One of Australia’s young universities, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which launched its branch campus ‘UTS Insearch’ in Colombo last week plans to start the enrolment process soon to meet their target of inaugurating the academic year in October.
To celebrate their entry into the market, UTS Insearch Sri Lanka college will provide 10 merit-based scholarships for the top students who commence their studies with the inaugural academic session. The scholarships, worth Rs. 8 million will cover the full tuition for a two or three semester diploma, or the UTS Foundation Studies program at UTS Insearch Sri Lanka.
UTS will also 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 per cent 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.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe launched the ‘UTS Insearch Sri Lanka’ on Thursday.
“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 Prime Minister 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 David Holly.
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 Iain Watt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) for the University of Technology Sydney.
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 US$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,” said Alex Murphy, Managing Director of UTS Insearch.
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.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) for the University of Technology Sydney,, Iain Watt; Managing Director of UTS Insearch, Alex Murphy, and over 200 business leaders, educators well-wishers were also present.