Industrial route to the highly popular Edexcel HND in Computing and Systems Development – Another first by OpenArc Campus

Industrial degree pathway designed to meet the demand for experienced software engineers in Sri Lanka and abroad

Statistics show that there is a phenomenal growth in demand for software developers. It is said that by 2020 there are will be a shortage of over one million experienced developers in the US. This demand has prompted educators in the US to think of teaching how to write software to children along with their learning to read and write.

These statistics are equally impressive in Sri Lanka as it is in the other parts of the world. OpenArc has been campaigning on the importance of developing a huge workforce of competent software Developers and Software Engineers to secure the future of Sri Lankan IT industry. This could only be done by offering career pathways and world recognized education to those who enter this field. The “Industrial Route” to top foreign degrees therefore is another “first” by OpenArc Campus in developing top careers for our youth.

The specialty of the “Industrial Route” is that students get theoretical knowledge of the most modern technology pertaining to computer software development and the experience in applying this knowledge with work placement within OpenArc Group. The students also are encouraged to take up short internships abroad through the student exchange pogramme of the campus. “This teaching model is unique to OpenArc because we are the only institution running a Software Development Company and an IT Campus in the same location” says the Chairman of the OpenArc Group Mr. Daya Hettiarachchi. “We have been effectively integrating genuine on- the- job training with academic programmes for many years so that students no longer need to experience a painful transition period from higher education to real life work. Equally, no post A/L student needs to postpone

pursuing higher edu- cation upon successfully completing A/Ls in order to gain work experience. Our “Industrial Route” provides the best of both worlds- academic qualifications and Industry training- at the same time at no additional cost”.

The Edexcel HND programme at OpenArc Campus could be completed within a total of 18 months with no additional cost to the student for the Industrial training. Therefore it is indeed a distinct advantage from the students’ point of view to be Industry ready along with a highly recognized qualification. For the parents who fund or subsidize their children’s higher education, it is a real value-addition to make it possible for them to be work- ready even before the completion of their degree programme at no additional cost.

What’s more, students following the industrial route usually do very well at their degree studies as the past clearly indicates. Last year (2012) some of the students on the Industrial Route to the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT), passed out with coveted “First Class” from their degree programme while others moved on very rapidly to Masters and other postgraduate level studies. Needless to say, those who complete their HND at OpenArc Campus on the “Industrial Route” have a big advantage over others following conventional routes to a degree. Considering the huge benefits, OpenArc urges all those who are contemplating to pursue higher education to seriously consider its INDUSTRIAL ROUTE to their degree.