Aspirations scholarships to give students overseas higher education

Aspirations Education (AE) an international career guidance and student placement service centre in Sri Lanka has ventured into an industry-first sustainability model providing access to education for the deprived through the contribution of the able individuals who travel overseas to pursue their education.

Since its inception in 2007, the aim of the scholarship programme was to assist students of low-income groups, who were deprived of the basic necessities in life, to follow a continuous school career.

For three consecutive years Aspirations Foundation has been sustaining 115 deserving students from 15 Districts in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Ampara, Badulla, Moneragala, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Gampaha, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kandy, and Matale, through the Scholarship Programme.

The selection of candidates for the Apeksha programme was carried out by the senior officials of Aspirations Education under the direction of heads of schools and tutorial staff; and subsequently, an in-depth survey was conducted to select students who needed financial assistance the most. Civil authorities of the respective areas assisted the course by assessing the actual living standards of the selected families.

Speaking about the initiative and its principle, General Manager Aspirations Education Deepamala Abeysekera said: “Aspirations Education was born out of a firm commitment to be a fountain of inspiration to the Sri Lankan community to help them realise their aspirations. Our core business model is providing career guidance and counselling services absolutely free of charge to students who wish to pursue their education overseas. True to our commitment we strongly believe it is our social duty to work towards helping ones Aspiration to be realised, and in this cycle, students who gain our services to reach global also become a vital partner developing the aspirations of their brethren in Sri Lanka.”

Elaborating further Ajith Abeysekera, Chairman, Aspirations Education explained how by receiving their professional services free of charge, students who can afford studies abroad, will effortlessly and routinely be helping their  sisters and brothers who are not as fortunate as them, through the innovative and social entrepreneurial process Aspirations have set in motion.  

Aspirations Education initiated the programme in complement to the Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education.

Students receiving professional services free of charge, will naturally and routinely help the less fortunate as per the “Apeksha Scholarships” scheme bridging the education divide, making a difference in all our lives.  

The concept of a knowledge divide is used to describe the gap in living conditions between those who can find, manage and process information or knowledge, and those who are impaired in this process. As specialised knowledge becomes an ever-increasing component in society and the spreading of this knowledge becomes ever faster with modern technology, the people who cannot take part in this development will be increasingly isolated and marginalised.

Promoting Sustainability in business Aspirations Education is a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and is the only educational organisation in Sri Lanka to be a part of the global network.

UN Global Compact is a leadership initiative of United Nations pioneered by Former Secretary General Kofi Annan where organisations from around the world have rallied under the UN banner to promote sustainable business practices that will add value to the society at large.  

Aspirations Education (AE) is a career guidance, counselling and placement services centre for overseas higher education with over 100 prestigious universities and institutes in Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Malaysia, India and Singapore. Aspirations Education (AE) provides a wide range of services and solutions guiding students to choose their academic paths and careers according to their talents and skills and in selecting the best possible institution for higher education and assisting students with the tedious task of obtaining a visa, which needs meticulous expert guidance.