Open University of Sri Lanka
Encyclopedia
The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL,ශ්රී ලංකා විවෘත විශ්ව විද්යාලය,இலங்கை திறந்த பல்கலைக்கழகம்) is a national university in Sri Lanka
. It is unique within the Sri Lankan national university system for being the only university to offer programmes of study leading to certificate, diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate degree through the Distance Mode/ Learning. OUSL's academic programs enable students to combine theoretical study with meaningful real-world learning experiences.
The OUSL Main Campus is located in Colombo in Nawala
, Nugegoda
.
the Cabinet Minister of Education & Higher Education at the time.
The University was set up by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, for the purpose of providing higher educational opportunities to working adults - providing them the road to success, surpassing age, vocation, gender, race, ethnicity and religion.
The university policy on admission would enable a person to register at the lowest 'Level' with mere basic literacy and then climb up to postgraduate level.
The concept of Distance Education at the OUSL functions through a dynamic network of regional and study centres, with knowledge imparted through multiple media. Therefore students with work commitments are able to pursue studies since they interact with especially designed self-instructional materials where the materials function as a “Tutor in Print”. This method provides the distance learner with the best possible learning opportunity to enable a balancing of personal, work related and academic obligations.
is the Head of the University and presides at the convocation of the University.
Sam S. Wijesinghe is the present chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He was appointed the Chancellor of OUSL in June 2006. He was the former Secretary General of Sri Lanka Parliament.
Prof. Upali Vidanapathirana is the current Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He was appointed in June 2009. He has more than 30 years of experience in teaching, research and management in the University system and in public sector organizations, and has served as a Senior Lecturer, Professor and the Head of the Department in the Department of Social Studies and as the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
1.Department of Secondary & Tertiary Education
2.Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education
3.Department of Special Needs Education
Bachelor of Technology in Engineering degree offered by the Faculty of Engineering Technology is highly recognised by professional Engineering Insititution; both local and overseas to work as qualified Graduate Engineers. It is also the pioneers of introducing Mechatronics Engineering to Sri Lankan engineering education curricula and would be proud of producing first graduate engineers in Mechatronics engineering on 2010 in Sri Lanka. The Faculty consists of six departments. These six departments are:
1. Department of Agricultural and Plantation Engineering
2. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
3. Department of Mechanical Engineering
4. Department of Textile and Apparel Technology
5. Department of Civil Engineering
6. Department of Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering
Faculty also offers two Master of Technology programmes in Industrial Engineering and Construction management; each conduct by mechanical and civil engineering departments respectively. New M.Tech degree course is now offered by the department of textile and Apparel technology; which will be commenced on year 2010 called Master of Technology in Apparel Production and management.
Department of Agricultural and Plantation engineering recently established a livestock field station(a model farm)and it is located within the campus premises. It serves undergraduate training and research.
1. Department of Language Studies
2. Department of Law
3. Department of Social Studies
4. Department of Management
1.Department of Botany
2.Department of Chemistry
3.Department of Health Science
4.Department of Mathematics
5.Department of Physics
6.Department of Zoology
Finance Division
Information Technology Division
Establishment Division
General Administration Division
Student Affairs Division
Regional Educational Services Division
Public Information office
Maintanance Division
Operations Division
Internal and Government Audit Division
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It is unique within the Sri Lankan national university system for being the only university to offer programmes of study leading to certificate, diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate degree through the Distance Mode/ Learning. OUSL's academic programs enable students to combine theoretical study with meaningful real-world learning experiences.
The OUSL Main Campus is located in Colombo in Nawala
Nawala
Nawala is a Suburb of Colombo near Rajagiriya, within the Kotte municipality in the western province of Sri Lanka.An up-market residential area, Nawala lies between the Commercial Capital Colombo and the Administrative Capital of Kotte. It is considered to be a part of Rajagiriya and is bordered by...
, Nugegoda
Nugegoda
Nugegoda is one of the most densely populated suburbs of Colombo. It is in the border of Sri Jayawardenapura Municipal Council Limits and Dehiwela Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council Limits, just outside Colombo City Limits. Central Nugegoda is a collection of densely packed shops and mixed residential...
.
Establishment
The concept of establishing the Open University of Sri Lanka was by Dr. Nissanka WijeyeratneNissanka Wijeyeratne
Deshamanya Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne was a Sri Lankan politician, civil servant and diplomat. He was also the Diyawadana Nilame of the Temple of the Tooth from 1975 to 1985...
the Cabinet Minister of Education & Higher Education at the time.
The University was set up by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, for the purpose of providing higher educational opportunities to working adults - providing them the road to success, surpassing age, vocation, gender, race, ethnicity and religion.
The university policy on admission would enable a person to register at the lowest 'Level' with mere basic literacy and then climb up to postgraduate level.
The concept of Distance Education at the OUSL functions through a dynamic network of regional and study centres, with knowledge imparted through multiple media. Therefore students with work commitments are able to pursue studies since they interact with especially designed self-instructional materials where the materials function as a “Tutor in Print”. This method provides the distance learner with the best possible learning opportunity to enable a balancing of personal, work related and academic obligations.
Chancellor
The ChancellorChancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
is the Head of the University and presides at the convocation of the University.
Sam S. Wijesinghe is the present chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He was appointed the Chancellor of OUSL in June 2006. He was the former Secretary General of Sri Lanka Parliament.
Vice Chancellor
The Vice Chancellor is the head of administration of the University.Prof. Upali Vidanapathirana is the current Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka. He was appointed in June 2009. He has more than 30 years of experience in teaching, research and management in the University system and in public sector organizations, and has served as a Senior Lecturer, Professor and the Head of the Department in the Department of Social Studies and as the Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
Vision
The OUSL's Vision is "“To be the premier Open and Distance Learning institution in Asia through excellence, efficiency and equity in lifelong learning” ."Mission
The OUSL's Mission is To enhance access to high quality, affordable and relevant education through Open Distance Education and ensure life-long learning opportunities to face challenges in a knowledge societyFaculties
The University consists of four Faculties and several divisions. The four faculties are:- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering Technology
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Natural Sciences
Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education was established in 2003 and currently consists of three departments. These three departments are:1.Department of Secondary & Tertiary Education
2.Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education
3.Department of Special Needs Education
Faculty of Engineering Technology
The Faculty of Engineering Technology of OUSL offers Bachelor of Technology (Engineering)[B.Tech(Eng)] and Bachelor of Industrial studies (BIS).Bachelor of Technology in Engineering degree offered by the Faculty of Engineering Technology is highly recognised by professional Engineering Insititution; both local and overseas to work as qualified Graduate Engineers. It is also the pioneers of introducing Mechatronics Engineering to Sri Lankan engineering education curricula and would be proud of producing first graduate engineers in Mechatronics engineering on 2010 in Sri Lanka. The Faculty consists of six departments. These six departments are:
1. Department of Agricultural and Plantation Engineering
2. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
3. Department of Mechanical Engineering
4. Department of Textile and Apparel Technology
5. Department of Civil Engineering
6. Department of Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering
Faculty also offers two Master of Technology programmes in Industrial Engineering and Construction management; each conduct by mechanical and civil engineering departments respectively. New M.Tech degree course is now offered by the department of textile and Apparel technology; which will be commenced on year 2010 called Master of Technology in Apparel Production and management.
Department of Agricultural and Plantation engineering recently established a livestock field station(a model farm)and it is located within the campus premises. It serves undergraduate training and research.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) is the largest faculty of the OUSL. The Faculty consists of the four following departments:1. Department of Language Studies
2. Department of Law
3. Department of Social Studies
4. Department of Management
Faculty of Natural Sciences
The Faculty of Natural Sciences was established in 1987 and consists of the six following departments:1.Department of Botany
2.Department of Chemistry
3.Department of Health Science
4.Department of Mathematics
5.Department of Physics
6.Department of Zoology
Non-Academic/ Support Divisions
- Library Services
- Educational Technology
- Regional Educational Services
- Information Technology
- Staff Development Centre
Administrative divisions
The administration is done by other Divisions.Finance Division
Information Technology Division
Establishment Division
General Administration Division
Student Affairs Division
Regional Educational Services Division
Public Information office
Maintanance Division
Operations Division
Internal and Government Audit Division