The solution to the problem of inability of state universities to accommodate the growing population of students requiring higher education today is private, Sri Lankan universities. Demand for private Sri Lankan universities is at today to compensate for the inability of state universities to accommodate the number of students who cannot meet their higher education needs in state universities due to a lack of space.
The number of students undertaking higher education programmes in Sri Lankan private universities has increased significantly in the recent years by a considerable percentage as, only few students get the opportunity to enter National Universities. Those who are deprived of the opportunity to continue their higher education in Sri Lankan Universities and O/L school leavers will get a great opportunity through the project ‘LCBT Global University Programmes to transfer to higher education programmes in reputed foreign universities.
In exploring whether a course meets the needs of Sri Lankan youth, it is essential that you find out what qualification is awarded at the end of the course. What do you need to know about a qualification? You need to know what its level and type is in the International Framework of Qualifications. You also need to know of the awarding body and the progression routes available upon completion of the programme. This information will help you to judge whether a course will lead you to the outcomes you expect. Leeds Campus of Business & Technology(LCBT) is now well accomplished to cater a wide variety of students’ goals and choices, said Dr. P.S.W. Jayatissa, the chairman of Leeds Group in a discussion.
Leeds International School Network is very well known in Sri Lanka. Can you give us a brief description about LCBT?
Leeds International School Network has a history of almost 14 years, and Leeds Campus of Business & Technology was established in 2011. The main LCBT campus is located in Pita-kotte and it is stationed in a six storied building with all the modern facilities. The other branches are situated in Panadura, Galle and Horana. We formed this institution with a view of providing professional and vocational qualifications suited to the international standards of today.
Programmes on various disciplines are presently been conducted, enabling the youth their full potential therein. LCBT, as a private campus is fully equipped with both human and physical resources that can assure comparatively high quality standards in the fields of respective areas of the students’ choice. Most of those programmes are aimed at employability and excellence in a variety of academic, vocational and professional fields. The most important thing is that LCBT was established upon a solid and firm base of eight International Schools, with repute that have been surviving unshaken for thirteen years in a highly competitive field of English Medium Education in Sri Lanka.
What is‘LCBT Global University Transfer Programmes’
LCBT Global University Transfer Programmes is a subsidiary of the Leeds Group. The sole aim of this is to provide the school leavers after O/L or AL with a wide range of opportunities to enhance academic, professional and vocational qualifications from degree level to PHD level at reputed foreign universities. Students can study the 1styear at LCBT and the 2nd and 3rd years in one of the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada or in UK universities such as University of West England, University of Chester, Liverpool Hope University, University of Ballarat, RMIT University, Flinders University, Waiariki Institute of Technology and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.
The second option been, the students undertaking two years of study at LCBT and completing the 3rd year in Southern New Hampshire University, Victoria University, BSM, Nothumbria University and Ballart University or to the choice of the student
What are the types of programmes available for the students after O/L or A/L?
Four year degree programmes are available for students after O/L. So they can hopefully go to UK,USA or Canada to follow such a degree course, whereas three year degree programmes are available for students after A/L in the disciplines of Management, Business,Engineering,Science, Art and Humanities. The students with pending O/L or A/L results are also allowed to follow courses to their choice.
If you can brief about the internationally recognized programmes presently available at LCBT, it will be obviously helpful for the people of our country.
Leeds Campus of Business & Technology, being the extension of Leeds International School Network towards Higher Education, is presently facilitating students to complete Ed-excel HNDs in Sport Science, Applied Chemistry, Information Technology, Hospitality Management and Bio-medical Technology in collaboration with ED-EXCEL and a number of foreign universities. Thus, we are guiding and directing Sri Lankan students to foreign universities and institutions such as Southern New Hampshire (USA), Nothumbria University (UK), Victoria University (Switzerland), Bangkok School of Management, and Ballart University (Australia) to do their final year or the last two years of the degree. But if the students are willing to follow the full programme in a selected foreign university, we are ready to make necessary arrangements to guide and direct them to the selected university.
Other than Ed-excel do you offer any additional internationally recognized qualifications?
Yes we do. In addition, LCBT has also collaborated with City & Guilds to provide opportunities for the young, the youth and the business community of Sri Lanka to obtain and enhance their academic, vocational and professional qualifications and skills. City & Guilds is the UK’s leading provider of vocational qualifications, offering over 500 awards over a range of industries, progressing from the entry level to the highest professional achievement. City & Guild qualifications are recognized by employers worldwide as they offer proof of the skills they need, to get the job done. As a pioneer service provider of City & Guilds, LCBT is presently conducting the following programmes: Access Certificate in English Language Teaching; English for Business Communications Level I ,II and III; International ESOL Levels l to Vl; International ESOL for Young Learners (preliminary and Basic); Sales and Marketing.
Most of the students, though they are willing, hesitate to follow such programmes due to monetary problems.
Have you thought of a way for such students to overcome this problem?
Of course, as we know, if a student wants to follow such a programme in a foreign institution the annual course fee will be about 3 million SLR and if it is in a Sri Lankan campus it will be more than 700,000 SLR. But we have brought down the Annual course fee to350, 000 Rupees which is affordable and reasonable. In case of any necessity of obtaining financial support, we are at the service of assisting the students to obtain loan facilities for educational purposes through National Development Bank or Bank of Ceylon.
Will there be any way for the students to earn money to meet their expenses while studying abroad?
Yes, they will be having plenty of opportunities to work and earn while following the courses as most of the students do.
Are there any other ways where the students are benefited by LCBT?
Yes, visa processing, document handling as well as assessing in IELTS and TOFEL will be attended by LCBT for free of charge.
As a whole, how do you feel about this project?
It is with great satisfaction that we launch the LCBT Global University Transfer Programmes as it is clearly a beneficial project for the young generation of Sri Lanka who are looking for opportunities to embark on a supported journey of learning and self-development, to become effective practitioners and global leaders. |
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