ESOFT opens new, ultra-modern campus in the heart of Colombo

ESOFT, Sri Lanka’s most trusted name for providing high quality, private sector higher education, has added a new milestone to its illustrious 16-year journey thus far by establishing a new, purpose-built, ultra-modern campus at No. 3, De Fonseka Road, Colombo 4. Dr. Dayan Rajapakse, Chairman and Managing Director of the ESOFT Group of Companies was the Chief Guest at the gala opening ceremony held on 26 May 2016 which was attended by a number of distinguished guests as well as industry partners, staff and students. Speaking at the event, Dr. Rajapakse described how his lifelong passion for teaching inspired the founding of ESOFT which started from very humble beginnings. Four students comprised ESOFT’s first intake back in the year 2000 and today it is an extensive, island wide network including seven Metro Campuses, three Regional Campuses, 34 Metro Colleges and one dedicated College of Engineering, all of which sees over 20,000 students passing through their doors every year. Explaining how the initial goal was to provide high quality ICT education, he described how today ESOFT is firmly established as a diversified education provider in the fields of computing, business management, engineering, hospitality management, languages and corporate training with many more areas to be introduced in the future. Dr. Rajapakse also spoke about ESOFT’s growing focus on serving international students and his vision of taking the ESOFT brand around the globe. “We have just opened a new centre in Bangladesh and also looking at expanding to several other countries in the region. There are numerous opportunities out there and I am confident that we are on our way to becoming a higher education provider of choice in many parts of the world,” he said. Premila Paulraj, Regional Director Asia, Pearson Qualifications International, also spoke at the event and described how Pearson takes great pride in their partnership with ESOFT. Noting that ESOFT partnered with Pearson in 2009, she went on to illustrate how within a few short years, ESOFT had been recognised as the Fastest Developing Edexcel Centre in Sri Lanka and by 2014 had successfully expanded portfolio and student numbers to the level of Pearson Gold Partner. Talking about her recent tour of the new building she stated: “I have visited many of our partner centres in different countries and I must say that the facilities I’ve seen here at the new ESOFT Metro Campus are on par with some of the best in the world. The high tech computer laboratories in particular are truly state-of-the-art and very impressive.” The new 10-storey location is built for purpose and is the culmination of a long standing objective of the management of ESOFT who wanted to provide local students with an international campus experience right here in Sri Lanka. The computer lab, spread out over multiple floors, is stocked with over 400 sixth generation computers, newest laser printers and scanners, latest Cisco network equipment and supported by the fastest available broadband speeds in the country, making it the largest and most technologically advanced of its kind available through a higher education institution in Sri Lanka. The classrooms too have been aesthetically designed to meet world class standards by seamlessly blending the latest projectors and sound systems into a spacious and modern classroom environment which together delivers a truly memorable learning experience. Comprehensive library and reference facilities with an extensive collection of both printed and digital resources are also on offer, enabling students to pursue their chosen areas of research supported by knowledgeable and friendly library staff. Moreover, Wi-Fi hotspots are available on every floor, enabling students to make use of high speed internet access for studies or leisure, in keeping with an open and progressive academic environment. The new building also includes a large cafeteria, pool tables and other recreational facilities to ensure that students have the opportunity to eat, drink and unwind between lessons. The car park supports up to 80 vehicles at any given time and uses some of the latest innovations to ensure efficiency and ease of operation. The entire building is centrally air conditioned and equipped with automatic lifts, fire detection/control systems and TV camera surveillance to ensure safety and security of students at all times. With a 16-year tradition of excellence behind them and an unwavering commitment to developing globally employable individuals who can operate beyond mere paper qualifications, ESOFT Metro Campus is now looking forward to shaping the lives of many future generations of students to come.