Kumar Sangakkara marks launch of new scholarship for Sri Lankans
The University of Tasmania has marked the launch of a new scholarship for Sri Lankan students by launching a sponsorship arrangement with the Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer.
The University – ranked among the top 2% in the world – has partnered with Kumar Sangakkara, who is signed to play with the Hobart Hurricanes in the 2016 Australian domestic T20 season.
Executive Director (International) Ben Jones said the University community is extremely proud of both the scholarships and the sponsorship.
“This is our 125th year and, as a university of global standing and impact, we have had a strong focus on our international ties,” he said.
“There are many similarities between Sri Lanka and Tasmania: we are islands of similar size with diverse economies including a robust tourist sector,” he said. “Our cultures are very different but there are many things which bind us, such as a love of cricket.
“It is fitting Sri Lanka has given the game Kumar Sangakkara, just as Tasmania has given the game another modern great, Ricky Ponting.”
The University of Tasmania has research strengths in many fields of importance to Sri Lanka. Disciplines such as Marine and Earth sciences; Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Science; Marine Engineering & Naval Architecture, Logistics and Freight Management and Tourism & Hospitality Management with a number of these disciplines rating in the top 100 globally by respected US News Global University Rankings.
Our teaching and research strengths are backed by positive graduate outcomes with University Reviews Australia placing our institution in the Top 10 of Australian universities on graduate salaries in 2014.
Country Manager Vignesh Vijay said the University of Tasmania first-year graduates command a greater average earning capacity than their peers at many other universities in Australia and around the world.
As part of the scholarship arrangement, the University will offer a limited number of 25% Kumar Sangakkara Scholarships to eligible Sri Lankan undergraduate and post graduate students.
The merit based scholarships will be awarded on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’ to eligible students – a minimum ‘B’ grade average* for undergraduate applicants. Given different grading systems across institutions post graduate applicants will be assessed on an institutional case-by-case basis.
“The University and the Tasmanian community welcome Kumar and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with all our Sri Lankan partners,” Mr Jones said.
For more information:
http://www.utas.edu.au/international
http://www.utas.edu.au/international/scholarships
http://universityreviews.com.au/graduate-salaries.html
* a score of 9 or more from 3 Sri Lankan A Level subjects, including any pre-requisite subjects, using the following scoring system: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, S = 1.
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