ACBT Graduation Ceremony

(Article published in the Sunday Leader on 29/08/2004)

Amidst many celebrations, the Australian College of Business and Technology (ACBT) held its graduation ceremony on August 9 at the Trans Asia premises. Attended by the Guests of Honour, Ms Kate Logan, Deputy High Commissioner for Australia, Professor B.R.N. Mendis, Chairman of theUniversity Grants Commission in Sri lanka and Dr Clive Reyneldson, Director of Graduate Studies, Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, the graduation ceremony was held amidst great splendor to award Foundation, Diploma, Associate Degree and Bachelor certificates to more than 200 students.

ACBT, a well recognized college in Sri lanka, is affiliated with Edith Cowan University, Australia. ECU has gained an outstanding reputation for its quality teaching in areas such as Business, Commerce, Computing, Graphic Design and IT. "The graduation ceremony is held after every second semester for students who have completed the Foundation course, who have graduated in their Diploma courses, like many other colleges which hold their graduation ceremony only after the students complete their three year bachelors degree programme, we believe in offering students graduation certificates after the completion of each stage" Ms Mighell added.

ACBT offered its students graduation certificates after the completion of each stage so that students could forward these certificates to companies when seeking employment. "For students who do not wish to continue their degree programme and wish to seek employment after the completion of a Diploma or an Associate Degree, they are able to forward their graduation certificates awarded by the college to the companies that they apply to. The college is proud of the fact that many of its students have been able to gain entry into some of the country"s leading multinational and local companies such as MAS Holdings, John Keels and many more" Ms. Mighell said.

The graduation ceremony which started with a procession of graduating students entering the hall, was followed by the lighting of the oil lamp and the playing of the national anthems of Sri Lanka and Australia. This was followed by speeches by Principal, ACBT, Alan Robertson, Chief Guest, Kate Logan, Guests of Honour, Professor Mendis and Dr. Clive Reynoldson. Dr Reynoldson traveled from Australia especially to attend this grand event.

The graduation ceremony, attended by more than 850 people including staff, students, parents and well wishers, concluded with farewell speeches made by two of the graduating students. The graduation was followed by a grand graduation ball held at Earls Court, Trans Asia. ACBT is a modern and dynamic educational institution which provides high quality courses in a modern environment. Offering students the benefit of completing a degree programme within a period of only two years, students gain awards that are exactly the same as those awarded by ECU to Australian students.

With an international and local staff who are committed to helping students achieve success, a range of Business and Information Technology courses are offered to students. They have the choice of completing the degree programmes in Sri Lanka or transferring to many of the leading universities in Australia to conclude the rest of the degree. "Students who wish to attend the graduation ceremony in Australia, are able to do so as this way they can attend the ceremony as well as see something of Australia" Marketing Manager, ACBT , Pubudu Alahakoon said. "Although the lectures are held in Sri Lanka, the certificates that are awarded to students are the exact certificates that are handed over to students at ECU. Equal recognition given to students as for internal students of Edith Cowan University" Mr. Alahakoon said.

Along with many local students, ACBT also has international students from all over the world such as Israel, China, Malaysia, Russia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and the Maldives. "Since we offer our programmes at just one forth the cost of the programmes offered at ECU, international students prefer coming to Sri Lanka to complete their Australian degrees" Mr. Alahakoon said. He added that for students who wanted to get into the university stream soon after the completion of their O/Levels, the College offered an eight month Foundation course. For students who had completed their A/Levels, they could either apply for the Diploma programme or the Bachelor"s degree programme.