UK to support Lanka's education hub aim

The British High Commission in a press release says "The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) (the trade arm of the British High Commission - BHC) the British Council and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) jointly hosted a presentation and soiree on UK-Sri Lanka Education Partnerships' on December 6 Monday, 2010 at the British High Commission. The event was attended by over 50 Sri Lanka's top Higher Education Institutions.

Presentations from UKTI, UKBA and the British Council helped to clarify how Sri Lankan education providers could work with these organizations to achieve their business and further education goals.

Deputy British High Commissioner Mark Gooding speaking at the event said, "The UK has an outstanding reputation for excellence in education and skills, not only for the development and export of educational resources. Technology and software but also for corporate training, vocational training and further and higher education. UK qualification are valued the world over."

The UK has an enviable track record in matching quality education and training to the needs of a growing economy.

Education is an investment that should not be taken lightly and we encourage Sri Lankan education providers to partner with the best of our institutions to ensure that Sri Lankan students obtain the best of qualifications."

UKTI Head Janet Ford added that UKTI supports UK universities and colleges wishing to link up Sri Lankan private colleges and vocational training institutions. British Council Country Director Tony Reilly highlighted the number of existing education partnerships between the UK and Sri Lanka.

UK partners are keen to support Sri Lankan government aims to establish Sri Lanka as an education hub for the South Asian region. Reilly also pointed out the potential to expand the volume and range of UK-Sri Lanka education partnerships. This is likely to include an increasing number of UK universities establishing campuses in Sri Lanka. Reilly further flagged the annual Education UK exhibition organised by the British Council, scheduled to take place in February 2011 in Colombo at which 70 UK Higher and Further Education institutes wodul be represented.

Finally, a representative of UKBA outlined the latest developments in the UK's student visa application process and explained that a consultation on student visas for the UK would be announced shortly. Student agents and education providers were encouraged to participate in the consultation process.

Students and agents were advised to study the visa information on the UKBA website, follow the guidance carefully and submit fully completed and documented visa applications.