Days were dark with a raging war spreading untold suffering and unbridled poverty in its wake in Sri Lanka’s East, plaguing the people especially school going children. Parents had no alternative but to send their sons and daughters just after their AL’s to work in small grocery shops and wayside garages for a pittance they called a salary.
People’s suffering, especially the plight of youth with no hope of a future unsettled him many a time but he was determined to put an end to the misery. He was a visionary ahead of his time always thinking creatively, envisioning what a future would hold and come up with an answer that fit that picture - Baticaloa Campus Sri Lanka is Hon. M L A M Hizbullah’s brainchild replacing adversity and poverty with scholarly brilliance leading to an affluent life style here or anywhere else in the world for higher education aspirant educated youth.
I needed more information though to pen this article to let my readers know more, so I and my colleague made a bee line from Lake House to meet Ahamed Hiras Hizbullah. A door opened and we were greeted by a smart young professional whom I never thought was BCSL’s Managing Director. Pen and writing pad on the ready, I was all set to ask questions and take down notes.
Q. Why has this new non state university been located so far away?
A. The principle reason is that five out of the six non state universities are situated in Colombo placing a huge burden on students from eastern, northern and north western provinces in finding suitable lodging and bearing transport costs while concentrating on student fees and studies. BCSL is therefore located in the boarder of Batticaloa where connectivity is easy and hassle free for all from these provinces.
The stressful university life may sometimes threaten a students׳ academic performance. In this sense, design of the campus is far beyond providing a place for study. It should be healing while serving functional as well as mental needs. The beautiful forest surrounding the university campus offers a calm environment conducive to research and reflection while still within a buzzing metropolitan area.
Q. Why has a “seat of higher learning” as yours structured based on Moghal architecture?
A. The Mughal built environment inspires our sense of awe and delight, using elements of design that create artistic harmony, unbound by scale or material.The universal languages of geometry of form and symmetry of patterns, color and textures adds a unity of vision to the architecture that is the majestic Mughal style Pattern is a universal language that is recognizable across cultures and time.Perhaps, however, the greatest impact is how all of the parts fit together so perfectly, making the entire complex much greater than the sum of its parts.
Q. How do you define “knowledge for Today and Tomorrow” through BCSL?
A. Batticaloa Campus is a BOI project located on land released by Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. BCSL sets to produce globally employable graduates aligning its programmes with Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework and with the Asia Pacific Quality Network.
BCSL is a degree awarding body recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education and University Grants Commission. It’s a Member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
BCSL partners with reputed and successful universities likeNottingham University UK, University of Kuala Lumpur, Management and Science University of Malaysia, Erican College of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) of Malaysia, Kolej Megatech of Malaysia and Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) of Kuala Kangsar at Perak in Malaysia.
Q. What are facilities offered for students?
A. A library with a huge reference area, study rooms, reading rooms, self learning facilities with student and peer focused quality information products, services and programmes.
There are Student Support Services that finds relief for their grievances and problems through student counseling, accommodation, cafeteria services, common amenities, recreational and sports facilities, curative and preventive healthcare.
Students Preparatory Center help students use English as an effective means of communication in their prospective activities and help them develop skills for their own personal and professional development.
Q. Student Life at BCSL is thought to be unforgettable. How can it be so?
A. BCSL is located in a picture perfect environ. 100 acres in extent, the futuristic campus borders a river, a water garden encased in a lush green canopy. Teaching, learning, research laboratories, sports and recreational pursuits are of international standards.
Its eco friendly environment provide students with an experience that will last a life time.It’s only a 20 minute drive to the world famous Passikudah beach.
BCSL has scholarship schemes and are eager to lend financial assistance to needy students.
Q. What can you say about BCSL Study Programmes?
A. BCSL awards Bachelor of Science Degrees in Civil, Electrical and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering and BSc in Information Technology through its Faculty of Engineering & IT. Its Faculty of Tourism and Business Management offer BSc Degrees in Travel, Event & Hospitality Management and BSc in Islamic Banking & Finance.
BSc in Quantity Surveying is offered by the Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying. Bachelor of Law falls under the Faculty of Law. Faculty of Agriculture Technology and Resource Management offers the BSc in Agriculture Technology and Resource Management. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Shariah and Islamic Studies is offered through the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Languages.
Q. Affordability is a far cry considering today’s escalating costs in higher education. How affordable is your university?
A. BCSL came into being through funds and donations originating from Non Governmental Organizations from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We are financially strong therefore we have no need for capital expenditure added onto courses like most do.
Therefore our courses are affordable and within a student’s means. A four year engineering degree course could work out to eight hundred thousand rupees only at BCSL whereas one would have to pour out over one million to complete the same course we offer in any other institution.
Our scholarship schemes are specially formulated to help under privileged students principally from the North East and Southern Provinces.
We comply to the UGC criteria and a student obtaining a minimum 3 simple passes in any stream in the GCE Advanced Level Examination is eligible to enroll in our Degree Programmes.
One more thing they’ll be opening doors to a fascinating world of extraordinary opportunities in July this year. So be ready to rush in and be part of the dream.
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