As Sri Lanka looks toward emerging sciences, Northumbria University,
Newcastle has become the island’s first UK University to launch a biotechnology
degree.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil
Premajayantha spoke at the recent launch of Northumbria’s BSc Honours Degree in
Biotechnology at the Business Management School (BMS) in Colombo.
Minister Premajayantha emphasised the need for
Sri Lanka to plan their educational goals in terms of future developments in applied
sciences, and named Northumbria University’s biotechnology degree as a key part
of that growth.
The
partnership between Northumbria University and BMS has developed over many
years with BMS being one of Northumbria’s strategic partners. The School
developed a strong partnership with Northumbria University’s Faculty of Health
and Life Sciences after the launch of its BSc Honours Degree in Biomedical
Science in 2013.
St. John
Usher, Head of Applied Sciences at Northumbria University, said: “Northumbria’s Faculty of Health and Life
Sciences has enjoyed a hugely successful working relationship with BMS in Sri
Lanka over the years and we’re delighted to be able to announce this latest
programme in what is a very exciting and emerging science in Sri Lanka.
“The biotechnology sector of India is currently on a strong growth trajectory and
Sri Lanka has recognised the importance of this industry in the growth of its own
economy.
“This is the first year that BMS, in
collaboration with Northumbria, has recruited students to the biotechnology
programme and it’s great to see that some of the teaching on this degree is
being provided by our former Masters students.”
In 2015
approval was given to franchise the final year of the BSc (Hons) Biomedical
Science programme to BMS. This has involved extensive development of state of
the art laboratories at BMS so that students are assured of a high quality
learning experience.
This
development provides students from Sri Lanka with the opportunity to study in
their home country, with a considerable reduction in cost when compared to
studying abroad.
Meanwhile,
the relationship between Newcastle Business School, at Northumbria, and
BMS is entering its 12th year and has produced more than 1,000
graduate students.
Dr Wijewardena, President of the Business
Management School (BMS), was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law by Northumbria
University in 2016.
His career
at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka lasted 37 years culminating in nine years as
the Deputy Governor, responsible for economic research, monetary policy,
financial system stability, public debt, rural credit and banking.
Simultaneously,
he was the Chairman of both the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and the Sri
Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board.
For more information about a degree in biotechnology at Northumbria University go to:
www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/courses/biology-bsc-hons-uusbig1/
