Colombo University spreading its wings across education
University of Colombo, the first national university of the country, established according to BritishEuropean models gradually evolved through the Ceylon Medical College in 1870, was subsequently named as “The Ceylon University College” in 1921. There were gradual developments and re-arrangements leading to the present status of the “University of Colombo”.
Development of the Higher Education sector of Sri Lanka has widely grown within the past few years as this has become a major contributor to national development. “The significance and development potential of the higher education sector is clearly reflected in the development policy framework of the government. Accordingly, universities are expected to become centres for economic development, agents of innovation and incubators of entrepreneurship” says Professor Sunil Chandrasiri, Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies.
The University of Colombo has been growing fast and advancing its programmes to meet the International Standards and now is maintaining its position as “the metropolitan university” with a contemporary and international outlook. Reaching its way up to the position of 2251st world rank and number 1 in Sri Lanka.
The University hosts one campus and 7 faculties- Arts, Education, Medical, Science, Graduate Studies, Law, Management and Finance. In addition to above faculties and the campus, Colombo University manag- es 7 Institutes of different specialities. These institutes are 1. IIM, 2. IHRA, 3. PGIM, 4. UCSC, 5. UCIARS and 6. NILIS. Around 50,000 students annually enroll in the Academia. Other than that the campus also conducts staff development programs to train lecturers. Nearly 150 lecturers are sent to the University of Colombo from other regions for training. Funds generated to the University are not solely from public funds received through the Government. This comes from Generated funds and correspondingly funded by loans from International Banks.
The University conducts all types of academic programmes from Certificate courses to MPhil and PhD programs. According t o Dr Kumara Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor of the U n i ve r s i t y of Colombo, there are no “External” Degrees conducted as students need not be differentiated and there is no discrimination in quality of any Degree. Students who missed the entry to Bachelor Degrees could later enter to the Faculty of Graduate Studies with the qualifications below the first Degree level plus professional experience at executive level.
A certificate issued by the University of Colombo is accepted in any part of the world. A key reason could be the program structure hold- ing 15 lecture hours as one credit, which is a worldwide accepted norm. Other reasons that support in adding value to the University qualification offered are good performances of Colombo University, alumni working in the outside world, and Colombo being the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Although the education holds International standards students are not meant to pay at international rates for their education. In the same way international standard professional are not paid international standard salaries.
As an important fact, Dr. Hirimburegama explained, in detail the label of “Free Education”. He says there is nothing called free education as different types of taxes taken from general public is used for paying for the students though it is in an indirect way. The students need overcome the mentality of depending on others. They should understand that they are liable to the gen- eral public. “They should pay back, not in financial terms but maybe in labour or maybe in knowledge. If they start an industry and employ ten people that’s a good way in paying back. Even if they go to another country and improve the image of the country, be a good scientist or start an industry anywhere, Sri Lanka is benefitted finally”, says the Vice Chancellor.
Students of the University of Colombo are now well-mannered and properly disciplined. They tend to pay more attention to their studies and other extra-curricular activities such as projects involving in improving villages and certain irrigation projects. Students also take part in more religious activities such as organizing Pirith ceremonies and blood donation campaigns. Postgraduate Research The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) generates its own funds as postgraduate education is not free. With strong human resources the faculty is able to compete with other Government and private institutions. This faculty offers 32 programs, which includes 2 Executive Diplomas, 12 Postgraduate Diplomas, 12 Masters Programs and the rest fall under research category. About 2000 students are currently enrolled with the Faculty. Some study areas have been conducted via on-line video conferencing for the past five years through M-learning.
The studies are multi-disciplinary, for example allowing Science background holders to follow Business Management or Peace and Conflict Studies. These credentials are very much development oriented.
Students tutored here are employedin both private and public sectors or are self-employed. They pay their course fees out of their own funds or through an organizational sponsor. The FGS is also a clear demonstration of public-private collaboration in promoting postgraduate education as it draws human resources and technical support from the private sector for the delivery of its study programmes.
FGS has a strict rule on course schedules as in any other foreign university. “If we say it’s one year, irrespective of whether there are strikes by the students or staff we don’t care we just run the program because when you pay money there is an obligation on our side to give the service”, says Professor Sunil Chandrasiri- Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
The faculty with high interest looks into delivering higher education to those who are qualified for university education but were not able to enter into local universities due to extremely limited places.
However, the postgraduate education is extremely important for a University, as a University cannot be a real University without Research and Development (R&D) activities. Generally, the R& D students of Colombo University are on par with those in highly developing countries, due to existing research collaboration with top class universities in the developed world.