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For UK university education:

ANC lights the way

Universities are notorious for their competitive instincts and individualized pursuit of their own objectives. Occasionally, a truly collaborative partnership emerges and makes a sustained impact - but these are few and far between.

The Northern Consortium UK (NCUK) stands out among these as a prime example of what can be achieved by a group of universities working together for individual and collective aims.

Romantha De Silva

Established in 1987, NCUK exists to bring international students to study at one of the eleven owner universities (two each in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield and one each in Bradford, Huddersfield and Salford).

The ANC UK transfer program success story begins with the emphasis it places on the guaranteed entry to top 'Russell Group Universities in UK' such as Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield. This is achieved through a wide range of pathway programs designed and quality- assured by NCUK (Northern Consortium UK) and delivered at ANC. The International Foundation Year (IFY), equivalent to A/Levels for example is accepted at 20 top drawer UK universities.

Their dedicated academic committee, comprising external examiners drawn from the 11 universities, approves and quality assures the content and delivery of the NCUK curriculum on behalf of the universities. Examinations are set and moderated in the UK by module leaders appointed by their Academic Committee and signed off by the relevant external examiner. When the final assessment boards meet in Manchester, external examiners and academics from the local delivery centers confirm and publish students' results.

Quite apart from this rigorous procedure of learning, teaching, and assessing of students, there are two other major features of the program to be mentioned.

The first, is that the NCUK curriculum is about preparing for study in UK. This means achieving proficiency in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) which incorporates study skills, as well as a high level of subject knowledge.

The program curriculum takes these together in an integrated way, becoming an essential foundation for coping with the innovative approaches typical of UK Higher Education, but largely unfamiliar to many Sri Lankan students.

By giving students the best possible preparation for this transition from the approaches to teaching and learning in their home country to that found in NCUK's owner universities, the chances of students achieving their full potential are greatly increased.

Secondly, students successful in NCUK programs are guaranteed a place at one of the NCUK universities.

This is possible because these universities own the program through the consortium and represent most of the higher education spectrum in England.

ANC UK transfer program success stories

"Why choose ANC? Well that is indeed a question. My plan had always been to go to the UK straight away. Having resided in Dubai for a major part of my life it was not necessary for me to partake in the Sri Lankan education system.

While here on vacation though I just saw an advertisement in the newspaper offering a pathway to the UK making A/Level obsolete.

After achieving good grades in my O/Levels the idea of taking another two years of studies just to complete my A/Levels seemed a massive task. ANC offered me another route (one of its many) to the Leeds University where I can take my LLB in Law.

ANC also asked for fraction of price of what it would cost me in the UK. My parents were obviously a bit more relaxed knowing that the burden on their wallets would be lighter. Along with that I have indeed met a diverse group of students at the UK program, ranging from Greece, Germany, Canada, India, Maldives and of course my Sri Lankan brethren.

Over time I have bonded with my colleagues and always enjoyed the fact that we hang out with each other outside of the classroom too, going out for lunch, playing a game of billiards, visiting Baskin and Robbins. ANC does not only provide me with an education but also a vibrant and enjoyable lifestyle. I am always thankful for the experience that ANC has given me because honestly I can not think of any place better in Sri Lanka. So why ANC? Well because it can change your life."

Keells Super Collection Centres

Boon to rural farmers:

Gayan Kanchana

One of the premier supermarket chains operating in the country Keells Super has started a program to buy the farmers product directly from their areas through the Keells Super collection centres in those areas. With this program, farmers can receive a better price for their products with a stable market.

The Thambuththegama Collection Centre

Keells Super purchases products from different places in the country such as Tambuththegama, Eppawala, Kalankuttiya, Makulawa, Pahalagama, Gurugama, Pothiyagama, Nawakkulama, Embilipitiya, Nuwara-Eliya, Dehiattakandiya and Ampara. Recently Keells Super organized a field trip to the Thambuththegama Vegetable Collection Centre and to meet the farmers in the area.

A vegetable farmer in Thambuththegama Sunil Abesekara said, "I have a 2.5 acres of land to cultivate. Even though I'm a small farmer Keells Super pays me a better price than the other intermediary collectors pay me. The other important thing is when there is a low price in the market Keells Super purchases our products for stable and reasonable prices. I have been with the Keells Super five years and I'm very satisfied with them."

Jaykay Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd. Senior Manager Sourcing Nihal Senerath said, "Main objectives of these collection centres are to avoid the influences of intermediaries, to give a better price for farmers and provide fresh fruits and vegetables to our customers.

The collection centre was started in 2005 and since then there has been a major increase in the quantity of the harvest of farmers in the Thambuththegama area.

Previously we had only small number of farmers but now we have a considerable numbers of farmers.

These all the farms cultivate under the supervision of Keells Super due to we always try to maintain good quality for our products," he said.

NTB upgrades Jaffna school library

TheNations Trust Bank (NTB) recently helped upgrade the school.

The library of the Araly Hindu College located in Wattukottai North, Jaffna. It is a mixed school with a student population of around 500.

Araly Hindu College had been among the schools that had faced the brunt of the ethnic conflict.

The school was selected based on its needs that coincide with the bank's efforts on enhancing the literacy levels among deserving rural schools and the opening of its branch in Jaffna.

To promote FOTON trucks:

HNB, Indra Traders tie up

From left - HNB Chief Manager (Leasing) Keerthi Wijeratne, HNB, Assistant General Manager (Specialized Financial Services), R. M. P. Dayawansa, HNB, Deputy General Manager (Marketing and Retail Banking) Chandula Abeywickrema, Indra Traders, Chairman, Indra Silva, Indra Traders, Managing Director / CEO, Rushanka Silva, Indra Traders, Group General Manager Sunil Fernando and Indra Traders, General Manager (Marketing and Business Development) Dharma Illangasinha, at the exchange of the MoU.

Hatton National Bank PLC and Indra Traders has once again got together to offer leasing packages for FOTON brand vehicles.

During the promotional period HNB will offer low lease rentals to customers who opt to buy FOTON trucks with added benefits such as a free credit card, and a free life insurance cover up to Rs 1.2 mn. HNB Assurance PLC a fully owned subsidiary of HNB has offered a comprehensive insurance package for HNB customers a special premium.

During the promotional period Indra Traders will offer attractive value additions exclusively for HNB Leasing customers which include a diesel voucher worth of Rs. 50,000, the first service free of labour fees and also a complete warranty within the 50,000 km or one year from purchase.

HDFC Bank goes to Vavuniya

The Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank recently opened its 27th branch in Vavuniya.

The new branch was opened on June 8 by the Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in the HDFC Bank Chairperson Siromi Wickramasinghe, GM/CEO Suresh Amerasekara and members of the staff, were present at the occasion.

At the opening

"The opening of the new branch, which is first of its kind of specialized bank in Vavuniya, focused on catering to the needy housing segment and would play an active role in the development process of the Northern region. As the district recovers from the three decade war, the Bank has identified the urgent need for new housing in this area. The bank hopes to fulfill this need while supporting the Government's mandate of developing the newly liberated areas of the North and the East," said the Chairperson Wickramasinghe.

The HDFC Bank plans to be an active player in Northern and the Eastern provinces development and be at the forefront of the Government's nation building activities through the provision of banking and housing assistance through a wide range of products and services, she said.

Further plans are underway to open new branches in Mannar and Trincomalee within the next quarter of 2010 to capture the potential, she said.

The new branch will offer a range of services including housing loans and attractive savings and fixed deposit schemes. The customers will also have the access to network linked ATM facilities.

To market Samsung laser printers:

R and G partners John Keells

R and G Capital Managing Director S.M. Godwin and JKH Group Assistant Vice President/CEO Janoda Thoradeniya

R and G, one of the leading Sri Lankan imaging solutions experts is appointed as authorized resellers by John Keells - Office Automation to market Samsung Laser Printers islandwide.

R and G Capital (Pvt.) Ltd., is the only STMC International quality certified company in Sri Lanka.

R and G Capital (Pvt.) Ltd. will be opening an authorized Samsung clinic in Nugegoda town. This clinic is aimed at providing maintenance and warranty based services for existing Samsung users and newly registered users and handling trade-in offers.