ANC Education | Undergraduate & Postgraduate Education

Sudara Nanayakkara, past student of D.S Senanayake College, joined the Canada University Transfer program as a Biomedical student. His passion for the field and enthusiasm for the subject helped him become the only student in the Biomedical department to receive outstanding marks for his Thesis thus cementing his name across the walls of the esteemed University.

As a student who completed his A/levels in the Biology stream at D.S Senanayake College in 2016, Sudara, who modestly calls himself an ‘Average Student’, has managed to keep Sri Lanka’s flag flying high making his parents, school and country proud by achieving an exceptional mark of A+, the highest score awarded in the Biomedical department by the prestigious panel of professors at York University.

At a young age Sudara knew that he had a passion for Biomedical sciences and joined ANC Education right after his A/Levels to pursue his dreams. The Canada University Transfer program was his No.1 choice that enabled him to select York University amidst a selection of many other top Canadian universities, which allowed him the flexibility to complete 1 year in Sri Lanka and continue the remainder of the program in Canada.

Today Sudara is a proud alumni of ANC Education, and recently graduated from York University in March 2019 with Deans List Honors, a remarkable feat in itself. His academically brilliant thesis involved in-depth research utilizing the likes of plasma technology, level II laboratories, and covered more than 60 different medical journals, references and articles to develop his outstanding research. Sudara’s undergraduate degree thesis was on ‘Investigation of Neutrophil Adhesion to Polystyrene and Glass Surfaces and Enhance of Adhesion by Surface Activation through Plasma Treatment”. He was the only student that scored the highest mark for his thesis from the entire Biomedical department at York University.

During his visit to ANC recently we managed to have a chat about his amazing journey and his life changing accomplishments in pursing his dreams.

It was my wish to follow the Biomedical science field in Canada and graduate from a world recognized Canadian University. ANC Education offered a clear pathway to achieve my goals with the 1+3 Canada University Transfer Program. Coming from the local A/L stream and studying under the local education system I thought it would be quite challenging to adopt to a totally different U.S education system. However, many of the seniors in my school had joined ANC and have done extremely well. My parents supported my decision to join ANC as the ANC brand name is synonymous with quality education that offered a proven pathway to achieve my higher education goals in Canada.

Enrolling in a prestigious university is daunting to anyone right after A/levels, and as a freshman student I needed that support to ease my transition from School to University life. From my very first day at ANC I was warmly welcomed into the ANC family. I was pleased to find such a friendly and helpful environment, the Student Affairs Office and Academic Office were committed to assisting us find our way around the chosen field of study, help us get familiar with the Canadian credit system, choosing the right courses and ensuring that they are transferrable to the University in Canada. The lecturers were generous with their time and stayed after hours to assist us with our academic course work. The ANC student life enabled me to transform and reach the standards expected by students in a foreign university. Hence, ANC prepared and geared me to University life in Canada.

As a transfer student it was important that I considered several factors before selecting the university I wanted to transfer to in Canada. The entire process of applying, selecting and sending course guidelines and relevant documents to the universities was supported and guided by the ANC University Placement team. York University was my first choice because York accepted more than 80% of my credit course work and I was able to transfer 60 credits out of the 70 credits I had completed at ANC. York is also ranked among the Top 20 best universities in Canada and highly recognized around the world. York university acceptance rate is lower than many universities at 27%, hence only high performing students with above average G.P.A get accepted to York University. I was ecstatic when I received my acceptance letter from York University which was a major milestone for me in achieving my higher education goals.

Majoring in Biomedical Science was always my passion and it was further fueled by transferring to York University which was a state-of-the-art university and fully equipped with several laboratories, libraries and a vast and spacious campus with access to a multitude of resources that enabled a Biomedical student like myself to dive deep into my research. I worked hard, poured my heart and soul, and committed long hours to develop my thesis and it really paid off. It was one of my biggest accomplishments to have received the highest mark of A+ for my thesis and it was an unforgettable life experience that molded me into overcoming obstacles and strive to always believe in my passion and dreams.

Finally, I would like to appreciate ANC for their excellent support and professionalism in supporting me to gain entry into the Biomedical program as well as guiding me to obtain the acceptance letter from York University; one of the best Universities in the world. ANC Education brought out the best in me which is why both my younger brothers have already enrolled at ANC after their O/Ls and A/Ls from D.S Senanayake College and Lyceum International. Today I am a proud Biomedical graduate from York University.

A special thanks to Ms. Manouri Malalage – ANC Head of U.S University Placement Unit for her tremendous help and support and assisting me throughout the complicated transfer process and to obtain my Canadian visa with ease. Thank you for all the help and support and I wish all the staff at ANC the very best.

Having claimed market leadership in transnational education in Sri Lanka for over a decade, it was in a bid to strengthen its portfolio and diversify its course offerings that ANC Education collaborated with the University of West London (UWL) in 2012. UWL offers postgraduate degree programs in business, law, and psychology at ANC, and the most sought after MBA program has established ANC School of Postgraduate Education as the preferred choice among business graduates as well as high profile engineers, doctors, academics, and entrepreneurs in the country.

A software engineer by profession, Mr. Inthiqab Haddard is one of the outstanding and accomplished MBA alumni of ANC and UWL. He counts 17 years of experience in software delivery, engineering, risk and compliance management, process implementation, and revenue operations across leading brands in Sri Lanka such as Virtusa, Interblocks, and HSBC. He is currently employed as the Director - Business Operations at WSO2. His interdisciplinary educational experience will, undoubtedly, enable him to accomplish greater feats and excel in all areas of his life.

ANC Marketing team sat down with Inthiqab to discuss his unique MBA experience at ANC. The following are unedited excerpts from that interview:

An individual’s pursuit of knowledge is a continuous journey; therefore, I felt it was the right time, to refresh as well as top up my knowledge. Obtaining a Master’s in Business Administration seemed to be the right tool to compliment my existing academic qualifications and exposure. Given my specialization in Information Technology, and the vast experience I have derived from the IT domain, gaining exposure and knowledge into the fundamentals of business through this Master’s program, was the right choice for me in pursuing my career goals.

The UWL MBA raises your equity by gearing students to become competent, professional and knowledgeable individuals. The academic knowledge, exposure and research techniques gave me the tools and the know-how to contribute to my organization and add value to my career. It is essential that you start using the materials you learn and apply the knowledge into your organization to raise your equity as a professional.

The MBA program offered by UWL and delivered through ANC is up to date with latest industry trends and best practices. The lecture panel does a wonderful job encouraging thought-provoking discussions and creating an open learning environment, which I believe is what helps students to deeply understand the various concepts and eventually apply them in practice.

It was indeed challenging to balance work with studies. Managing your time efficiently and discipline is essential in overcoming this challenge. In a sense, it's rather enjoyable as well to have this overlap as it gives you an opportunity to see what you learn in the class room put in practice, in real time. The flexibility shown by both the academic and non-academic staff was immensely helpful in ensuring balance between work, life, and studies.

Given that my current and predominant amount of past experiences are from the IT industry, I was fascinated in exploring how business interests are achieved through the lens of technology.

Therefore the topic I selected for my dissertation was “Human Factors that Affect, Citizen Application Development”. The term of citizen application development or end user computing in narrower sense, has been around for quite a while, but has never really taken off to fully achieve its promise. However with vast progress made in the space of machine learning and artificial intelligence, which potentially could give rise to more intuitive tools being created to facilitate citizen application development. I was eager to explore if people would actually be interested in using such tools.

Consider expanding your knowledge base as it’s a worthwhile investment; it improves your employability. When it comes to choosing the right MBA program, I found it to be a fruitful effort to research my options in terms of course content, university accreditation, return on investment, lecture panel, duration of the program, etc. It’s commendable that both UWL and ANC were true to their promises throughout the program.

The UWL MBA program has claimed market leadership in transnational education in Sri Lanka for over a decade and offers postgraduate degree programs in business, law, and psychology at ANC. The most sought after MBA program has established ANC School of Postgraduate Education as the preferred choice among business graduates as well as high profile engineers, doctors, academics, and entrepreneurs in the country.

ANC Education, since its inception in 2002, has seen hundreds of students from the Maldives flying to Sri Lanka in the pursuit of high quality higher education, and as the Maldives is becoming a top of mind luxury destination for international visitors, the BBA degree in Hospitality Management, offered by Northwood University of the USA, continues to draw many Maldivian students seeking a world-class business education in Colombo. Maeesha Asif is one of them who made ANC their home-away-from-home and extremely grateful to ANC for the unparalleled educational experience that prepared her for the wider world.

By the time I was done with my O levels, I had figured out what I wanted to specialize in and build a career on. Tourism has always been, and will continue to be the defining industry in Maldives, and I aspire to contribute to the development of it. I did not want to spend any more time studying general subjects for A-levels because I found my path, and so I opted straight for a BBA. I specifically chose ANC’s Business Degree program because ANC was the only accredited university that offered a universally recognized American degree in Hospitality in Sri Lanka.

My country did not have universities offering such well-recognized degrees, and there is no real college life experience in any educational institutes back home. ANC provides a university environment that gives a much better student experience. In comparison with the institutes in the Maldives, ANC provides a much higher standard and quality of education as it follows the American system.

ANC has definitely gone beyond my expectations with the level of education being provided. The entire staff of ANC is very supportive towards students without discrimination. We see them as mentors who guide us through our educational journey. The faculty does a remarkable job in getting students to feel comfortable in adjusting to such a new system and provide us with clear guidelines and even one-on-one help if needed. Also, personally I had accommodation and anything else necessary in moving to Sri Lanka sorted out before I moved here, but I have several friends who have struggled with the move. ANC has helped these international students with not only VISA matters, but also in finding the right accommodation.

Thinking about my life before I joined ANC, I could have never dreamt of the opportunities I am getting from the college. From my first year itself, I got to experience the Hospitality Industry first-hand by the opportunities given to me by ANC to work in the best 5-star hotels. This has helped cover the practical aspect of our degrees through Internships and Practicums.

ANC experience has also contributed to my personal growth and skill development and shaped me to be a leader. I was the first Hospitality Club President and be involved in several major projects and events well received by the community. And everything from a student society to panel discussions and career fairs is an opportunity to network, and they keep us linked with the business world.

With the way courses are conducted in ANC, learning is not limited to a whiteboard and a projector. Field visits are conducted in almost every course, even outside of Colombo. Student clubs and societies, together with with ANC Student Affairs Office, further expand these experiences.

Short term study abroad programs are also part of the curriculum. We had an amazing experience in Dubai last year, visiting Burj Al Arab, the world’s only seven star hotel; Celebrity Restaurants of esteemed chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Giorgio Locatelli, and Nobu Matsuhisa; the main headquarters of the Dubai Expo 2020; and Rove Downtown, a casual hotel focusing on millennials, highly centered around technology and modern day facilities besides participating in a few professional development training sessions conducted at the Emirates Academy. We could tailor these experiences to our interests and develop new passions that will help us succeed in the future.

Every student considering pursuing a degree should opt for an accredited, globally recognized university providing world-class education. ANC makes a first-rate American degree more accessible and affordable: ANC is ideal for students from different backgrounds, as they provide the opportunity to complete the degree either in Sri Lanka itself, or even transfer abroad to amazing campuses. The tuition in the USA is threefold than that of here at ANC, yet we receive the academic transcripts from Northwood University, and the same academic standards are held.

Also, being an ANC student does not simply mean getting a degree in a couple of years, it also means growing as a person, transforming yourself into a leader, and recognizing and reaching your fullest potential. Trust me, this college experience is something you would not want to miss, and it’s your turn now!

ANC’s good wishes are with Maeesha for her to achieve her career goals and contribute to the economic development of her motherland!

Thousands of O level graduates consider university pathway options every year, for the job market is getting increasingly competitive and A levels is no longer a passport to college. However, a majority of students and their parents are left confused as they are deciding between foundation year programs and A level, for most degree programs offered in many countries including the UK, Australia, and Sri Lanka require that the student has either taken A levels or followed a foundation year program. That said, US universities accept O levels for admission, which enables students to graduate by the age of 21 to start off on the right foot with their career.

After completing his O levels at Trinity College, Eshan Aluwihare was enrolled on the US Business degree program offered at ANC in 2014. He graduated with a BBA in Business Management from Northwood University in 2017, completing his full degree at ANC. A young political enthusiast with an entrepreneurial spirit, Eshan is currently working as a sales analyst at Nestlé, while reading for his MBA. He is grateful to ANC for the “golden opportunity of starting an American degree with O levels” as it enabled him to graduate college early and kick start his career as he hit 21.

Some excerpts from the interview with Eshan follow:

The first reason why I opted to complete my degree at ANC is that I wasn’t ready to leave home, my family. They had been very supportive throughout, so I could not afford to be parted from them. Second, ANC gave me the opportunity to follow a recognized US degree here in Sri Lanka right after O levels. I was allowed to start year one of my degree from day one. Graduating college two years early helped me accelerate my career. Also, ANC – Northwood partnership provides world class qualifications and prestige of a US university, while offering the convenience of studying at home: Northwood University is ranked among the top 10 private business universities in the USA, and we had access to the same standard of education as practiced in America. I never regret my decision to complete my degree in Sri Lanka.

ANC offers an outstanding network of support which includes dedicated academic advisers who provide students with valuable one-on-one mentorship and faculty members, very friendly and approachable; if they are not sure what they want to do after OLs, ANC students are given enough support to choose programs based on their interests and career goals. And the US education system accommodate this by allowing students to explore several options before committing to a major. The General Education program is designed for all undergraduate students regardless of major. We had classes in several subjects, such as, Math, English Composition, History, IT, Natural Sciences, Sociology, psychology, Communication, etc., which helped us improve several skills including writing and critical thinking skills, presentation skills, computing and quantitative skills necessary to succeed in college and even after graduation. Also, remedial Math and English classes are given free of charge for any student who needs additional support.

As far as the student life is concerned, it’s a caring environment where you are respected for who you really are and pushed to make the most of the college experience inside and outside the classroom: there are many activities organized throughout the year, including New Student Orientation that help freshmen prepare for their transition into college life, make new friends, and meet staff members.

Northwood business curriculums focus on career readiness. In addition to full-time lecturers with industry experience, industry experts are also drawn in to share their experience to keep students abreast of current trends/ advancements in the corporate sector. And internships help students gain the necessary exposure to the corporate culture and hands-on-experience in the field of business. I interned at Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd. before I joined Nestlé last year. Also, the General Education program, as we have already discussed, offered a meaningful learning experience and equipped us with several transferrable skills that are in high demand in the industry.

ANC offers MBA qualifications in joint collaboration with the University of West London, a top ranked university from the UK. It’s again the convenience of earning world-class postgraduate qualifications right here in Sri Lanka, without leaving home. It’s an entrepreneurial approach to business education, and our classes emphasize discussion and problem solving. Guest lectures conducted by industry leaders, panel discussions, networking events, and group projects with peers representing several industries also make studying at ANC School of Postgraduate Education an invaluable experience.

If you are excited about getting your career started, a US degree is the ideal opportunity to realize your career goals. The skills you develop as a freshman can be employed in a wide range of industries. And once you choose a career-oriented major, your career path is well mapped out. If you are motivated and committed, you can achieve great things at any age. ANC offers several options for students interested in US qualifications through full degree completion programs as well as US/ Canadian transfer degree programs. As far as my career is concerned it all began at ANC right after O levels.

ANC’s good wishes are with Eshan for him to accomplish greater feats and excel in all areas of his life!

ANC FULL Scholarship was awarded to A/L student Denuka Hemachandra from Lyceum Gampaha to realize his childhood dream of a world class international degree qualification from USA. ANC recognized Denuka’s exceptional performance at the recently held A level examination where he achieved 2 A* and 1 A for his Cambridge London A Level examination held in August 2018.

Denuka’s exceptional performance is a testament to his perseverance and his inspirational story as a student who took on the commitments of his family at a very young age due to the passing of his father have overcome many difficulties and obstacles to produce this great achievement at London A levels making his mother proud.

ANC’s Scholarship program aims to recognize and reward deserving students like Denuka enabling them to secure a spot in the ANC scholarship program to receive the highest scholarship offer that enables them to pursue their higher education dreams and become an internationally qualified graduate from an American University.

When asked how this full scholarship would change his life, Denuka had this to say ‘I never imagined I would get this opportunity to study at an American University, I have heard that graduates of ANC are doing very well in their chosen fields at top corporates in Sri Lanka and around the world. I am so grateful to ANC for granting this amazing opportunity of a full scholarship to realize my dream of pursuing a Degree in Finance to fulfil my long term career goal of becoming the CEO of the World Bank one day”.

ANC’s Scholarship program for Spring 2019 offers all students who have completed their A/ levels and O/levels with exceptional results the opportunity to secure a spot in our Scholarship Program for Spring 2019. Students are eligible to receive ANC Full Scholarship with 3 A’s or get $ 500 & $ 350 fee waivers for every A or B grade to pursue their higher education dreams from internationally renowned universities from America at fraction of the cost.

Students completing their A/levels and O/levels are welcome to drop in to find out more about our Degree programs at, No.308 –310, R. A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 03 or for more information contact us on 0773 957070 or visit www.ancedu.com and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ancedu/ and “ANC_Education” on Instagram.

Hundreds of local students have received a head start in life as they opted for the Canadian University Transfer Program offered at ANC Education. ANC’s partnerships with a number of world-class universities of Canada, including University of Toronto, York University, University of Alberta, Acadia University, McMaster University, University of Waterloo, and Algoma University offer extensive transfer opportunities which allow for a greater range of undergraduate study options, maximum credit recognition, and scholarships up to CAD 5000.

Under 1+3 and 2+2 transfer agreements, local students finishing OLs and ALs are eligible to complete the year 1/ years 1 and 2 at ANC and transfer to a Canadian university for an exceptional international experience.

Dinith Paul, a past student of the British School of Bahrain was enrolled on ANC’s Canadian University Transfer Program last spring. A well rounded student equally adept at dealing with his workload in college and contributing to the school community, Dinith has served his school as the Head Prefect, Sports Captain, and Football Captain besides being a Toastmasters Gavel Club president in Bahrain in 2017. He returned to Sri Lanka after completing his A Levels last year to start his undergraduate degree in Engineering at ANC.

A few excerpts from the interview with Dinith follow

International students are considered to be excellent candidates for Canadian PR, and ANC offers a well-defined pathway to settlement in Canada. Also, it’s a more affordable stepping stone to a world-class degree from a US/ Canadian university. Put simply, it’s a profitable path best suited for my family and my career goals.

It’s an exciting college experience. We have access to the same standard of education as practiced in Canada and the USA. The General Education Program (freshman year) is offered by Northwood University of the USA. This ensures that the academic credits earned at ANC will count at any university in the US/ Canada. This saves our time and money as we can start out there as a sophomore or junior.

ANC also offers an outstanding network of support which includes professors and staff members, very friendly and approachable; academic and transfer advisors; meetings with US/ Canadian university representatives; and one-on-one remedial tuition free of charge.

The experiences ANC students have outside the classroom are also wonderful; opportunities for involvement include several student clubs and many activities organized throughout the year. I think I made the right choice in joining ANC.

ANC means opportunity.

Canada’s international student population has tripled in recent years, and several factors have contributed to this surge: “one is the quality of education. Canada boasts uniformly high standards of higher education since all the universities in Canada are public. Second, it’s Canada’s reputation as an open and welcoming society. There’s no other country that I know of treats international students as well as Canada does: as soon as they land in the country, they get the ability to work on and off campus during their studies. And when they graduate, they become eligible for a post-graduation work permit for up to a maximum of three years. They gain valuable Canadian work experience and earn money. Ultimately, it’s the pathway to qualify for permanent residence. Canada is also a very safe country,” says Mr. Brent Krmpotich, Director of Student Recruitment, Marketing, and Communications at Algoma University of Canada.

ANC Education is pleased to congratulate Kamanthi Wickramasinghe on winning the Lakshman Kadirgarmar Journalism Scholarship, which will support her postgraduate studies at Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM), a best-in-class institute for aspiring journalists in the region.

Kamanthi joined ANC in 2012 shortly after completing her A-Levels at Royal Institute International School, where she had excelled at both academics and activities outside of the classroom as the head prefect – 2010/ 2011, a house captain, band member, an athlete, and a member of the Model United Nations Club. She was attracted to ANC for “the quality of ANC degree programs and resources available for learning.” She graduated with a BSc in Psychology from Missouri S&T, completing her full degree at ANC. Kamanthi was one of the hundreds of ANC students who took the full advantage of opportunities given to them to launch a promising career prior to graduation as she started working for the Daily Mirror as a second-year college student.

I became a journalist by accident. Back then I was doing my degree at ANC when my father saw a job advertisement on paper for a feature writer at the Daily Mirror. I had a flair for writing and was already writing PR articles for the Rotaract Club I was involved in. Hence I applied for the vacancy and I was called in for an interview. The editor was quite satisfied with my work and gave the green light; I have been a part of the Daily Mirror editorial staff since 2014.

One year into my career at the Daily Mirror, I won the Denzil Peiris Young Reporter Award at the Journalism Awards ceremony organised by the Press Institute of Sri Lanka and the Editors' Guild. This Award came along with a scholarship to study at Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM) in Kerala, but unfortunately I couldn't go since I was completing my degree. It was followed by an award of appreciation in contributing to the National HIV response by UNAIDS Sri Lanka. One of the unforgettable incidents was when I won the Michael Konig Young Journalist Bursary in 2017 which is a competition organised by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. As I won this award, I left to Cannes, France to collect it and also attend the Festival which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In 2017, I also won the Zonta Woman of Achievement Award in the media category. Quite surprisingly, I once again got a chance to leave to MASCOM and this time I didn't want to miss it.

ANC offers a holistic learning experience in line with the US education system. I followed the British curriculum from my younger days. When I joined ANC I was impressed with the wide array of subjects on offer and opportunities open for students pursuing an American qualification. As far as my career is concerned, in addition to Psychology related skills, my education at ANC helped me improve a number of general skills, including academic writing and presentation skills, research skills, organization and time management, communication and interpersonal skills, and critical thinking skills that are a key to success in any field, whether it’s journalism, teaching, business, engineering, or medicine.

In addition to that, ANC admission counsellors always make it a point to discuss about career pathways with prospective students and their parents. I think this is a good approach to give an insight into different career opportunities available for students. ANC also conducts career guidance seminars which help guide students on the correct path. Above all, both Psychology and Business students are given internship opportunities in their final year.

Students feel a close sense of community at ANC- both among students and between students and faculty and students and Student Affairs division headed by Mrs. Aruni Mahipala, the Director/ COO. Unpretentious and genuine in her interest in the academic success of every student, she made sure we all felt welcome and comfortable as freshmen and pushed us to make the most of the college experience inside and outside the classroom.

The reputation of one’s alma mater might have some impact on launching a career, but you are your work, not your paper qualifications. Even if you have a degree, information seems to be ever-changing. Therefore job applicants need to adjust to current trends without being dependent only on the knowledge gained from books. Some jobs would give applicants a problem to solve in a matter of minutes and sometimes it may not require prior knowledge as it would just be a matter of using one's common sense.

ANC is a good place to pursue your higher education. It offers well-defined pathways that will lead to a rewarding career. ANC offers HNDs, undergraduate degrees which give you the opportunity to complete your education at ANC or transfer to Canada or the USA, MBAs, and even a Masters in Clinical Psychology from University of West London. As a former psychology student I feel that ANC is a good stepping stone to kick-start your career in psychology as it has become an emerging profession in Sri Lanka. While at ANC, do make the most out of it as it will definitely be an interesting period in your life.

ANC’s good wishes are with Kamanthi for her to accomplish greater feats and excel in all areas of her life!

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