Berkeley University to setup Business and Engineering School here

The University of California Berkeley has entered into a Private Public Partnership with the Higher Institute of Technology for the first phase of setting up a fully-fledged Business and engineering school that will open in two years from now.

The project which was inspired by the Prime Minister has been given Cabinet approval to set-up this not-for-profit institution which will also be a recognized degree awarding body that will have a facility with the Port City as well as a University and Technology Township in Keragala, Biyagama.

Speaking at the launch of the event, Adam Burman, Executive Director at the New Academic Ventures Unit of UC Berkeley said that they would assist the government of Sri Lanka with the initial phase of the project. “We will be assisting with the design aspect to create a blueprint for the university. We may also help with the academic prospects and the curriculum as well as academic program. We’re looking at a broad based general business management degree as a start,” he told the Daily News.

“Since there isn’t a university of this nature and since UC Berkeley does not have a project of this magnitude in Asia, we are hoping to tap into the SAARC market for students,”Burman said.

It was revealed at the launch, that the government has supported the initiative by providing a leased land in Biyagama and has also successfully sought the partnership of 10 other large private companies and conglomerates for the project.

“Scholarships will be provided to selected students and only the best students in the region would be afforded the opportunity of studying here. It will be an elite school, the first of its kind,” Burman added.

The Higher Institute of Technology (Guarantee) Ltd will be operated on a needs-blind basis (with not less than 25% of Sri Lankan undergraduates on full scholarships) to provide the opportunity for the best and brightest students from Sri Lanka and SAARC to receive a world class education.

A Centre of Excellence Engineering School will also be set up on a not-for-profit, need blind basis for which a number of preliminary discussions have been held with different global top ten engineering schools including the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley.

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