“Global partnership offers Sri Lankan students a pathway to Melbourne”
In 2014, Swinburne University of Technology established an exclusive partnership with Nawaloka College of Higher Studies (NCHS)in Sri Lanka. The partnership provides local Sri Lankan students with the opportunity to study Swinburne UniLink Diploma and Foundation Year programs in science, engineering and business, and helps facilitate entry into Swinburne in Melbourne, Australia or Kuching, Malaysia or into California State University, Monterrey Bay.
Last year, the first batch students from NCHS arrived atSwinburne’s Hawthorn campus in Melbourne to begintheir bachelor programs.
Thilan Rathnayake received the highest marks in his graduating class at NCHS and was one of the first students to transfer from NCHS to Swinburne as part of the partnership. An intelligent, hardworking student with a strong acumen in entrepreneurship,Thilan received a scholarship in recognition of his academic excellence.
“I decided to study civil engineering because I eventually want to have my own construction firm. The Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) is the first step towards fulfilling my dream”, says Thilan.
“My favourite part about this course at Swinburne is the tutorials. The chance to sit together with my peers and collectively break down complex problems before successfully solving them under the guidance of the tutor is a great learning experience.”
“I also appreciate the amount of independent learning that the Australian mode of education offers to students. Our lecturers will provide us with information and resources but they expect us to solve problems ourselves. Best of all, if I should require any assistance at all, I can always call upon my lecturers or use the study support services that are available – help is always at hand at Swinburne.”
In addition to studies, life in Melbourne has also been very rewarding for Thilan.
“In just a year in Melbourne, I have made so many friends – or ‘mates’, as they say in Australia – from all over the world! I count many Australians, Chinese and Sri Lankans as my friends. When I’m not working at my part-time job or studying, my friends and I regularly hang out on campus or indulge in Melbourne’s incredible food scene. The Turkish kebabs here are so good!”
Thilan attributes his high grades at Swinburne to his time studying at NCHS.
“I’m grateful to have studied my Swinburne UniLink Diploma at NCHS as I really benefitted from the small class sizes and intensive learning support that I received. When I transferred to Swinburne for my bachelor degree after the completion of my diploma, I found it easy to adapt to the Australian mode of education and my English improved dramatically too. I feel much more confident now.”
Swinburne’s partnership with NCHS has now seen over 60 NCHS students transfer from Colombo to Melbourne to complete their studies. The partnership forms part of Swinburne’s internationalisation engagement strategy,which is spearheaded by a suite of highreputational, multi-dimensional relationships with institutions, governments and industry in the communities in which Swinburne engages.
“Strong partnerships with quality educational institutions are what fuel knowledge-based economies,” says Melissa Banks, Director of Swinburne International.
“By enabling Sri Lankan students to commence their study at home and then gain entry to partner universities to graduate with an internationally-recognised degree, Swinburne stays true to its commitment of offering more students greater access to foreign education.
“Our partnership with NCHS is about providing Sri Lankan students with pathways to quality institutions and developing the human capital of the region.”