The Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales (UoW) Professor Nigel Palastanga along with senior academics from the universities of Bradford,Swansea, Bangor,and Leeds visited Sri Lanka in November 2011. This was a customary bi annual visit to review the progress of students following the undergraduate and post graduate degrees of the University of Wales at the Imperial Institute Of Higher Education (IIHE). Professor Palastanga at the outset stated that he was very pleased that IIHE, since inception in 1996, has been exemplary in adherence to the stringent quality and other standards required of collaborative centers. He said that IIHE is a credit to the University. The other academics too concurred with the pro Vice chancellor and paid tribute to the IIHE for producing graduates of very high caliber, comparable to the best at any other international University.
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| Professor Nigel Palastanga,Pro Vice Chancellor, University Of Wales, UK |
Professor Palastanga, then addressed queries raised by students, faculty and alumni regarding proposed changes at the university of Wales reported in electronic and print media. He confirmed the message sent by the Vice Chancellor of UoW, Professor Medwin Hughes that the UoW will merge with two other universities in Wales. This merger, is in keeping with government policy, will take place under the oldest Royal Charter in England and Wales (1822), outside the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. This willelevate the University of Wales asthe third oldest in the UK, reflecting a real sense of History. Professor Medwin Hughes in a letter to the CEO, Dr. T.S. Weerakoon, had emphasized that the merger is also a strategic move intended to make the UoW a“Super University”. Professor Palastanga, in response to a question, said that the UoW will continue as The University of Wales Trinity St David, giving due recognition to the merger.
The Vice Chancellors message and the comments of the Pro Vice chancellor are very explicit with regards to UoW’s intended relationships with its collaborative institutions, some of which are nearly 20 years. With effect from September 2012 the expectation is that there will in fact be a closer link with the international partners. Professor Palastanga, stated that the UoW is determined to ensure that it continues its relationship with strong international partners like IIHE who have maintained their credibility and grown the brand image of the UoW within Sri Lanka.
With the merger UoW expects the programs delivered by its collaborative centers to become similar to those at the parent university in order to facilitate transfers between centers and the University. The Vice chancellor has in fact invited the CEO of IIHE and other Collaborative center heads to Wales to plan a smooth transition to the modified curriculum.
Dr. Thilaka Weerakoon responding to a question about the feeling of current and past students said that change is always an opportunity to make thing better.He assured that the students both past and present, having understood the proposed changes are confident and have placed their trust in the UoW and IIHE. In fact, the CEO said that the enrollments in November 2011 to the Programs are a testimony to this fact.He invited prospective students to visit the state of the art, conveniently located new Campus.IIHE continues to offeran opportunity to students to obtain a qualification from the prestigious University of Wales which will soon emerge as a Super University in Wales and as one of the oldest in the UK in standing and stature.
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