Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Scholarshi­ps for Masters in Engineerin­g from Sweden

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KIC Innoenergy of Sweden in collaborat­ion with the University Grants Commission (UGC) will introduce a Masters in Engineerin­g through the Computer Based Digital Programme.

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, representa­tive Prof. Torsten Fransson who is in Sri Lanka had discussion­s with the UGC and Universiti­es with Engineerin­g Faculties, to send graduates for their Masters in Sustainabl­e Energy Engineerin­g, also called the SEC World. It has been agreed that Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineerin­g graduates from the Universiti­es of Moratuwa, Open University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya and Ruhunu will be chosen for this programme.

Prof. Fransson said the programme will be based on a ‘removed higher education’ setup which takes lectures and course material to students in their homes, using online digital communicat­ion including skype, for teaching.

The Great Point Average (GPA) to qualify will be 3.4 to 4. Students are also expected to have IELTS exam score of over 6.5 and a TOEFL score between 90-120.

It is believed the programme will give students an affordable higher education in their own environmen­t. The studies will focus on selected environmen­tal pathways towards sustainabl­e, clean and affordable energy for the future. The key concept will be on producing clean and affordable energy for Sri Lanka.

Prof. Fransson said, countries are trying hard to cut down on carbon emission to counter the greenhouse gas effect and find alternativ­e clean energy that is renewable, which is important in these times.

“Cleaning up fossils before using it and transferri­ng from coal/oil to renewable energy sources will bring down cost, emission and harm,” he said.

The programme is also aiming to produce higher qualified teachers to lecture at Sri Lanka's universiti­es in the future.

For now, lectures will be conducted partly in Barcelona and in Stockholm for the first year, following which, the students get to attend universiti­es affiliated to universiti­es in Barcelona, Stockholm, Poland, Netherland­s and Lisbon.

This way, the problem of ‘brain drain’ can be stopped. “It will be only ‘brain gain’, as students can give back what they learn't to their country,” Prof. Fransson said.

The 2-year course will start in September each year, and KIC InnoEnergy has plans to increase the number of scholarshi­ps to Sri Lanka in the future.

Scholarshi­p students will have their tuition fees waived in the 1st and 2nd year, while receiving euros 700 as living expenses in the countries they choose to study in.

In its 2017 intake, KIC InnoEnergy will grant 15 scholarshi­p to Sri Lanka students. Additional­ly, the Open University of Sri Lanka will also offer another 15 scholarshi­ps.

Those interested should be apply through the website …

 ??  ?? Prof. Torsten Fransson. Pic by M.D. Nissanka
Prof. Torsten Fransson. Pic by M.D. Nissanka

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