With 20 foreign university affiliations from UK, Canada, Australia and U.S.A,A� SLIIT, has carved out numerous pathways for students to complete their degree at SLIIT or transfer to the respective partner university after two years of study at SLIIT.A�This year, the students and staff from Deakin University Australia volunteered in the Ampara district as part of the a�?Ampara Projecta�?: a Sri Lankan community development partnership. Deakin students were accompanied by Colombo-based colleagues at Deakin partner institutions including two students from SLIIT, the premier degree awarding institute in Sri Lanka.
Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Mahesha Kapurubandara, Dean International said, a�?The partnership we have with Deakin University has enabled our students to not only earn a world recognised degree but also to engage in extra curricular activities. The rapport we have built with Deakin University over the past few years, have created many opportunities for the local students at SLIIT to interact with foreign lecturers and students from Deakin Australia. We like to emphasise on the fact that a student does not have to transfer abroad to earn the college experience but can still share the same experience whilst at SLIITa�?.
The a�?Kegalle by Designa�� program encourages bamboo weaving as a livelihood activity.A� The Deakin volunteersA� assisted in packaging, marketing and product design for international markets.A� The a�?Irrigating Inginiyagalaa�� program consisted of students funding tube wells for irrigation and drinking water purposes.
The third a�?Ampara Projecta�� was a sports program which highlighted broader issues of social inclusion, community safety, health and fitness, and improving educational performance. Volunteers funded and distributed sports equipment and helped run a volleyball tournament to mark Deakina��s involvement.
The final program supplied electronic tablets for classrooms, seeking to spread the benefits of a flexible, intuitive and fun learning technology. Deakina��s own English Language College sponsored the supply of electronic tablets.A� Students provided Ampara district teachers with options for pedagogically sound education programs designed to improve mathematics and English language skills; areas of knowledge that contribute greatly to studentsa�� social mobility and future employability. The program was inspired by the successful UK-based a�?One classa�� program in Malawi.
With representatives from foreign universities,A� SLIIT hosts an annual partner university day for prospective students and their parents to witness and understand SLIITa��s academic programmes, foreign university partnerships and facilities geared to bring out the best in each student.
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