Learn while you earn – NEW Diploma in Tourism at The Open University of Sri Lanka

As we step into the 40th years The OUSL fulfills a long felt need when it launches the Diploma in Tourism Operations in May 2020. This one- year Diploma has been designed to provide the conceptual and practical training needed in the field of hotel and travel trade. It will also provide a nationally recognised qualification that would enable those in the field to pursue higher level training within the field and also an opportunity to enhance the knowledge and experience of those already employed in the industry.

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka is growing despite temporary setbacks. In the past decade, the industry has expanded remarkably since 2009 when tourist arrivals were only around 500,000. Now the country has over 2 million visitors per year.

Hotel expansion has also continued to meet the demand and presently has about 35,000 rooms all over the country. Closely related is the development in all other related service providers to facilitate the tourist industry. However, manpower development has always lagged. It is the intention of the Diploma to provide an opportunity for those interested to join the tourism industry.

The Diploma is a good opportunity to enter into the tourism industry and also provide a platform for those who are already employed to improve their knowledge and skills. Especially, for those employed, they can learn while they earn as classes are held only on Sundays and further it is conducted partly online.

In the first semester the students are introduced to the concepts, characteristics and components of the tourism industry as core subjects. The historical and geographical aspects impacts and sustainable development principles will also be emphasised including a brief account of the future of the tourism industry globally and in Sri Lanka. The core subjects are more academic oriented and will lay the foundation on the true meaning of tourism which is multi-disciplinary and multi sectoral.

This will give the students a better understanding of the big picture of this complex subject called tourism. In the second semester the students have the option of branching to the hotel sector or the trade sector. Students going through the programme at this stage will attain the needed knowledge and practical skills to perform the tourism industry. Students at the Open University work at their own space in their own environment. It is distance learning with lectures at a minimum and not necessarily compulsory. With the programme being offered online, this is another means of interacting with the lecturers on a regular basis. Discussions will be a continuous feature. Students can learn through their mobile phones wherever they are and whenever they can.

For further information in obtaining this nationally recognized diploma, please see the OUSL website www. ousl. lk under Diploma Programmes. Nizam Lantra Programme Coordinator/ Diploma in Tourism The OUSL