At present Sri Lanka provides free education starting from primary level all the way up to tertiary education. As a means of giving more value to students benefiting from the system it is vital that academic professionals engaged in the industry too are equally competent to meet local standards.
Ashland University International Student Services Director, Susan Rosa on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka noted that the University was keen on introducing the Master's in Education (MEd) to local graduate teachers as it would only further enhance their expertise academically and make them more "student-friendly."
Ashland University International Student Services Director Susan Rosa - Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana |
She went on to say that the University was exploring the possibility of making the two programmes namely MEd and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) available online through distance learning. She added that the degrees, with special reference to the MEd should be looked upon as an investment which would further enhance one's academic performance and teaching capabilities.
"Especially in terms of the former (MEd), we hope to build a scheme that would let those interested commence the degree in their native country through distance learning and complete the final semester in the States. This would be practical for teachers who do not want to leave the country and their teaching for educational purposes."
At present Sri Lanka has five students studying under the MBA programme at Ashland, which is currently the most popular and affordable amongst all PG programmes. However the university is positive that the numbers would show a healthy increase in the future. Rosa identifies the prevalent local postgraduate students to be 'exceptional,' very outgoing and flexible. She added that this resulted in the students being able to blend in easily with the rest of the international community.
She stated that the university had a strong role to play in Sri Lankan education especially given that the UG and PG programmes in education are the leaders in Ashland's academic curriculum. This is followed by the business department comprising of both UG and PG syllabi which includes entrepreneurship and finance based programmes. Rosa explained that newer enrolments have shown a greater propensity towards Forensic Sciences and Chemistry especially as a result of the "Hollywood portrayal of the subject matter." Also sports communication, management and athletic training are also a recent field of interest especially for students who come from influenced countries. On a lighter note she remarked that the University was well known for its dining facilities.
On more generic terms she commented that international students would also result in the financial betterment of the States. However she stressed that with the growing consideration of setting up University branches in Sri Lanka, this would work inverse and that the country would benefit in the long-run, adding "universities hope to internationalise their campuses." Rosa also pointed out that with international students coming into the States the global perception that was held of America would change. "Ironically enough Americans are more conservative than what is portrayed in the media."
It was believed that through programmes of this nature, the number of skilled workers would increase and would even result in the greater contribution towards foreign revenue through "global employment" as opposed to the present number of unskilled migrant workers.
Ashland University is to introduce the MEd and BBA programmes for local students online through distance education. |
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