the Australian Government in order to qualify for a particular degree programme.

Subsequently, you can earn a prestigious Edith Cowen degree within two to three years in Sri Lanka or transfer to over 27 Australian universities including ECU, Monash University and Deakin University or a number of prominent British universities. It is a tremendous opportunity for local students to be able to acquire an Australian degree here in Sri Lanka. It has been revealed that one can acquire a world class degree at ACBT for one fifth of the cost necessary to attain one residing in Australia.

Sri Lankan MBA aspirants now have the opportunity to earn right here in Sri Lanka an MBA voted as one of the top academic programmes in Australia offered by the Post Graduate Institute of ACBT and conferred by Edith Cowan University of Australia

The Master of Business Administration (International), is designed for graduates from a variety of disciplines who wish to build a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of business operations and environments, and equips them with the conceptual and analytical abilities needed for decision making at the highest level. The programme is strongly linked with the business community and is designed around the real needs of a highly technological and fast changing business world, and is the option for graduates working in the corporate sector.

The units are taught using interactive learning techniques, drawing on the diverse backgrounds of the students and the expertise an experience of the lecturer. Therefore the students must have some practical work experience to contribute and benefit from this type of learning environment.

The acclaimed MBA programme provides the perfect opportunity for professionals to acquire the desired credentials that mark their status at the top.

The next semester begins on March 3 and new student enrolment is now open.