For the first time in Sri Lanka, local and international students can study Australian university undergraduate programmes in disciplines as diverse as biomedical science, cyber security, design and commerce at the new Edith Cowan University (ECU) campus in Colombo.
ECU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Chapman said the new campus demonstrates ECU’s commitment to delivering higher education opportunities in Sri Lanka and creating innovative pathways for more students to obtain a world-class Australian degree in their home country.
“We are proud to have created the opportunity for Sri Lankan students to study our degrees in key growth sectors in a world-class learning environment,” Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Chapman said.
“These globally recognised degrees will help to meet current and future skills, meet employment demand and support economic growth in the region.”
Visiting the ECU Sri Lanka campus, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, said that Sri Lanka needs to open more opportunities for local and international students and that the government appreciates such projects.
The Prime Minister toured the campus alongside the senior executives from Edith Cowan University and Navitas from Perth.
The purpose-built, eight-floor campus, which already has 545 enrolled students, features learning and teaching facilities where students can unlock the skills, experience and knowledge they need to gain employment and secure successful careers, anywhere in the world.
Among the highlights are new biomedical laboratories, designed and fitted out to Australian standards which support a range of disciplines such as anatomy, microbiology, genetics, physiology and histopathology.
The campus also incorporates a unique digital hub, developed for training in high-end digital marketing and game design.
ECU has also announced the launch of a new engineering degree in 2024, which will give engineering students access to three large engineering laboratories including an electronic laboratory, an industrial control laboratory and a power laboratory.
Navitas CEO Scott Jones said Navitas and ECU had worked in partnership for almost 30 years to increase access to quality higher education programmes and leverage opportunities in the international and domestic market.
In Australia, more than 10,000 students have progressed to study at ECU through pathway programmes offered by Navitas at Edith Cowan College.
“The launch of ECU Sri Lanka is testament to the strength and sustainability of our partnership, which enables world-class education to be delivered to more students in different regions around the globe,” Jones said.
“Importantly, ECU Sri Lanka offers local students the opportunity to study an Australian qualification at a world-class university campus, while enjoying the many benefits of living and working in their home country.”
Professor Chapman said he was proud to partner with Navitas, which has a long and successful history of providing transnational education in partnership with universities around the world.
