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Aquinas, Australia Catholic Uni. sign MoU for Degree in Teaching
View(s):Aquinas University College, a premier Catholic higher education institute in Sri Lanka, which had received Degree-awarding status from the University Grants Commission (UGC), had entered into a historic Academic Partnership with world renowned Australian Catholic University (ACU) in February 2014, now launches its first Degree programme- Bachelor of Arts in Teaching (BAT).
Accordingly, Rector of Aquinas, Rev Fr (Dr) Placidus De Silva signed an MoU at a ceremony held in Sydney, Australia, at ACU’s North Sydney Campus, with several academic and administrative personnel in attendance.
As the first step towards this new academic collaboration, the Aquinas Faculty of Educational Studies was launched on March 28 with the introduction of the new Degree programme.
BAT, a 3-year Degree programme was launched under the auspices of the Archbishop, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, at a ceremony held at the Cardinal Cooray Auditorium.
Rev Fr Ivan Perera, E.V. and Rev Fr Ranjith Madurawala were the Guests of Honour.
The programme, developed by a team of Education experts, comprises a home grown, locally designed curriculum in keeping with the requirements of the indigenous school system.
It is designed to comply with both the Australian Qualification Framework and Sri Lanka Qualification Framework requirements at Level 6, so that it has global recognition.
It is envisaged that this programme would enable Catholic School teachers not only to enhance their career prospects by gaining advanced learning and teaching methodologies and techniques, but also improve the quality of education, creating a Catholic-Christian ethos within the school environment.
The proposed programme will eventually open its doors to any in-service teachers in the country, committed to the noble profession and meeting the required entry criteria, if interested.
Through the recent collaborative partnership with ACU, Aquinas envisages delivery of joint Degree programmes, exchange prospects and other benefits towards globally recognised qualifications in the near future, particularly in the disciplines of Teacher Education, a dire need of the Nation.
ACU is a Federal government funded public university spread out among seven campuses specialised in a host of disciplines, with the most up-to-date global curriculum, state-of-the-art technology and modern pedagogy and learning approach. ACU produces the most number of qualified professional graduate teachers at national level.