Branches of the Peradeniya and Moratuwa Universities will be established in the Maldives, said City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education Minister Rauff Hakeem.
He was speaking as chief guest at the annual sports meet of Yahalatenna Muslim Vidyalaya, in the Kandy district, recently.
Minister Hakeem said it has been agreed with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to establish branches of these prestigious universities for which purpose a dedicated island in the Maldives is to be allotted.
He said he brought up this proposal at the discussion with the Maldivian President who had visited Sri Lanka on National Day and also with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Maldivian President has agreed to the proposal. It was agreed that Maldivian students would complete the first two years in the Maldives, in partial completion of the degree programmes and continue their studies in the remaining two years in Sri Lanka.
“Through this, we get opportunities to expand the higher education sector of our country in the international arena and also uplift the rankings of our universities,” Minister Hakeem said.
He said plans are underway to introduce new programmes at the universities which give priority to technological education and for developing existing faculties of technological studies at the universities, as well as starting new faculties.
Career guidance and training workshops for students will be conducted in every education zone, after Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations, through the Mahapola Fund, in the future, the Minister said.
Minister Hakeem said, “Solutions will be sought for job-related needs by raising students’ awareness on how to select appropriate degree programmes. We also plan to commence job-oriented courses in universities, to prepare students for the job market.”
While taking steps to uplift university education in Sri Lanka to international standards, it is planned to also compile a legal draft to enable the upgrading process. A separate committee is to be appointed to submit a report in this regard, Minister Hakeem dsid.
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