Page 151 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 131

to develop and offer study programs. In
the period between 1982 and 1984, the
University launched its first-degree program
in the form of the Bachelor of Laws – LLB.
Later, a degree program in Natural Sciences
commenced in 1983. These programs are
still in existence, of course with necessary
revisions made along the way.

of the expenditure), the fee levied by the The Certificate in Technology programs,
university is substantially low, thus making it which were inherited from the earlier
an affordable higher educational institute for institutes, were upgraded to Diploma in
the entire population of Sri Lanka. Further, Technology in 1985 and later to Bachelor of
to cater the financial needs of the students Technology (Engineering) in new disciplines
who are from economically disadvantaged such as Energy Engineering, Transport
backgrounds, the university offers many Engineering, Water Resources Engineering
need-based scholarships and bursaries. These and Computer Engineering. These were
bursaries are in addition to number of merit the first professional degree programs in
scholarships offered without considering the Engineering offered by an Open and Distance
economic background of the students. Learning institute anywhere in the world.
Later in 1989, on the insistence of the UGC,
The Academic Programs the University was forced to change the
When the University commenced its specializations in the engineering to the
operations, two Boards of Studies, one more conventional fields as offered by other
in Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) conventional universities. The University
and the other in Management, Science currently has six fully fledged faculties and
and Technology (MST) were established 30 academic departments. These six faculties

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)