University of Sri Jayewardenepura becomes the leader in guiding students to climb up in their Higher Education by offering split/joint Undergraduate degrees in Management, MBA, PhD in Business Administration and split/joint MSc and Double Doctorates in multidisciplinary research areas in Biotechnology, Medical Sciences and Neurosciences collaborating with top world ranking Australian Universities.
The academic visit of USJP delegates to Australia in April 2017 has paved the way for this achievement. Following the visit of Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Bryce Hutchesson to USJP and on his suggestion a group of delegation led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sampath Amaratunge visited Australia on an official invitation from the Universities in Australia.
The delegation had academic visits to following Australian Universities.
University of Monash is currently the 74th among the world rankings and 5th among the Australian Universities (http://www.australianuniversities.com.au/rankings/) is to join hands with USJP.
Preliminary discussions were held to offer 2 plus 2 (2 years each at USJP & University of Monash) double undergraduate degree in Management with the Business School, University of Monash, to be signed MoU will facilitate students to intern at Australia under the student exchange program which will commence from 2018 and starting batch of 40 students and 2 academics can be enrolled. This MoU will also allow exchange of resources and academics between the two universities.
The MoU signed at the Deakin University will provide an opportunity for students to register for split/ joint MBA offered by USJP and Deakin University also 2+2 or 3+1 (2 years each at USJP & Deakin or 3 years at USJP and 1 year at Deakin) double degree program with School of Law, Deakin University. The visit to University of Victoria created the opportunity for PhD placements and scholarships to our students and academics. Also discussion at the University of Western Australia routed to sign a MoU for PhD program with USJP for the employees of Central Bank of Sri Lanka allowing for a Joint Batch degree. Visits to above mentioned Universities has opened doors for joint research, academics and student exchange for both undergraduate and post graduate in Business Management.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is one of the highly acclaimed universities in Australia with a world ranking of 24th under the world’s youngest universities (https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-young-universities-world-2017)
The delegations from QUT visited USJP in February 2017, during which an International Agreement and a Joint PhD Agreement was signed allowing USJP post graduates to obtain split PhDs from USJP and QUT in multidisciplinary research in Biomedical Science. QUT may grant a tuition fee scholarship, if required, while the student is enrolled at QUT. The offer of a tuition fee scholarship is at the discretion of the Dean of Research and Research Training on advice from the QUT faculty and will be subject to eligibility standards, satisfactory academic progress and governed by the Conditions of Award of such a tuition fee scholarship.
Furtherance to this USJP delegation headed by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sampath Amaratunge visited QUT during their Australian visit. As a result of the discussion at QUT another Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed granting split/joint MPhil in Biomedical Sciences and grant annual scholarships to 10 students waiving off the total tuition fee estimated worth of the exemption is around 29 000 Australian dollars ( approximately 3.2 million LKR) per annum. In addition to this, discussions between USJP and QUT to start Joint/Split Master’s Program in Biomedical Sciences is on the next goal. Collaboration between QUT and USJP not only provide pathways for multidisciplinary research with funding indeed involves high possibility of human resource development and latest technology transfer.
USJP also moved forward to collaborate with BLUEBOX of QUT (http://www.qutbluebox.com.au/); the innovation and knowledge transfer company for QUT, which identifies researchers, protect and enable the commercialization of QUT’s innovations through managing QUT Intellectual Property assets, negotiating license agreements, forming start-up companies and working with industry and the community. Revenue turnover of BLUEBOX of QUT is about 1,556,313 AUS $ in 2015.It is undeniable that collaboration with BLUEBOX of QUT will lead to the commercializing of patented products and services resulting from the undergraduate and post graduate research by USJP scholars and academics to capture the global market.
This initiative is the result of the long lasting academic collaborations of Prof. Ranil de Silva with Dr. Lyn Griffiths, Executive Director, Institute of Health Biomedical Innovation, QUT which has paved the way towards the advancement in multidisciplinary including Science and Technology.
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health currently ranked among the top best institutes in Neuroscience is affiliated to the University of Melbourne which is ranked no: 01 among the Australian universities and one of the world’s top six brain research centers.(https://theconversation.com/institutions/florey-institute-of-neuroscience-and-mental-health-712)
Prof. Ranil de Silva, Director of the World Class University Project, had discussions with the Dean, Faculty of Medical, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Director of the Florey Institute on collaborating for research in the field of Neuroscience during the visit. The discussions concluded successfully enroll 2-3 students for MPhil and PhD in Neuroscience and research collaborations in the field of Neuroscience.
The University of Griffith is ranked 17th among the Australian Universities providing quality education for both national and international students. The Master of Medical Research course offered by Griffith is one of the highly recognized. USJP has signed a Letter of Intent with University of Griffith, which opens up opportunities in exchange of academic staff members, collaborative research and possible exchange of academic papers, mutual assistance in the preparation of seminars, conferences and workshops, exchange of academic publication materials or other information, co-operation in training projects for specified areas of development and opportunities for other forms of co-operation, such as the delivery of award and non-award courses. In future USJP will also collaborate with Gold Coast Campus, University of Griffith and allow student exchange program annually for MPhil and PhD.
The 7th ranked university in Australia, University of Western Australia (UWA), offers Master’s Program in Master of Health, to which USJP will be collaborate jointly and allow 2-3 students to enroll for MPhil and PhD annually. Further to this collaboration USJP will also interact with School of Indigenous Studies and Center for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, UWA on establishing a National Centre for Integrative Medicine.
The USJP will soon initiate Masters Programs in Biomedical Sciences under the Interdisciplinary Centre for Innovations in Biotechnology together with Faculty of Graduate Studies allowing students to experience the benefits reaped during the visit.
The post graduate students registered for Msc/ PhD under USJP will be eligible to apply for these programs only by completing the requirements of partner universities.
For further details:
http://www.sjp.ac.lk/news/interative-session-on-postgraduate-scholarships-to-australia/
https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20170219/283678299432462
The delegation team accompanied Vice Chancellor Prof. Sampath Amaratunge included Prof. Ranil de Silva, Director, World Class University Project Centre, USJP, Director, Interdisciplinary Centre for Innovations in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, USJP, Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe, The Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, USJP, Dr. U. Anura Kumara, The Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, Prof. Surangi Yasawardena, The Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Prof. Samanthi Senaratne, Director, Internal Quality Assurance Unit visited University of Monash with the team.