This directory provides the results of one of its research studies. Lirneasia, an IT and telecom-related research agency, said in a media release that it plans to carry out several in-depth researches into the higher education field of subject.
search Program of Lirneasia has prepared and published a directory named ‘CHOICES - Higher Education Opportunities after A/Levels’,” the statement said.
This directory consists of details of 46 private institutions which offer higher education and 10 government institutes or programmes that offer higher education but enroll students without the mediation of the University Grants Commission. It gives information on 258 courses including 249 under graduate programmes and 5 degreeequivalent programmes. This information is arranged under four major fields namely Commerce, Computer Science/IT, Engineering and Other and in alphabetical order.
The time, duration and the cost of every course is included in the directory. The cost ranges from Rs.200,000, between 2 – 500,000 and so on. Though, 55% of the courses cost over one million rupees, it was revealed in the research that some courses could be completed with less thanRs 200,000. The average time period to complete degrees in this directory is 3 – 4 years. In addition to providing information on courses, enabling students to make an educated decision on which course to follow, directories of this nature are expected to raise awareness in the society of the concept that higher education of a child needs to be completed by the age of 21 or 22 and in turn, the public education system would also follow this concept with responsibility.
“Even if the private higher education institutions are often referred to as fake or phony, all degree awarding institutions stated by private education institutions included in this directory are approved by relevant authorities either in Sri Lanka or in foreign countries. Out of 51 foreign institutions included, 49 are reputed universities with international listing that are recommended by the UGC. There are credible evidences that the balance five, although not included in recommended lists, is also reputed institutions in their countries,” it said.