Social Investment

Education in Sri Lanka enters Cyberspace
In a trail blazing innovation, Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel in collaboration with the University of Colombo has introduced a method of education utilizing advanced technology to Sri Lanka.   “M-Learning” is set to revolutionize the whole experience of education.

Vital to any nation’s economic development is the education of its young people.  Evolving mobile technology, especially with Mobitel moving into the 3G network spectrum, can now address the drawbacks associated with traditional classroom interaction in formal education,  through Mobile Learning (or M-Learning). By M-Learning is meant the teaching and learning through the use of mobile and hand-held devices such as mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), laptops and tablet PC’s.  It will also make education more accessible and flexible to a far larger audience.

In addition to the benefits of mobility, flexibility and convenience, is the value added by the course curriculum, designed and compiled by the University of Colombo, the apex of higher education in Sri Lanka.  The inaugural course is to be the “Executive Diploma in Marketing” (EDM), currently run by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.  The course will be a stepping stone for students with only AL qualifications, providing them with an opportunity to join the Postgraduate Diploma in Management and consequently the Masters in Business Studies (MBS).

Professor Lakshman Dissanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the CEO of Mobitel, Suren Amarasekera are in agreement that this pioneering innovation is an unprecedented opportunity to improve the employment prospects of the people in this country.   They said it would revolutionize education and access to it.  Mobitel will provide the mobile utilities and connectivity while the technology will be supported by reputed Korean Companies and would absorb course-related call costs.

This programme aims to improve student employability in marketing positions in the business arena or facilitate higher studies.  It will also give them practical knowledge of computer technology; a pre-requisite for employment today and contribute to the prosperity of the country and future generations. 

(Link to full press release here)