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Thursday, 30 April 2015 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Horizon CEO Upul Dharanagama
Q: How do you believe Horizon is positioned in the Sri Lankan education market at present?
A: I believe we are positioned amongst the top educational institutes in the country. Our initial mission was to create a world class campus with a distinctive emphasis on good education which is affordable for students in all walks of life, where we offer globally renowned high-quality degree programs in a warm, inclusive and engaged environment. This is something that we have achieved today.
Q: What kind of growth potential do you see in this market within the next year?
A: Sri Lanka’s education market is vibrant and we see a tremendous potential for growth in the sector with today’s young generation becoming more and more career oriented and ambitious.
What are the universities that Horizon represents and the degrees and concentrations offered?
Horizon currently offers international programs from the prestigious University of London that is ranked number 2 in the field of education. These degrees include Bachelor of Law, BSc in Economics, BSc in Banking and Finance, BSc in Accounting and Finance, BSc in Politics and International Relations.
Q: What are the key developments that you will be focusing on during the coming year?
A: We’ve given tremendous thought to how the role of business is changing and how global forces and new technology have reshaped the playing field. Hence we will concentrate on preparing our students with the ability to handle uncertainty and to become problem solvers who can manage unexpected events.
With the growing requirement of good educators, we have also embarked on offering the Bachelor of Education by the Karnataka State Open University which is recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Delhi, who is a permanent member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), London, UK.
Fulfilling another dire need of having qualified scientists in the country, Horizon has affiliated themselves with one of the top 10 universities in Malaysia Nilai University, to offer their students the BSC in Bio Technology.
Q: Tell us about the key benefits that differentiates your campus from others top institutes?
A: I believe it has a lot to do with our teaching methodologies, where our curriculums are designed to give students a strong foundation in learning and sharpening skills in their chosen field and to stay relevant in response to market demand.
We have also partnered with the Asia Pacific Quality Network to initiate our own quality assessment processors. I believe it is this stringent teaching methodology that has resulted in many top ranked universities being interested in speaking with us to partner with them. We are currently in the process of having discussions with some leading UK and Australian universities to bring internationally recognised degrees in Engineering, Science and Hospitality to the Sri Lankan market.
In addition, our lecture panel comprises of a group of impressive industry experienced personnel and PHD holders in their respective fields that head each study program. We also have a diverse student population that include overseas students from Turkey, India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afghanistan, and the African Region. This is something we’re proud of.
We also motivate our students to be entrepreneurial, inquisitive, and strong-willed and encourage them to take part in the many sporting activities available on our campus and to work in teams because, in business, excelling in cross-functional teams is vital to success.
Are there any loans schemes offered to students through any tie ups with banks?
Horizon campus offers 100%, 75% and 50% scholarships for deserving students in selected schools within the country and also further assists students with bank loans. Horizon is the only campus in Sri Lanka to offer their students hostel and transport facilities.
