One of the noteworthy features of the Sri Lankan education system is ‘accessibility’ to education for all irrespective of ethnicity, gender, caste, class, religion or social background. The results of such a scheme can be seen in the high level of literacy across the country and the emancipation of women in society. We can indeed [...]

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Higher Education in Sri Lanka

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One of the noteworthy features of the Sri Lankan education system is ‘accessibility’ to education for all irrespective of ethnicity, gender, caste, class, religion or social background. The results of such a scheme can be seen in the high level of literacy across the country and the emancipation of women in society. We can indeed be proud as a nation for the social progress that has been achieved in the education sector over the last several decades.

While it is true that accessibility to education has created a level playing field in the primary and secondary education sector, the same cannot be said about the tertiary education sector. With nearly 300,000 students sitting for the GCE Advanced level examination and over 100,000 qualifying to enter a university, the state universities are able to absorb only 21,000 to their courses each year.

In the context of not even 25% of those qualifying for university admission securing a place, the students have no option but fallback on the private sector to quench their thirst for higher knowledge. Hence, we now see a proliferation of institutes, colleges and schools that provide tertiary education in Sri Lanka.

‘Hope’ – Being Successful
Every person hopes to be successful in life. Key to success in life depends on right career choice. Hope to be successful is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome of the right career choice and circumstances in one’s life. Correct higher education choice is the key to achieving your hope for success in life. Hence, it is imperative that any higher education that a person engages in will build up confidence to face challenges of the modern world and truly to be successful in life.

Curriculum is Crucial

Any Undergraduate course should have a curriculum that is comprehensive and relevant to the present context. The programme of study should address core areas of the disciplines that it targets. The assessment of the course content should be carried out in order to test the thinking capability of the student and the ability to apply learning to practical scenarios. Any scheme of assessment which merely seeks to examine how much a student knows (or do not know for that matter) cannot be considered as doing justice to the curriculum irrespective of the subject area.

Facilities Make a Difference

Learning can only occur in an environment which is stimulating and encouraging. Hence, the physical infrastructure, teaching and learning aides and reading material should support a voyage of discovery for the student. The use of technology and learning through electronic media are now taken for granted. Many respected universities in the world provide their students with access to large databases of research, provide core reading material and also provide personal computers with campus wide Wi-Fi facilities as standard offerings to compliment comfortable classrooms.

Faculty – A key factor

Advancement in technology has replaced the need for human interaction in many spheres of life. Education is one industry where the value of human input cannot be fully replaced with automation. Learning is a personal process. The influence of tutors, their guidance, coaching and mentoring remains as key elements in an interactive learning experience. Therefore, one must consider the credentials, experience and standing of those who are responsible for delivering a good degree programme.

Opportunities for growth

Any education system must support and sustain growth and maturity of the individual both intellectually and in personality. The academic programme has to be complimented by activities which develop soft skills, enable working together in teams and building confidence. Learning can easily be integrated with the enhancement of social skills that will help people stand out of the crowd. Any programme which does not cater to aspects of personality development will not succeed in producing high performing talent. Confidence is what propels faith in one’s self while faith enables an individual to surmount obstacles along the way.

The choice of higher education has a direct bearing on the future of a student. The three or four years that a student spends in an undergraduate course will determine his/her quality of life and fulfillment for the rest of the working life (Sometimes spanning over four decades). Therefore, it is crucial that the selection of the programme of study and a place in which to pursue such study is a decision that is taken with due care. Decisions that are based on credible information, reliable reference and sound judgment will always pay dividends for life.

Welcome to IIHE

IIHE is the ONLY institution in Sri Lanka directly associated with the prestigious University of Wales, UK, offering a BSc (Hons) Degree in Business Management and MBA. This association is one of the longest standing relationships between a private tertiary education institute in Sri Lanka and University of international repute which goes back to 1996.

These programmes can be completed entirely in Sri Lanka. However, if the students so desire they can proceed to the UK after completing year 1 or even after completing year 2.

Founded by Royal Charter in 1893, the University of Wales is the degree-awarding body for the majority of higher education students in Wales, as well as for many at other higher education institutions in the United Kingdom and overseas. Visit the website wales.ac.uk for more details on the global presence of the University of Wales.

IIHE currently offers the following Degrees.

BSc (Hons) Business Management with specializations in HR, marketing and Finance.

Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Message from the CEO

Imperial Institute of Higher Education was established in 1996 and continues to provide quality tertiary education in Association with the University of Wales, UK. Over the years our graduates have been absorbed to blue chip companies in Sri Lanka and overseas .IIHE graduates have now become the preferred choice of respected corporate entitles . The MBA graduates too have established the IIHE brand in the local market with their achievements. In fact the Alumni of IIHE are now in the Board Rooms of many companies with some being either CEO’s or deputy CEO’s. Over the years IIHE has not compromised the quality of the programmes it offers to its valued customers in any way . We have demonstrated a commitment to continuing improvement to the quality of service we offer. Being one of a few institutions with direct association with the parent university ,the quality of the Programmes are subject to the quality assurance systems of the Quality Assurance Agency, QAA of the UK. In 2010 September, IIHE moved to the present premises where students have been provided the luxury of a student friendly and technology enhanced learning environment. IIHE is continuing to improve the learning environment and is hoping to develop virtual academy where students will very soon be provided even more access to E-Learning.

Having a history of over 15 years in providing validated degrees of the University of Wales, IIHE has now decided to widen the portfolio of products to include other disciplines and also to provide a choice of the country of origin of the qualification. Therefore, negotiations have already commenced with other UK universities, Australian Universities, and US universities. Recently IIHE launched its collaboration with the Institute of Hospitality ( UK ) to offer professional management programs in Hospitality and Tourism.

The Private tertiary education providers are increasing by the day and potential students can be confused at price variations, time frames to complete programs, the work load involved etc. Potential students, however, should not be distracted by price and time frames. Education is for life and the investment in time and money that you make should develop you with the knowledge and skills required to be a preferred professional. IIHE has been and will always be a institution brand that will offer Degrees from internationally reputed universities assuring you to become a preferred professional in the global market. When making a decision with regards to obtaining a foreign tertiary education qualification in Sri Lanka one should ensure that:

Local Institution is directly associated with Parent University
Program Structure is in keeping with a globally recognized curriculum
Assessment systems and grading are benchmarked according to international standards
Program Completion Times are in keeping with international standards
Admission criteria are in keeping with international standards

All of the above are criteria, that potential employers will probe at interviews when they evaluate your certification and eligibility for a vacancy. IIHE will strive to provide its structure value for money and education for life which empower them to realize their full potential and make their dreams a reality .

Dr Thilaka S. Weerakoon – CEO
PhD (Cranfield.UK); MSc (Cranfield,UK); C.Eng(UK);F.I.Mech.E.(UK);F.I.E.(UK)

B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Business Management

Our B.Sc. is positioned for students who are seeking careers in Management such as Managers in HRM, Marketing, Finance or General Management. This is achieved through the programme design which provides – Core Modules and – Electives to provide the specialism in the respective functional areas.

Two further competitive aspects of our B.Sc. are that Students are required to undertake a live group project in the 1st semester of the Final year. This project (RLPS) with a Blue Chip Company requires students to act as consultants to solve a Real life problem given by the Client company, under the supervision of a Faculty Member.

The students are also required to undertake an individual Dissertation under supervision which again provides an opportunity for the student to integrate the knowledge acquired to address a research problem of their choice. Successful completion of this Dissertation and the RLPS together with taught modules, assures our graduates a unique competitive advantage in the employment market in Sri Lanka and also in the International Market.
The individual dissertation is a compulsory requirement in our B.Sc. unlike in most other programmes. The external examiners from UOW have always been very impressed with the high quality of these dissertations. They have mentioned that most are comparable with the UK post graduate work.




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