The Role of the Open University of Sri Lanka in the Nation’s System of Education

  The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) which was established in 1980 completed  30 years of its  services to the nation as a leading provider of Open and Distance Learning in higher education. It is a national university created under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 and also under the provisions of the Open University of Sri Lanka Ordinance No. 1 of 1990.

In this endeavour the university focuses on the need for higher education of the adult groups as well as the young school leavers who have missed the opportunity of entering the conventional universities. Thus we offer a variety of educational programmes ranging from foundation level courses to higher level research degrees to cater to the needs of our clientele. Currently the Faculty has a student population of over 10,000 enrolled in the programmes offered by the four departments of the Faculty. As a leader in open and distance learning, the OUSL has set the trend by integrating boundaryless pedagogical approaches to learning giving opportunity for the learner to accomplish his/her goals of higher education at a pace that meets individual requirements. During the 30 years of its history the university has been able to develop a wide mix of educational aids consisting of audio-visual aids, printed study materials and interactive learning aids that can be accessed by the learners.

Nature of the Programmes Offered by the Faculty of Humanaties & Social Sciences

The academic programmes of the OUSL are designed primarily for adult students who are employed as well as non-employed The Faculty offers a diverse range of programmes which enable students to enter a programme in keeping with their present educational qualifications. Students who already possess conventional qualifications can gain direct entry to Certificate, Diploma, Degree and Postgraduate Degree Programmes. The Faculty also offers Foundation Programmes for Students who do not possess conventional qualifications. Successful completion of the Foundation Programmes entitle the students to enter higher level study programmes.

Status Accorded to OUSL Qualifications

By Public Administration Circular No 16/92 of 13th March 1992, the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs directed all government institutions to confer status to Open University qualifications on par with other National University qualifications.