• Charles Sturt has welcomed the first students at its Sri Lanka campus, marking a major milestone in the University’s international expansion
• The University’s Colombo campus offers globally recognised qualifications to Sri Lankan students, with plans to introduce new courses

The initial cohort of students began classes on Monday 13 July at the Colombo campus, which is delivering the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education through Charles Sturt’s education partner, Prospects College of Higher Education.

The campus’s Bachelor of Applied Business is expected to welcome its first students in November, while the Bachelor of Information Technology is planned for introduction next year.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor Professor Renée Leon said the arrival of the campus’s first students represented an exciting new chapter for the University.

“Charles Sturt is delighted to see this campus become a reality and welcome our first students. We are starting small but have plans to grow over the next five years with new courses,” Professor Leon said.

“This campus is providing Sri Lankan students with the chance to gain internationally recognised qualifications close to home, providing them with the skills and knowledge to grow their nation’s workforce.”

Future courses at the campus are expected to include further disciplines aligned to Sri Lankan workforce needs, including psychology and health-related fields.

Professor Leon said the benefits provided by the campus are not limited to Sri Lankan students. 

“The revenue generated from this and Charles Sturt’s other international education ventures directly supports our regional students and research in Australia,” Professor Leon said.

“This vital and underfunded regional mission remains at the heart of Charles Sturt. It is why we are here and why we are important.”

Located in central Colombo, the campus occupies part of Prospects College’s recently opened headquarters, directly opposite the Colombo Public Library and close to Colombo City Hall.

Prospects Education Managing Director, Mr Somesh Perera, said Prospects is pleased to commence the first and only Australian early childhood education degree program offered in Sri Lanka.

“This is a significant milestone for the early childhood education sector in Sri Lanka. Congratulations to all those who enrolled,” Mr Perera said.

The Australian Government supports universities taking Australian education and training to the world, emphasising that high-quality transnational education (TNE) builds important institutional partnerships, contributes to Australia’s research goals and foreign policy priorities, and complements Australia’s onshore education.   

Charles Sturt has a long and successful history in TNE delivery, with established ventures in China, Cambodia and Hong Kong.