12 October 2006
Monash College today launched a new operation in Sri Lanka in partnership with the Ceylinco Group's Australian National College (ANC).
The Sri Lankan operation complements the already existing Monash College operations in Jakarta, Singapore, China and Australia.
Monash College offers pathways to study at Monash University, with students who achieve the required results in their Monash College Diploma program gaining direct entry to second year of their chosen Monash course.
Monash College Sri Lanka will offer a range of diplomas commencing with Business, IT and Engineering diplomas from February 2007, with Arts and Health Sciences expected to follow.
Professor Graham Webb, CEO of Monash College Group, said Monash College Sri Lanka would attract not only students from Sri Lanka but also from south India, the Maldives, the Middle East and wider South Asian region. "Successful Monash College Sri Lanka graduates will study at Monash's Australian campuses, Monash University Malaysia and possibly Monash South Africa," Professor Webb said.
The Vice-Chancellor of Monash University, Professor Richard Larkins, welcomed the establishment of Monash College in Sri Lanka.
"In terms of the south Asian region, Colombo sends more students to Australia than any other single city in south Asia including those in India and Bangladesh," Professor Larkins said. "To establish a Monash College presence in Sri Lanka was a natural step."
Dr Punarjeeva Karunanayake, the CEO of ANC Sri Lanka, said the number of students going to Australia to pursue higher education was increasing rapidly in the Asia Pacific region. "With the introduction of Monash College Sri Lanka, I believe that the benefit to students in this region of the world will be tremendous," Dr Karunanayake said.
Ceylinco is a top three company in Sri Lanka and the Ceylinco Group is Sri Lanka's leading private higher education provider.
Today's launch was attended by the deputy Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mr Matthew Hyndes, the chairman of Ceylinco Group, Dr Lalith Kotelawala; the executive director and founder of ANC, Dr Punarjeeva Karunanayake, the CEO of Monash College Group Professor Graham Webb and the groups' Director of Education Services Mr Nigel Wood who was responsible for developing the new enterprise.
Further information: Ms Penny Fannin, Media Communications, +61 3 9905 5828.
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