Gandhigram Rural University (GRU) of Tamil Nadu, India will collaborate with Sewalanka Foundation to establish an offshore campus of the university in Sri Lanka.
The partnership will see the two organisations sharing resources and skills to provide tertiary education in development and other related fields.
The university will produce young leaders, particularly for the rural sector and will focus on environmental reconstruction, resource-based industries, local self governance, entrepreneurship and international marketing.
The GRU Sri Lanka campus will accommodate the School of Habitat, School of Society and Development, School of Rural Industries and the School of Agriculture and Appropriate Technology.
GRU alumnus and Vice Chairman of Sewalanka Foundation, Mr V. Revathan, said a memorandum of understanding was recently signed between the partners stating that Sewalanka will acquire the land, buildings and infrastructure necessary to establish the GRU offshore program in Sri Lanka.
"Even though education is free in Sri Lanka, due to accessibility and location of universities only 17 per cent of all candidates who qualify for a university place at the GCE AL examinations actually commence courses. The Offshore Campus will provide further opportunities for rural students in Sri Lanka to gain a tertiary education," Mr Revathan said.
The School of Society and Development will be situated at the Piliyandala campus, the School of Habitat Engineering will be based in the training centre at Gopalapuram in Trincomalee district and the Schools of Agriculture and Appropriate Technology and the School of Rural Industries will be based at Thavasikulam Farm in Vavuniya district.
A range of programs will be offered at the university including Degrees, Diplomas, Masters and PhD level awards.
Over recent months Sewalanka staff have been assessing the 337 student applications submitted for the various courses. A total of 127 prospective students have been selected and will commence their studies in October 2007 when the university officially opens.
