The Aquinas College of Higher Studies also known as Aquinas University College is a Sri Lankan

nonprofit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

private

Tertiary education Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...

institute that provides both

academic degrees An academic degree is a qualification awarded to a student upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions often offer degrees at various levels, usually divided into un ...

and

vocational training Vocational education is education that prepares people for a Skilled worker, skilled craft. Vocational education can also be seen as that type of education given to an individual to prepare that individual to be gainfully employed or self em ...

History

The Aquinas College of Higher Studies was founded in 1953 by Catholic priests Peter A. Pillai, the former rector of St. Joseph's College, and

Thomas Cooray Thomas Benjamin Cooray (Sinhala language: තෝමස් බෙන්ජමින් කුරේ), O.M.I. (28 December 1901 – 29 October 1988) was a Sri Lankan cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Archbishop of Colombo ...

, the Archbishop of Colombo, as a Catholic university open to all ethnic and religious groups. It was registered in 1954 by the Ministry of Education Ceylon and was established in Colombo 8. Initially, it offered external degrees from local state universities such as Universities of

Kelaniya Kelaniya ( ) is a suburb of Colombo in the Western Province, Sri Lanka, Western Province, Sri Lanka. Located from Colombo Fort, it is known for the Buddhist temple built on the banks of the Kelani River, which divides the suburb from Colombo Di ...

, Peradeniya,

Colombo Colombo, ( ; , ; , ), is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. The Colombo metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 within the municipal limits. It is the ...

and Sri Jayewardenepura, as well as foreign universities, while agricultural training was carried out in the 47-acre farm in Walpola,

Ragama Ragama ( ) is a suburb of Gampaha, located in the Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by the Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariat. History In July 1874 a rail line, known as the Breakwater line, was opened connecting the Har ...

. After 2005, when it received approval to grant degrees, Aquinas moved on to develop its own degree programs. Since then, it has expanded both degree programs and infrastructure as well as attracting students from SAARC countries.

Organisation

The Aquinas College of Higher Studies is run as a nonprofit philanthropic institution administered by the Archdiocese of Colombo. The college also works in close collaboration with foreign universities and higher educational authorities. It is accredited to provide its own academic degrees by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is registered with the Tertiary and Vocational Educational Commission (TVEC) to provide vocational education.

Faculties

Faculty of Agriculture

* Department of Agri-Business Management * Department of Crop Management * Department of Livestock Management

Faculty of Business and Hospitality Management

* Department of Business Management * Department of Hospitality Management

Faculty of Education & English

* Department of Education * Department of English

Faculty of Science And Technology

* Department of Information & Communication Technology * Department of Nursing & Pharmacy

Faculty of Social Sciences And Humanities

* Department of Humanities * Department of Psychology * Department of Religious Studies * Department of Sister Formation

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aquinas College of Higher Studies 1954 establishments in Ceylon Universities and colleges established in 1954 Agricultural universities and colleges Universities and colleges in Colombo District Vocational universities and colleges Universities in Sri Lanka