Stuart Morrison Registrar of City of London Academy,

Undergraduate and Post graduate studies in UK have become a very common place thing amongst many Sri Lankans. However not all such ventures have been for the right reasons and moreover not all such ventures have been successful.

This is because there are many agents and institutions that misguide students and also because some students are simply intent on going to the UK and not intent on what they are studying.

The City of London Academy (CLA) is a newly established institution located in the heart of London at Holborn. Specialising in mainly Business and Business Management studies, this is indeed a college with a difference. Whereas many institutions seek to fill up their classrooms with a large number of students, at CLA, focus is on quality rather than quantity.

Mr Usama Mulaffer, the Marketing Director of City of London Academy,

A strong belief at CLA is that education in a child is an investment for life! As such maximum support and encouragement should be given in order that the full benefit, especially of an UK education, can be received.

Of course commitment, sacrifice, sincerity and dedication on the part of the student too are necessary requirements. Therefore parents need to take a keen interest in what their child wants to do, where they want to go, what is being offered by the university, what facilities and benefits can their child receive etc.

This is why CLA cautions parents and students to be mindful when choosing their university and course options. With many overseas students, especially from Asia, CLA understands the need for optimum guidance and support. To this end the welfare aspect as well as the academic and non academic support provided is immense.

Mr. Norman Mangi, Operations Director

In fact the Academy sets forth the following guidelines that each student MUST go through before deciding to take the leap and go to UK-

• Ensure you choose your course and college carefully - you should choose a course that matches your career plans and make sure the college is reputable. (When choosing agents please be careful and also it is better to contact the relevant College directly - they are always at hand to give you the relevant advice)
• Make a detailed plan before leaving Sri Lanka. This should cover everything below and much more!
• Home sickness affects everyone - make a Skype ID before you leave and you will be able to keep in touch with your family and friends back home
• Plan your accommodation in London in advance - in our experience, you will be more comfortable sharing a flat or a house with other students who are serious about studying. Your college can help you with this
• Some things are cheaper to buy in Sri Lanka - stationary and clothes are a lot cheaper in Sri Lanka. It is a good idea to buy these things in bulk before you leave. An umbrella is a good idea too!
• Make sure you contact your college or university in the UK- the international student welfare officers will give you lots of useful advice before you arrive in the UK
• When in London, always take a black cab or a licensed mini-cab - never take an unlicensed cab on the street: it's illegal and could be dangerous
• Don't carry too much cash - carry a limited amount. You will be able to open a bank account in the UK and safely transfer your money from Sri Lanka.
• Do some research about customs and culture in the UK. This will help you adjust to your new life here and will help with culture shock.

City of London Academy proudly boasts of a learned and distinguished panel of lecturers and staff. Most of them have 8-10 years experience in their field and are qualified to teach. Most importantly all staff are friendly and are ever willing to guide the students in any aspect. The teaching environment itself is state of the art, and all classrooms are equipped with interactive Hitachi starboards, the computer labs are up to date and Wi-Fi facilities are readily available.

In relation to their foreign students, CLA pays special attention to them, as they come from afar and thus have more to deal with than the local students. Home sickness is a terrible feeling and can and has caused many problems with students. The support provided by the college staff takes this into account.

CLA also strongly advices their students not to work whilst studying. Not that this is impossible but with new regulations in place in the UK as well as the stress, low minimum wage and time restraint factors taken into consideration, the point of travelling all the way to the UK and the study experience sought there will be lost.

Further, at CLA the Registrar, Mr Stuart Morrison, and his staff keeps close tabs on the progress of each student, both academically and non academically. Study wise, assessment is on a continuous basis and any change in pattern and progress is scrutinised and inquired into. This is necessary as the college believes that each student who commits themselves to a study programme should go back with a fully fledged qualification and not just a diploma certificate! Also though most students can afford to pay the course fee, this does not necessarily mean they can finish the course.

Taking all these factors into consideration, it is evident that CLA believes in the complete education of a child. To this end they also complement the studies with cultural and educational experiences. Students are taken on visits to important sites in the city such as the Parliament and Museum as well as other places which are of professional interest to the students. As Mr. Norman Mangi, Operations Director stated, this is an important factor as CLA believes in the fact that learning should be made interesting and exciting.For all these top of the range services provided, it is commendable that CLA is comparatively affordable.

Although currently based only in London, the Academy has plans to spread their wings, especially in Asia and more importantly in Sri Lanka. Having participated in an exhibition at BMICH last week and offered spot admissions, Mr Usama Mulaffer, the Marketing Director of City of London Academy, was enthusiastic about the response received. He said that the "Academy has an ambition to go global, to provide the best in the world, with the same standards of quality universally"

Judging by the Academy's impressive track record as well as the feedback of the students, there can be no doubt that the City of London Academy will indeed be able to achieve this dream.

For more information please visit or call:
PAUTAG EDUCATION
Deanston House
No 1. Deanston Place
3/2 - 3rd Floor
Colombo - 03
Sri Lanka
0777 390683
pautageducation@gmail.com