The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are delighted to partner with Universal College Lanka (UCL) in Colombo
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are delighted to partner with Universal College Lanka (UCL) in Colombo, owned by private education services company Eduko Lanka, to deliver BSc (Hons) Software Engineering and BA (Hons) International Business at UCL from September 2017.
In a formal event held in November 2016 in Colombo, UCLan signed the agreement with Universal College Lanka. The new partnership will open opportunities in undergraduate and postgraduate education with a distinct interest in research.
UCLan's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mike Thomas, said the strategic partnership with UCL is based on shared goals and a commitment to provide students with a unique holistic learning experience. This includes the future development of master’s and PhD courses along with joint research projects for staff and students, in addition to the undergraduate UCLan courses to be delivered by a highly qualified team of academic staff in a purpose-built modern facility.
He added: "We are both committed to a holistic partnership that will deliver undergraduate UCLan courses in Sri Lanka and in the future develop master’s and PhD courses, joint research project and exchange opportunities for staff and students. UCLan believes in long-term strategic partnerships and is pleased to welcome UCL into our global institutional network that currently provides opportunities for over 3,500 students to study a UCLan degree within their home country. We are delighted to provide such opportunities in Sri Lanka in partnership with UCL."
Speaking of the new partnership, Dr. Harsha Alles, Director, said that the new partnership is in line with UCL’s vision of bringing the best of global education to Sri Lanka. “With UCLan, we will provide completion pathways to both undergraduate and postgraduate students at an affordable cost, to those in entire South Asia.
"The partnership is the accumulation of hard work from staff from both institutions, which will see UCL become UCLan’s strategic partner in Sri Lanka"
“The international reputation of UCLan and their commitment to quality in education fits very well with the purpose of UCL as we share similar values. With clearly defined plans for the next 5 years, we believe that UCLan and UCL will significantly impact not only on Sri Lankan students but those in the entire South Asia.”
Tim Steele, Vice-President International Strategy and Partnerships at UCLan said: “It was a great honour to represent the Vice-Chancellor at the official signing ceremony between UCLan and UCL. The partnership is the accumulation of hard work from staff from both institutions, which will see UCL become UCLan’s strategic partner in Sri Lanka. Both institutions are committed to providing our future students with a unique learning experience, and already have plans to further expand the provision to include master’s and PhD provision, and will be encouraging joint research projects with UCL between UCLan’s UK Campus in Preston and our Branch Campus in Cyprus. We look forward to welcoming our first undergraduate students in September 2017 as we strive to be the leading provider in partnership with UCL in Sri Lanka.”
The CEO of UCL, Mr. Lasantha De Silva at the launch event said: “UCL is about Forging Partnerships and Shaping Futures. We strive to offer the best education in the Sri Lankan education market, through unique partnerships creating an unmatched opportunity, not limited to the Sri Lankan youth but also to the youth of South Asia. Sri Lanka is rapidly becoming the education hub in the region; UCL believes that Sri Lanka needs to educate its youth to be highly competent and skilled who can contend with the best and the brightest in the world. Thus inimitable foreign partnerships with prestigious research institutions that have thrived to be the best in the world were agreed to as a part of the solution. Both UCL and UCLan share same values in the way in which we operate and this partnership in the years to come, undoubtedly will bring great education opportunities in reaching one’s career aspirations with a world-class university in Sri Lanka with UCL.”
Dr. Dhananjay Kulkarni, Dean of UCL, added: “We aspire to shape the local education ecosystem in Sri Lanka by grooming top-class graduates, developing educators with research interests, innovating teaching practices, and driving strong industry collaborations.”
With a greater focus on producing employable graduates, they will be focusing on internships to harness industry-awareness among students. UCL thereby hopes to place students in Sri Lanka’s top companies. He concluded: “We are confident of creating a unique learning experience to the aspiring students, drawing upon the strengths we currently exhibit at UCL – strong academic and industry pedigree, lecturers with international-level teaching and research experience, rigor for academic and research excellence, and student support and guidance being given top priority.”
