Business Education

ACCA launches UK University degree in Lanka

ACCA Sri Lanka launched a unique and innovative collaborative degree programme between one of the UK’s most prestigious business universities, the Oxford Brookes University to enable ACCA students achieve a firmer foundation in furthering professional development.

Introduced in conjunction with the ACCA Graduation Ceremony 2007 felicitating the graduates, finalists, Associates and Fellows, this Bachelor of Honours degree in Applied Accounting opens up the double pronged advantage of ensuring academic and professional foundations into Finance, a vital component for the rapidly evolving position of finance professionals worldwide.

ACCA Programme Director Oxford Brookes Business School UK John Woodley who was Guest of Honour at the launch explained that the degree was jointly designed by the University and ACCA to meet the requirements of both a degree and a professional qualification. “Oxford Brookes University has the statutory authority to grant degrees in the UK.

Students of ACCA are now automatically registered for the Oxford Brookes university degree when they enroll to follow ACCA. Once they complete Parts 1 and 2 of ACCA’s professional examinations, they must submit a Research and Analysis project to the University, which is assessed by the University Business School staff. The successful student will be awarded a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Applied Accounting.”

President of ACCA Sri Lanka Dilshan Rodrigo, while congratulating the successful graduates and Associates, said that with the ACCA qualification recognised by both the UK Government, the United Nations and is practiced in 170 countries worldwide, ACCA professionals have wider and varied chances in the global employment arena, where young professionals can seek rewarding careers in accountancy, finance and management due to ACCA being recognised as a leading global professional accountancy body by reputation, influence and size.

“We offer the first choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world,” he said, “because our reputation is grounded in over 100 years of providing accounting and finance qualifications with long traditions complemented by modern thinking and a young and dynamic membership.”

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Opportunity to be a professional engineer

The shortage of suitably qualified technical personnel for the middle management grades is an acute problem in the construction industry and at the same time young school leavers are reluctant to join the industry due to the lack of opportunities in the industry.

As a solution to this problem the Chamber of Construction Industry (CCI) in association with Skills International Private Limited, (City & Guilds) implementing partners have now designed an Industry Based Training Program to prepare students for the internationally recognized City & Guilds qualifications.

The CCI training program is designed to produce qualified technical personnel at various levels of project management while giving them a clear career development path in Civil Engineering. A student with a minimum entry qualification of GCE(OL) would be guided through a series of theory and practical courses up to a level of a qualified Civil Engineer.

The student whilst being employed can follow the classes during week-ends. The training is offered at three academic levels namely the Technician Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.

All three programs are a mixture of theory and practice. Some aspects of the practical training will be carried out at the training center under the supervision of the tutors and the student is expected to get more exposure to the subjects covered in class at the work place.

The CCI will endeavor to find practical training places to those who cannot find places on their own. The CCI offers two streams of practical training for the student and the employer to select.

Employment without obligation providing provision for either party to terminate employment and the trainee to enter into article/apprenticeship agreement for a period of 4 years with the employer giving the employee a guarantee of continued employment and a long term commitment from the employee (Special Apprentice Scheme).

However for all courses students are expected to pay their own admission fees, course fees and examination fees. Wherever the employers are so inclined they could pay the fees and bond the apprentice for a desired period.

The CCI is the accredited representative of the Construction Industry and its corporate membership comprises Statutory Authorities, Architectural/Engineering Consultants, Construction Contractors and Manufacturers & Suppliers of Construction Inputs and Service Providers.

The City & Guilds is an Institution established in the United Kingdom for over 125 years operating in nearly 100 countries promoting education and training in various fields.

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IIHE conducts graduation ceremony

The graduation ceremony of the Imperial Institute of Higher Education (IIHE) graduates was held at the Galle Face Hotel recently. CEO/Managing Director, MAS Intimates (Pvt) Ltd Dian Gomes was the chief guest. Officials from the University of Wales validation unit, along with the faculty of IIHE also attended this grand ceremony.

Nineteen students from the BSc (Hons) Business Management degree program and 29 students from the MBA programme obtained their graduate certificates while 04 obtained post graduate diplomas. All these qualifications are internal degrees from the renowned University of Wales (UoW) UK, which is the second largest and second oldest university in the UK.

CEO/Academic Director of Imperial Institute of Higher Education Dr. Thilaka Weerakoon, said “It is indeed a very august moment where we recognize and reward the labours of our students and faculty.

IIHE is proud to be associated with a renowned university like the University of Wales where there is a high commitment to the quality of education vis-a-vis the quantity.

We as the sole validated body assigned to carry-out Wales University degree programs, aspire to deliver an exceptional education experience to our future generations, intertwined with skills development and character formation.

We are strongly convinced that a superior quality education is the gateway to a brighter, safer and a prosperous Sri Lanka.” He also told the graduates that, they are now equipped with a qualification that is globally marketable.