HSBC launches Future First Education Programme
HSBC recently launched the company phase of their Future First education programme. In association with the Ministry of Education and Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL), the launch took place on March 1 at Hewavitharana Vidyalaya, Rajagiriya, one of the many schools that will benefit from the programme.
Speaking at the event, Nimal Gooneratne, Additional Director of Education, expressed his gratitude to HSBC and YESL for the initiative, that focuses on polishing Sri Lanka’s budding young entrepreneurs, stating, 'These programmes will help our stu- dents to face their future without fear. The Western province extends its fullest support.'
Nick Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC for Sri Lanka and the Maldives said, “HSBC has invested 10 million USD globally for the Future First programme. This is because we believe in the power of education to make lives better. Entrepreneurship plays a vital part in a country's development-most of Sri Lanka's economic wealth comes from small and medium scale enterprises, and that is what we hope to encourage through this tie-up with YESL.”
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Patrick Amerasinghe, President of YESL, thanked HSBC for its financial support and the Ministry of Education for the keen interest taken in the initiative, adding that it was vital for more corporate sponsors and volunteers to join with YESL in promoting young entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka.
The second batch of students to pursue the internationally recognized Master of Development Practice Degree (MDP) at University of Peradeniya will be admitted in June 2012. Students with a university level background in social sciences, natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, humanities, law and management are encouraged to enrol in this unique and innovative two year degree programme.
The MDP at Peradeniya is part of a global network of 23 similar programmes in 16 countries. These have been developed in line with the recommendations of the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice and are sponsored by the Macarthur Foundation. The MDP is multidisciplinary in content, and its emphasis is practice-oriented with a three month field-training component. For more details visit the MDP website at http://www.pdn.ac.lk/arts/econ/mdp
or contact mdp@pdn.ac.lk