Londontec City Campus welcomed Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar to Sri Lanka as the Guest of Honour for the graduation ceremony held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo, on the 16th of January.
We had the chance to talk to her about the synergy between the two institutions, the advancement of higher education in Sri Lanka and retaining talent in the country, and to discuss what makes a Londontec City Campus education special.
‘Born in the Netherlands, I studied for my Bachelor’s degree at the Leiden University, my Master’s in the UK from the University of Leicester, followed by a PhD at Maastricht University later on. Starting off with an English Language and Literature Bachelor’s and widening my interest to International Business for my PhD, I believe furthering your tertiary education helps on many levels. As an individual, it helps you widen your knowledge while boosting the economy when you join the workforce.’
This was Professor Hinfelaar’s first visit to Sri Lanka to interact with the students and faculty at Londontec. Describing her experience, she noted how impressed she was by the students being involved in the itinerary of the awards ceremony and for displaying their creative talent on stage.
Professor Hinfelaar – Vice-Chancellor ,Wrexham University – UK
Before being appointed as the Vice-Chancellor for Wrexham University in the UK, Professor Hinfelaar started as an English language teacher at Zadkine College in the Netherlands, and then progressively was appointed as the Head of the Department of Business at Stenden University in the Netherlands. She moved to Ireland and headed the Limerick Institute of Technology as the President of the College for 11 years. In 2016, Wrexham University appointed Professor Hinfelaar as its new Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, and she has been at the forefront of the internationalisation of education, making knowledge accessible to more individuals.
Sharing her thoughts on the internationalisation of higher education, she noted, ‘Studying abroad changed me personally, it got me out of my comfort zone. It opens doors to more opportunities, helping individuals become more mature, independent, self-directed, and motivated. When you go to another country, it incurs a significant financial as well as emotional investment. Navigating all the challenges that come with it and being rewarded over time really moulds an individual.
With that she spoke about transnational education model that Wrexham University has with Londontec University. The emotional and financial investment for studying the same qualification within the comfort of your own hometown is much less compared to relocating temporarily. Students in the receiving country can study the same curriculum offered by the University in the UK, and also receive certain benefits such as guest lectures and access to reading recommendations online, the assignments reviewed by examiners, and quality-assured by Wrexham University.
‘I understand talent drain is a significant issue right now in Sri Lanka, and it was the same when I was based in Ireland during a recession. Transnational education helps retain talent in the country by boosting the economy, creating a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. The courses offered by Wrexham are academic but with the accreditation of professional bodies. Therefore, an individual can join the workforce as a professional.’
The Vice-Chancellor added that being a part of Wrexham University as a student and alumnus opens up avenues for research, international collaboration, and diversity in learning. She highlighted the importance of research as well; the University specialises in niche areas such as Precision Engineering and Pre-surgery Therapy.
Established in 1989, Londontec offers postgraduate programmes, undergraduate programmes, HNDs and diplomas. It has been a registered centre of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission in Sri Lanka (TVEC) since 1992. Wrexham University’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Business and Computing are delivered collaboratively, allowing Sri Lankan students to gain internationally recognised certifications.
When we asked Professor Hinfelaar about what we can look forward to with regard to this positive partnership between Londontec and Wrexham University, she said, ‘We can look into expanding the portfolio offered if there is an economic demand. Education is the best way to develop an individual and a country.’