SLIIT partners University of Queensland in collaboration agreement and student transfer pathways

SLIIT Institute

• University is founding member of Group of Eight universities

SLIIT, Sri Lanka’s leader in providing access to high-quality university education, has expanded its global network to the next level of excellence by signing an agreement with the world-renowned University of Queensland (UQ) to offer transfer pathways to the UQ Engineering and Business degrees. 

UQ is one of Australia’s leading research universities and ranked amongst the top 50 institutions in the world. It is a member of the prestigious Universitas 21 and a founding member of the Group of Eight (Go8) universities.

The virtual signing ceremony was held recently via zoom in the presence of several dignitaries from SLIIT and the University of Queensland (UQ). Representing UQ were Vice Chancellor and President Professor Deborah Terry AO, Pro Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship) Dr. Jessica Gallagher, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law Executive Dean Professor Andrew Griffiths, and Faculty of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology Associate Dean (External Engagement) Professor Aleksandar Rakić.

In attendance from SLIIT were Vice Chancellor/CEO Professor Lalith Gamage, Chairman/Chancellor Professor Lakshman Rathnayake, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Professor Nimal Rajapakse, Deputy Vice Chancellor International Dr. Athula Pitigala-Arachchi, Dean International Professor Mahesha Kapurubandara, Faculty of Engineering Dean Professor Saman Tilakasiri and SLIIT Business School Dean Professor Samantha Thelijjagoda.

Through this collaboration, UQ and SLIIT have set up an articulation arrangement enabling students to complete their UQ engineering and business degrees in two years after completing their first and second years at SLIIT. The agreement also provides a platform for SLIIT to become an enabling partner of UQ and participate in joint initiatives such as workshops, research training, best practices in teaching, etc.

Professor Deborah Terry AO noted, “We are really looking forward to strengthening and deepening our relationship with SLIIT. I have had the great privilege of visiting SLIIT, and I am extraordinarily impressed during my visits with everything that you are doing. Beginning with the two sets of programs in Engineering and Business Faculties and the notion of the education hub and building links to research and looking at exchange students makes a lot of sense for future initiatives to develop.” 

Professor Lalith Gamage, thanking UQ said, “This is one of the most important and comprehensive agreements that we are signing for the first time with a G8 University, which also showcases UQ’s confidence in us, the quality of SLIIT education and our commitment to giving the best experience to students. This partnership is vital to Sri Lanka’s goal to establish a transitional education hub to attract international and local students and give them the ability to transfer to high-ranking global universities. 

“We are beginning with the engineering and business degrees and are keen to expand to computing, architecture and other areas in the future. We hope to extend this agreement to collaborative research, provide opportunities for our young academics to pursue PhDs at UQ and attract exchange students from UQ to SLIIT. We believe our partnership can go from strength to strength, and we are very committed to this endeavour.”  

University of Queensland Vice Chancellor and President Professor Deborah Terry AO, and SLIIT Vice Chancellor/CEO Professor Lalith Gamage holding the signed partnership agreement