Page 145 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 125

In 1992 the Ministry of Public Administration adults, who had chosen the opportunity we
of the Government of Sri Lanka issued a have provided. The OUSL currently has a
circular stipulating all the degrees awarded student population of more than 40,000 on
at the same level by different Universities in roll, making it the largest higher educational
Sri Lanka coming under the purview of the institute in the country. Further, the OUSL
University Grants Commission, including the is the only university in the country that
Open University in Sri Lanka, shall be treated provides learning opportunities to all its
as equivalents. Through this initiative the students almost at their doorsteps, through
Government of Sri Lanka ensured that the the network of Regional and Study Centres
degrees awarded by the OUSL are treated as spread throughout the country.
equivalent to degrees awarded by any other
Universities that come under the purview of Globally, the OUSL is one of the oldest ODL
the University Grants Commission. Further, universities, being the second oldest in South
the OUSL enjoys the same academic and Asia after Allama Iqbal Open University in
legal status as any other National University Pakistan. Even though now there are many
in Sri Lanka based on an act passed in the Sri other Open Universities which are much
Lankan Parliament and the recognition given larger than the OUSL, the OUSL remains to
by the University Grants Commission. be one of the very few ODL universities that
offer programs in wide varieties of fields
The OUSL, which has completed forty years including, engineering, sciences, health
of service to the nation in 2020, has made sciences, management, humanities, and
significant inroads into the higher education education. From the humble beginnings in
sector by providing alternative pathways a small area in Colombo suburb, where the
for education to working adults and young campus was identified to be established

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)