Passing the GCE Ordinary Level Examination is a turning point in the education of Sri Lankan students. A large number of O/L qualified students aspiring to a university education take the traditional A/L route in spite of the fact that eventually only a handful succeed in entering a state university.

According to the statistics published by the University Grants Commission, a mere 9.8% of students who sat the A/Ls in 2009 were offered a place in the university system. The competition was so fierce that a few hundred of students with three "A" passes were not selected. Further, most of those selected did not receive the programme they were interested in following or the university they preferred to study at. In the circumstances, quite a number of selected students seem to have opted against joining the universities.

This loss of direction the students face is further compounded by an uncertain future as graduate unemployment is high in Sri Lanka. Not surprisingly, increasing numbers of O/L students and their parents are becoming disillusioned and realise that the A/L route, more often than not, leads nowhere. Understandably, they look for alternatives that guarantee university education of a high standard. APIIT Foundation Programme is one such opportunity that leads to a British degree and a rewarding career. Students with A/Ls may join the British degree programmes at APIIT directly.

APIIT - Sri Lanka is a renowned higher education institute in the island with links to a number of foreign universities. APIIT mission is to offer internationally accredited higher education qualifications with a view to producing globally competitive graduates.

With globalisation, the employment market has become borderless. On the one hand, with increasing 'outsourcing', and 'offshoring', jobs literally cross borders in search of the best talent. On the other hand, enterprising graduates must be able to cross borders in search of rewarding careers. Today, the ability to compete on a global scale has become an important attribute of employable graduates.

In the production of employable graduates who are globally competitive, APIIT - Sri Lanka focuses on 5 important dimensions outlined below. Known as unique advantages of studying at APIIT, these help APIIT distinguish itself as a reputable higher education institute in the country.

Global Reputation for Academic Excellence
APIIT- Sri Lanka offers several degree programmes in Computing/IT, Business Management and Law in collaboration with Staffordshire University in the UK. These are internationally accredited internal degree programmes. Unlike distance education or external degree programmes, APIIT internal degree programmes ensure comparability of student learning experience with that of full-time students studying on campus in the UK.

Further, APIIT - Sri Lanka has in place a comprehensive quality assurance framework consisting of external audits by Staffordshire University and internal quality processes. This quality assurance framework ensures that the quality of education at APIIT is of international standard.

APIIT students can transfer to foreign universities and earn credits for studies completed at APIIT. To facilitate student transfers with full credits, APIIT has formal arrangements with a number of universities in the UK and Australia.

Innovative Learning, Teaching and Assessment
Close interaction with international partner organisations helps APIIT keep abreast of international developments and trends in higher education. APIIT adopts international best practices that promote high quality of teaching and learning and a high degree of integrity and reliability of assessments.
The innovative approaches to teaching and learning give the academic programmes a practical orientation with project work, individual and group assignments and exposure to the industry.

High Quality Staff Committed to Student Success
Students' academic achievement is the primary focus of the entire operation at APIIT. In order to support outstanding student achievement, APIIT places great significance on the recruitment, development and retention of high quality staff who are committed to student success. The staff recruitment process looks into not only relevant academic qualifications and experience but also personal attributes such as inter personal relations and attitude.

The recruitment of academic staff consists of an initial desk evaluation of qualifications and experience followed by a formal interview and a lecture presentation. All academic staff recruitments are formally approved by Staffordshire University.

Cutting-edge Technology and Premium Facilities
Being a modern and futuristic higher education institution, APIIT - Sri Lanka readily embraces latest technological advances to facilitate its teaching/ learning process as well as academic management. APIIT infrastructure, computer systems, and facilities for teaching and learning are amongst the best in Sri Lanka and are comparable to those in developed countries.

The use of relevant technology has a twofold advantage in higher education at APIIT: firstly, technology is leveraged to enhance the effectiveness of teaching, learning and student assessment. Secondly, exposure to latest technological advances makes students tech-savvy and prepares them for employment in high-tech environments. This ensures that the graduates are not only employable but effective in employment.

Professional Culture and Value System
APIIT possesses a distinctive professional culture and value system. Students are trained from day one to conduct themselves like professionals. Students are encouraged to dress smartly, take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a code of conduct. While providing facilities and creating opportunities for student recreation, APIIT also places importance on discipline and respect for each other. The result is the moulding of outstanding professionals who contribute to the society they live in while pursuing fulfilling careers.

Conclusion
APIIT, in collaboration with its international partners, has developed an innovative and holistic approach to higher education. APIIT School of Computing, APIIT Business School, and APIIT Law School share a vision of being a leading provider of top-quality higher education in the region. The overarching objective is to produce professionals who are immediately employable on graduation, who will go on to have rewarding careers and who will contribute substantially to the societies they live in.