BCAS Kandy Campus celebrates 100th batch of ACCESS Programme
View(s):British College of Applied Studies – Kandy Campus, one of the leading higher education institutes in the island, commemorates their 100th intake of ACCESS programme in grand style. ACCESS is the signature programme of BCAS. So, naturally it takes pride to have produced thousands of professionals who are scattered thriving in various fields across the globe. To them, this unique programme ACCESS has given double solid foundation to realise their career goals.
Humble beginning
BCAS was established 14 years ago in the hill capital of Sri Lanka with just 05 students and two staff to teach English and IT. ACCESS thus offered a solid background in English coupled with IT for students who wanted to upgrade their qualifications with a degree abroad, particularly UK.
At the outset ACCESS which combined the best elements of English and IT was a full time four month course. The curriculum of the course saw revisions time and again in to keep abreast with the industry demands and trends.
What is ACCESS?
The programme was developed in-house as an ideal foundation to cater to the demands of students who were ambitious to get qualified from foreign higher education institutions. Accommodating limited number of students in full time mode, this programme emphasises on activity based learning while encouraging teacher-student and peer-to-peer interaction with personalised coaching.
Students are given equal opportunity for participation in activities and are assessed regularly through assignments and monthly exams.
ACCESS incorporates a three tier approach for language learning uniquely developed by BCAS. It consists of contemporary delivery methods (at classroom level), customised language learning activities (as extended activities) and project based learning with mandatory English speaking in a disciplined learning environment.
This system ideally runs in accordance with Total Immersion, the modern language learning technique enriched with activity based and communicative approach.
Classroom activities are further supplemented with tailor-made programmes to boost language proficiency hand in hand with personality development. These activities encompass ELA (English Language Association): offering a stage to perform weekly, RLS (Real Life Situation): familiarising with specific speech patterns, vocabulary and library related activities among others.
As extended enrichment activity BCAS holds a kind of assembly every fortnight where students deliver speech on a chosen topic (perform speech and drama), poetry recitals as well as partake in inter-batch competitions before a large gathering.
They also learn leadership traits, teamwork, event planning and management hands-on when organising, hosting charity based projects and during inauguration of new batches and certificate awarding ceremonies.
Unrivalled excellence
Unlike most institutes, BCAS does not confine learning only to academic subjects; rather opt for a holistic approach by going an extra mile to groom the personality of the student through a disciplined environment. The institute maintains rules and guidelines and incorporates penalty cards and other result-producing ways to efficiently manage the system. By making English the “exclusive official language” within the institution and its environs, the students virtually feel they are English.
The IT segment of ACCESS has outsmarted its competitors by offering the most practical hours combined with the best personalised training. Parallel to that, the interactive language learning is further boosted by a sophisticated Language Lab equipped with projectors and multimedia gadgetry.
At the end of the programme students are awarded four certificates in IT disciplines and a further diploma level certificate for English. The certificates issued by BCAS are recognised and accepted by most universities and colleges in the UK and other countries.
Diploma in English
As the demand for English language kept growing, BCAS Kandy Campus launched an exclusive language programme called Diploma in English away from the IT component. This course also develops the student’s personality through life skills and emphasises on activity based learning with regular assessments.
At the end of the course, students are required to sit for a final exam with compulsory submissions of two projects for IT and English supported by documentation and presentation. When the student successfully completes the programme, he/she is awarded with five certificates including a special certificate awarded by the reputed College of Central London, UK.
To guide and impart knowledge using modern delivery methods, BCAS has hired promising staff. A class teacher is assigned to each batch of 20-25 students. The teachers maintain individual progress reports thereby allowing the parents to keep tabs on their child’s overall development every month.
Celebrating two milestones
After fourteen years of excellence in the field of higher education, BCAS stands tall in celebrating the inauguration of the 100th batch of ACCESS programme along with the inauguration of the 25th batch of HND. To coincide the occasion, the institute has lined up a host of events including IT seminar, blood donation camp and cultural event in addition to awareness walk under the theme: Keep Kandy City Clean and Green. On April 10, 2013 the institute will hold a commemorative ceremony with a large participation of students, teachers as well as parents.
As much as its success story has spread far and wide, ACCESS has evolved greatly by becoming a peerless foundation programme and a springboard for pursuing academic and professional excellence. As an institute proudly delivering over a dozen programmes ranging from foundation level up to top-up degrees, BCAS pledges to present many more leaders and industry professionals to the world in general and the Sri Lanka nation in particular.
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