Victoria University, Australia recognizes OpenArc Diploma

Whether your child has passed the most competitive advanced level examination or not, OpenArc Campus has various options to pursue a career in Information Technology. The latest option a student has is an economical pathway to read for an IT degree in the prestigious Victoria University, Australia. Victoria University (VU) in Melbourne, Australia is an internationally renowned institution ranking in the top two percent of universities worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings, 2017) and fifty six (56) in the world’s best 200 universities under fifty (50) years of age (Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, 2017). As one of thirty-nine (39) public universities in Australia, graduates can be assured that their qualification from VU is awarded from a university operating in a worldclass education system. As the University of Opportunities and Success, VU has recognized the Industrial Diploma in Software Development (IDSD) programme of OpenArc Campus and exempted the first year of the Bachelor of Information Technology at VU for IDSD.

In the year 2007, OpenArc introduced the first Industrial Diploma in Software Development programme, to develop middle level technicians for the parent company OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) ltd. This programme was designed after considering the Information and Communication industry requirements, in order to produce an ‘Industry-ready’ middle level technician in Software Development. It has also given a student a firm foundation to commence a degree level academic programme.Year after year, the IDSD programme had been refined and come up with the several versionsand syllabus revisions to suit the new developments in the ICT industry.

All the first year subjects of the VU degree are exempted when a student completes the IDSD at OpenArc. Other than the eight subjects, shown in the table, OpenArc IDSD has several other relevant subjects to prepare and build confidence in programming. There is a project, through which, students will apply what was learnt to develop a real world software application. Hence, when a student completes the IDSD, they are not only conversant with theory, but also application of those theories.

There are some other advantages in doing the First year here at OpenArc, other than saving more than 90% of the course fee. It would be a transition period in which they not only build up confidence in subject areas, but also get to know the Victoria University representatives, right here in Sri Lanka. Hence, by the time they go to Australia, they would be conversant with Australian culture etc.

Other than the IDSD, OpenArc Campus offers various other options for a school leaver. One such opportunity is the Bachelor of Information Technology degree (external) of the University of Moratuwa. The prestigious University, has commenced registering students for the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) for theacademic year 2019, with a new syllabus. It is a three year, 100 credit degree with six semesters. The main highlight of the new syllabus is that, unlike any other IT degree, students have to do three projects, one in each academic year, starting from a mini project in the first year, then a group project in the second year and a comprehensive, individual project in the third year. By getting involved in these projects, students would start applying what was taught as theory, from the first year. The entry qualification is three passes in GCE (A/L) in any subject stream and a credit pass for Mathematics in GCE (O/L).

OpenArc Campus, the education arm of the OpenArc group is an accredited partner to the University of Moratuwato deliver the degree programme. The Chairman of OpenArc, Daya-Hettiarachchi, who counts over thirty years of experience in the ICT industry quoted, “we are dedicated to IT education from the inception in 1991, and we have produced a large number of IT Professionals over the past twenty seven years, not only for the parent company, OpenArc Systems Management which is one of the leading software houses in the country but also, to the entire IT industry as a whole”

Another opportunity is the Bachelor of Information Technology degree (external) of the University of Colombo school of Computing. The prestigious University, has commenced registering students for the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) for the academic year 2019. The entry qualification is three passes in GCE (A/L) in any subject stream and a credit passes for English language and Mathematics in GCE (O/L).

For those students who have been unsuccessful in GCE (A/L), have alternative pathways to read for the BIT degrees mentioned earlier. They can do the Foundation of Information Technology programme and fulfill the criteria to read for the BIT degree of University of Colombo. The OpenArc IDSD Diploma provides an alternative pathway to read for the BIT degree of the University of Moratuwa.

Even if you/your child has earned sufficient grades to enter to a local University, they can follow various short courses at OpenArc, in order to make their life easier when they get into the campus. Several programmes like Computerized drafting, Programmming in C or Java, Project Management etc are on offer.

OpenArc Campus believes, education is ‘Developing Heads, Hands and Hearts’. The purpose of education is not only passing examinations but producing good human beings with values and problem solving capabilities. At OpenArc, we believe in imparting up-to-date knowledge (Developing Heads), and giving an opportunity to do hands-on practical work, related to what they learn (developing Hands). Without stopping there, we take an extra effort to build good values in them (developing Hearts). Hence, studying at OpenArc Campus is a unique experience for IT students; Daya-Hettiarachchi added.

There are two modes of study at OpenArc Industrial Campus, full time mode, conducted during weekdays and part time mode, conducted during week-ends. For the full time students, OpenArc has added several additional modules to prepare them for the industrial requirements. Those are;

Soft skills development & Morale studies

Japanese Language (to support OpenArc Systems in Japan)

Industry exposure through, miniprojects

Job oriented training through internships Daya-Hettiarachchi also quoted “we take extra care in moulding these students, because finally, we need them for our own software development house. OpenArc students get the opportunity to see and get involved in the practical software development process at OpenArc where, over one hundred developers are engaged in a professional environment which is CMMI level 3 international quality certified. Hence, they are ‘Industry Ready’, when they pass out. There is a big demand for Sri Lankan software developers with Japanese language capabilities in Japan. That is why we teach our children Japanese language. When they become skilled, we can employ them at our subsidiary in Tokyo, Japan”.

The enrollmentfor all theseprogramme can be doneby visiting OpenArcCampus at No. 120, Highlevel Road, Kirulapone, Colombo 06. There is a Career Guidance Workshop on Saturday, the 19th January 2019 at 10.00AM. OpenArc Campus invites school leavers to visit them with their parents, in order to receive guidance to build a career in computing.