Talks are underway to introduce an Information Technology Engineering degree centred on Mahindodaya laboratories in schools countrywide by the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), Information and Communication Technology, Higher Education, Technology and Innovations Minister Bandula Gunawardane said.

Speaking to the media following an inspection tour at the OUSL, the Minister said this degree is aimed at accommodating 40,000 students who do not qualify to enter universities.

He said his Ministry had received many complaints regarding the failure of the Open University to launch a degree course in Law this year as requested by a large number of students and academics.

He said he undertook the inspection tour accompanied by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga to look into the matter as well as problems confronted by the university and possibilities of increasing the intake of students and launching new degree courses.

The Minister said following his discussions with the Vice Chancellor of the Open University and other officials, they decided to call applications for the LLB Degree Examination 2021 from March. Since processing of application and other arrangements would take at least two months to complete, they decided to recruit new students by the middle of this year.

“We also hope to connect 1,000 Mahindodaya laboratories in the country with the Open University and enable 40,000 students to follow a Software Engineering degree course.

This would go a long way to fulfil President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s concept of allowing all students who pass the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination to follow a university degree course,” the Minister said.