World-class degrees in Sri Lanka from RIC...

RIC or RI Campus is the degree awarding wing of the famous network of International schools known as Royal Institute. RIC has been teaching and preparing students for BSc and LLB Degrees from the University of London for over 20 years. It is thanks to the demand placed on the Degrees from the University of London and the commitment of our students and lecturers that we were able to engage in the preparation of students for these Degrees for such a long time. Mr. G. T. Bandara, Managing Director/ Chairman of RIC is not only a veteran entrepreneur but also a skilled teacher and educationist who know the value of education. Therefore, he has always taken a personal interest in the teaching-learning process and adopted a student-friendly attitude towards teaching. Therefore, ‘commitment to excellence’ starts right at the top of the management at RIC.

We have undertaken the responsibility of preparing students for 15 Degrees awarded by the prestigious University of London. Among the Degrees are LLB, Accounting, Business Studies, Development and Economics, Economics, Economics and Accounting, Economics and Management, Information Systems and Management, International Relations, Management, Law with Management, Mathematics and Economics and Sociology. All the above Degrees can be completed in three years under the guidance of our experienced and highly qualified panel of lecturers. In addition to these Degrees, there are three Diplomas awarded by the same University, namely the Diplomas in Law, Economics and Social Sciences. These Diplomas are also pathways to the LLB and BSc Degrees mentioned above, i.e. a student successfully completing the Diplomas can complete his/her desired Degree after two more years of study at RIC.

Study guides, curriculum and examination papers are prepared by and the marking of answer scripts is done by lecturers and examiners from the University of London. Our students have been commended by the University of London for the results they obtain in spite of the challenging and competitive academic environment world-wide. The number of students who have received certificates of commendation and awards from the authorities of the University of London is noteworthy. Several of our students have been awarded world prizes for best results at the last convocation.

“I chose the LLB programme of the University of London at RIC since I was confident that it was one of the finest foundations for my postgraduate studies in law. The academic staff, the excellent library and the fine student community at RIC produce well-rounded graduates who are willing to serve the nation to the best of their ability in their respective fields.”

“RIC enabled me to receive the same quality of education that I believe I would have obtained had I opted to pursue my studies abroad. The lecturers are dedicated and provide the necessary guidance to allow students to successfully compete worldwide. The friends I have made and extra-curricular activities I engaged in further enriched my experience at RIC and I consider the years spent there as some of the best in my life.”

Our graduates are very well received and placed in the job market. This is proof of the very high value placed on the Degree programme and the graduates. Most of our graduates are placed in very sophisticated positions in the job market even before their results are released. Among them are some who join the international work force. Furthermore, we are yet to come across a RIC graduate who has been unemployed involuntarily. The qualification they obtain is recognized by any university in the world which gives the students the opportunity for graduate studies anywhere in the world. A student who successfully completes the LLB Degree can become a lawyer in Sri Lanka after a minimum of one and half years of study at the Law College. These facts point out the recognition given to the University of London Degrees both nationally and internationally.

“Choosing RIC to pursue in my higher studies has been one of the best decisions I have made so far. The opportunity to obtain a worldclass Degree at a fraction of what it would have cost me had I opted to pursue the same Degree in London and being with family and friends at the same time is certainly an added advantage.”

“I chose RIC for its reputation of maintaining an extremely high pass rate and also because it allowed me to live at home enjoying home comforts while studying. I graduated from the internationally reputed University of London obtaining a First class Honours in BSc Banking and Finance.”

We have formed a new alliance with another reputed international partner, namely Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia to fulfill our mission of awarding prestigious degrees to Sri Lankan students. We have embarked on a journey of exploring a new avenue of awarding Degrees with their partnership, that is to award Degrees in the fields of Engineering and Science. This programme includes BSc Degrees in the fields of Engineering and Science, namely BSc Engineering, IT, Science and Bio-medical. Teaching for the first one or two years of these Degrees will be undertaken by RIC under the supervision of Deakin University. The degree would then have to be completed at Deakin University in Australia with at least one year of study there. RIC will offer scholarships for students based on their merit. Students who join this programme will have the added advantage of finding job placements in Australia at the end of the study period.

There are several advantages that can be reaped by you/ your child through joining the RIC programmes. Firstly, the child would be able to complete an internationally reputed Degree in the comforts of his/her family. This will help avoid the anxiety an adolescent student would feel if he/she were to study in a foreign country away from family and friends and also the anxiety of parents who would worry about the wellbeing of their son/daughter studying in a foreign country.

We have given you the opportunity to study for a foreign degree without leaving your home. You/ your child can experience the challenge of reading for a foreign degree in a foreign country after obtaining your first degree and becoming a more matured graduate student. Secondly, at RIC you would be spending a fraction of what you would have to pay for the same Degree in London or in Melbourne. We also have scholarship and loan schemes to help those who may have problems with paying the tuition fees. Thirdly, our English language department will offer additional English classes for students who are doubtful about their level of English language competency to follow these degrees.

A highly qualified and experienced panel of lecturers will be guiding you/your child throughout the years spent at RIC. Our lecturers show the commitment of a mother or father who is keen to educate one’s child.

Furthermore, we have created an environment conducive to learning; air conditioned lecture rooms a library with an up-to-date collection of books and a state-of-the-art computer lab are few of the highlights.

Above all the most important factor is that you/ your child will have the opportunity of following a Degree programme with a group of students who are not only intelligent and disciplined but also committed to their studies and who take ‘learning’ seriously. Anuradha Dahanayake Executive Coordinator Degree/ Diploma Programme RI Campus, Colombo.

MAKING THE CUT Capacity expansion must proceed along with improvement in access, equity and quality, says G. Ananthakrishnan

A massive expansion of the higher education system is being widely discussed and the Planning Commission and the University Grants Commission await the finalisation of the Twelfth Plan to firm up plans. A new model for governance through a National Commission for Higher Education and Research and facilitation of foreign providers of courses is among the items on the agenda.

Without steady growth in colleges and courses, it would be impossible to take the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) from the current estimate of about 20 per cent, to a targeted 30 per cent.

As the UGC acknowledges, capacity expansion must proceed along with improvement in access, equity and quality. Ensuring all three principles will require a massive infusion of funds and the investments must go beyond what is already envisaged. The goal is to raise government expenditure on higher education from the existing level of 1.12 per cent of the GDP. The Planning Commission thinks an increase of 0.38 per cent in the 12th Plan — raising the level to 1.5 per cent — would provide an additional Rs.25,000 crore to the sector.

Many would argue that this is too small, given the systematic withdrawal of the State from expansion of higher education for many years and the strengthening of the for-profit sector in this area.

Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told Parliament in May that a centrally sponsored scheme to incentivise the States to expand the higher education sector would be worked out after the finalisation of the 12th Plan. The proposed scheme will encourage the States to set up new institutions and expand the existing ones.

This approach seeks to build on the funding offered to the States two years ago to open 374 model degree colleges in districts with poor enrolment.