Page 153 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 133

Furthermore, there are opportunities to Further, degrees are available in the areas
register for programs leading to research of Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory
degrees such as MPhil and PhD. All academic Technology, Psychology, and all the fields of
programs of the university are carefully natural sciences including Botany, Chemistry,
designed so that they are nationally relevant Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics and
and conform to the guidelines laid down in Zoology. Programs are also offered in the
Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) and areas of Software Engineering and Computer
have received the approval of the Quality Science.
Assurance and Accreditation Council (QAAC)
of the UGC. One of the main components of any science-
based program is the laboratory work. All the
Noteworthy Programs and Initiatives science-based programs of the OUSL thus
One of the uniqueness of the OUSL in have compulsory laboratory components
comparison to other open universities and students are required to attend these
around the world is its offering of science- practical sessions as part of their studies.
based degree programs, including an However, the university offers these sessions
accredited degree in engineering, which is at most of its Regional Centres where science
on par with the engineering degrees offered and engineering laboratories have been
by the conventional universities in Sri Lanka. established, thus enabling the students
Therefore, in this section it is proposed to to attend them without much difficulty.
describe this initiative of the OUSL for the Moreover, many departments conduct these
benefit of other open universities around the laboratory classes over several different
globe. sessions, including sessions during the
weekends, thus providing the students an
The OUSL embarked on offering science- opportunity to choose a session convenient
based programs from the very beginning to them. Only certain laboratory classes
itself. A dedicated Board of Study named of higher level in the engineering program
Management, Science and Technology requires the students to come to the Main
was established to offer these programs. Campus in Colombo due to the lack of
Currently of the six faculties of the university, expensive equipment in all the centres. Even
three faculties namely Engineering then in every possible instance the university
Technology, Health Sciences and Natural provides mobile laboratory service whereby
Sciences are science-based faculties. They the staff travel to the centre along with
currently offer programs in the areas of the equipment and conduct the laboratory
Agricultural and Plantation Engineering, sessions nearer to the location of the student.
Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Whenever students are required to visit
Electrical Engineering, Electronics and the Main Campus, they are provided with
Communication Engineering, Mechanical accommodation in the Temporary Residential
Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Facilities available in the Main Campus.
and Textiles and Clothing Engineering.

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)