Education city creating Sri Lankan success stories
View(s):When Hithesi Perera graduated in Australia with his Masters in IT systems engineering, the last thing he imagined was that he would move to South Australia to complete further studies – this time in commerce. Hithesi arrived in Adelaide in 2009 to begin his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of South Australia, after spending seven years in Melbourne and Brisbane. With his IT background, he realised that managing projects of scale would require an understanding of commerce. Hithesi says all the information he had gathered indicated that the University of South Australia was very strong in commerce and accounting, so the choice was a simple one. “I began my search to find the right institution to study commerce by asking people. Friends recommended the University of South Australia, and I was not disappointed,”Hithesi says.
Similarly, countryman Manoj Goonesekera says information from a friend about the lifestyle Adelaide offers coupled with recommendations from his agent settled his decision to make the move from Colombo to study commerce at the University of South Australia. In the 2011/2012 QS World University Rankings, the University of South Australia was rated 11th in Australia and among the top three per cent of universities in the world.
It had the biggest improvement in the rankings of any Australian university. The University prides itself in maintaining academic excellence across its programmes – through coursework, research and practical based learning. Through its commitment to a charter of graduate qualities, it places a strong emphasis on graduates developing the knowledge and experience, and the practical skills, to make an immediate impact in their chosen profession.
For Hithesi, his study success was enhanced by the practical learning approach offered at the University.“The University of South Australia is part of the Australian Technology Network (ATN) of universities which value the combination of quality theoretical learning with practice-based learning,” Hithesi says. It means you graduate with knowledge and experience. So the University has not only provided me with the knowledge and background I was after, but also the confidence to put the theory into practice in my workplace.”
Manoj like Hithesi, believes there have been great benefits from studying at the University. He says the experience of studying in a different country with a different approach to education has been beneficial. “Here you have to take personal responsibility for your learning and think independently,” Manoj says. It is quite different from Sri Lanka where the focus is how well the textbook is remembered. Since coming here I have grown to really enjoy Adelaide. The people are welcoming and friendly, and it is very safe”
Adelaide is Australia’s most liveable city according to a 2012 report by the Property Council of Australia. It is tolerant, accessible and affordable making it a perfect place to study.
Both Hithesi and Manoj were delighted to find the city has a thriving Sri Lankan community. “The Sri Lankan Students Association provides opportunities to connect with other students studying in Adelaide and social activities like the Sri Lankan New Year’s dinner dance, group picnics and much more,” says Hithesi.
And for Manoj the Sri Lankan restaurants and availability of traditional foods at the markets and in specialist grocery stores has been a pleasant surprise. In the 2011 International Student Barometer, a national evaluation of the student experience, almost 80 per cent of international students said they would recommend studying at the University of South Australia.
Manoj says the University gave him the opportunity to express his own thinking and initiative. “Wherever I go I know that my University of South Australia degree will be well recognised and well respected within the industry both within Australia and internationally,” Hithesi says.
If you would like to find out more about the University of South Australia and what is on offer, meet with Juris Wulfius at Edlocate (79/5 Horton Place, Colombo 7) on 6 September 2012 from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Contact Edlocate for appointments on 011 5235148 or 5219129.
Written by Bianca Chaptini
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Top Up Degrees from University of Ballarat AustraliaPresident of MSU, Prof. Mohamed Shukri
An Exclusive opportunity to enter one of the World’s Top 100 Universities * Awaits students after A/LevelsStart the undergraduate diploma pending your A/Level results at ANC Education, Sri Lanka and gain entry into Monash University After all ...
Your pathway to success starts with a qualification from Flinders Business School at Flinders UniversityWork-integrated learning Flinders, as a member of the Innovative Research Universities and together with The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ...
The University of Queensland, Australia ranked among the bestRanked among the top 100 universities in the world* The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s premier learning ...
Discover your potential by studying at Murdoch University and MIT in Perth, Western AustraliaVicky Dunford from Murdoch University and Mary Richardson from Murdoch Institute of Technology are excited to announce that they will ...