“We will need more institutions like this one in the future.”

The country will soon see the establishment of numerous new educational institutions, both public and private, President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced. The new institutions will provide young people with opportunities for higher education that meet global standards, he said at the inauguration of the Times School of Higher Education. The Times School of Higher Education, a subsidiary of Wijeya Newspapers Limited, will offer education aligned with international standards in collaboration with three foreign universities and higher education institutions.

The institute offers a diverse array of job-oriented education courses, encompassing three main qualification categories: certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma courses. It also provides professional skill development programmes, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through its digital academy. The institute’s activities will be overseen by a five-member advisory board, appointed by Wijeya Newspapers. This board comprises experts in the field and will ensure the education provided meets global standards.

The governing authority has expressed its commitment to enhancing the quality of education for Lankan youth by establishing connections with more foreign universities in the future. During the inauguration event, President Wickremesinghe also launched the new website for the Times School of Higher Education. “As our country advances toward an export-oriented economy and looks ahead to the mid-21st century, acquiring new knowledge becomes crucial. Consequently, we will need more institutions like this one in the future.

The Times Institute also features a digital academy, which will greatly benefit the youth of our nation,” President Wickremesinghe said. “We plan to allocate government funds to support 50,000 youths in receiving vocational training at recognised institutions. We have the capability to establish such institutions to provide this training, complementing existing training programmes. As our country develops over the coming years, increased investment opportunities and the creation of new industries are expected to generate approximately 100,000 new jobs in both the public and private sectors.

“To achieve this, it is crucial that educational institutions meet high standards. For the digital economy we aspire to build, such institutions are essential. Therefore, we plan to expand the number of both public and private educational institutions in our country. Our goal is to provide the youth with the support they need to access quality employment opportunities,” he added. Education Minister Dr Susil Premajayantha, representatives from international educational institutions, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Pine, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Sampath Amaratunge and officials, Director of Times School of Higher Education Janaka Rathnakumara and its academic staff, university lecturers, the Board of Directors of the Wijeya Newspapers, and various other invitees were present at the event.