Colombo’s newest international education college ‘UTS Insearch Sri Lanka’ was officially launched in Colombo yesterday (5) under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Attending the launch event were: Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, His Excellency David Holly; Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) for the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Iain Watt; Managing Director of UTS Insearch Alex Murphy, and more than 200 dignitaries, business leaders and educators from Colombo.

The launch will see UTS bring its latest developments in higher education learning from Sydney to support the skills and knowledge Sri Lankan students need for international study and career success. The’ initial investment in Sri Lanka is more than US$2 million and affirms Australia’s commitment and close ties to Sri Lanka.

“I am pleased to be a part of the launch of the UTS degree pathway (Diploma) programs here in Sri Lanka. This will provide students with a pathway to one of Australia’s most innovative and technology focused universities, with the opportunity to complete their studies in Sydney, Australia,” said Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Australia is a welcoming destination for Sri Lankan students, with more than 170,000 people of Sri Lankan heritage already part of the Australian community. According to UNESCO, Australia is the top destination for internationally mobile students from Sri Lanka, with almost 40% of the 19,000 Sri Lankans who study abroad each year choosing to study in Australia.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, His Excellency Mr David Holly also supported the launch. “The establishment of a UTS Insearch branch campus in Colombo is a significant milestone in the relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka and is another example of Australia’s excellence in providing educational opportunities in Sri Lanka,” said David Holly.

UTS Insearch Sri Lanka will offer UTS Foundation Studies and first year university-equivalent programs in Business, Engineering and Information Technology from a new building, situated on Thurstan Road, Colombo. Classrooms are being equipped to an international standard, with teaching scheduled to commence in October 2019.

“This is about creating an inspiring learning environment for students - we are excited to be bringing our innovative approach to education to Colombo,” said Iain Watt, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (International) for the University of Technology Sydney. 

The Colombo campus will draw upon the depth of experience of UTS Insearch, which provides English language and education pathways for the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, and through partnerships in China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, South Korea and Vietnam.

“We are investing more than US$2 million in developing our college and courses here, contributing to Sri Lanka’s exciting future and growing economy. Our teachers will use the approaches to helping students develop and embed university-level academic skills,” said Alex Murphy, Managing Director of UTS Insearch.

UTS Insearch Sri Lanka programs allow students to develop the academic skills and knowledge for success at university. They use the teaching and learning styles typical of international universities, encouraging students to develop critical skills in areas as communication and presentations, assignment and exam strategies, group work and team skills, to prepare them to navigate studying and living internationally.

Upon successful completion of the applicable courses at UTS Insearch Sri Lanka, students meet the requirements for entry into the second year of their degrees at the University of Technology Sydney, depending on the course chosen.