Aquinas College confers first degrees
Published Date: October 4, 2010
By ucanews.com reporter, Colombo
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| A priest being awarded his degree by Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith during the convocation ceremony |
Aquinas University College in Colombo has awarded its first ever state-recognized university level degrees.
Sri Lanka’s University Grants Commission formally recognized the college as a degree conferring institution in 2005. Aquinas, run by Colombo archdiocese, is the country´s premier Catholic educational institution. It offers courses in agriculture, languages, computer science, technology, business, journalism, psychology and drama and theater.
Now the first batch of 16 graduates have received their B.Sc. degrees at a Sept. 30 ceremony.
The new graduates include one priest and six Religious, said college rector Father Placidus de Silva.
National youth chaplain, Father Anura Sylvester Perera, one of the first graduates, commented that the psychology degree will help him understand youth problems better.
“I can listen and change the mindset of youth who suffer from stress,” said Father Perera, who graduated with first class honors.
Dilini Perera, 30, a Catholic who works with Caritas-Colombo as a coordinator for its children program, said the psychology course she graduated in will help her be a more effective Church worker.
Addressing the thousand-strong crowd gathered for the awards ceremony, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo said that “universities should be temples of the mind.”
“Universities should not be reduced to the level of mere schools of ideology,” the archbishop continued, “but become centers of scientific research and development of the moral and ethical conscience of man which would render him not a cog in the wheel of any political or economic system but a person with his or her own inner dignity and value.”
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandimithra Ekanayake said the college was supporting the government by producing educators for the nation.
Aquinas College was founded by internationally reputed scholar, educationist, and social worker Father Peter A. Pillai in 1953. It is registered with the national Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission to conduct courses and examinations at the tertiary level.
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Lecturers:
ReplyDeleteRev. Fr. Fraccid Anthony - B.Th.(Rome), M.A.(Philippines)
M.A. in Psy. - Fordham University, USA
Ph.D. in Psy. - Fordham University, USA
Dip. in Psy and Counselling Queen’s University, NY
Rev. Fr. Sunil Rupasinghe - Dr.in Clinical Psy Adler School of Prof. Psy.(U.S.A),
Master of Arts (U.S.A)
B.Th. (Rome)
Rev. Sr. Margie Wanniarachchi
M.A. in Pastoral Counselling (U.S.A)
Certificate course in sp. D.Ministry Fordham University, NY
Certificate course in Countinuing Formation in Ministry,
Catholic Theological union Chicago (U.S.A)
Training Program in Trauma Counselling EMDR Colombo Sri Lanka.
Dip. In Psy. Aquinas
Dip.in Counselling Aquinas
Rev. Sr. Janet Neththasinghe B.Sc.in Psy. Philippines
M.A.in Counselling Psy. U.S.A
Certificate in Pastoral Counselling (Philippines)
Certificate in Virginia Satir International Summer Training Institute U.S.A
Certificate in Psy. Synthesis California, U.S.A
Intensive Course in Gestalt Therapy U.S.A
Mr. Corsini Perera B.Ph. (Sri Lanka),B.Th.(Rome)
B.Sc. Psy. (Philippines)
M. Ps Councilling Canada
Trained Psy. Testing of persons
Personal growth Seminar T.A.model U.S.A
T.A.101 course – 1987 Sri Lanka conducted by from Norway
For more information contact: Rev. Sr. Rita: 4611288
Bachelor of Arts General Degree - BA - English & Sinhala Mediums
Duration: 3 Years
Subjects:
* English Literature
* Western Classical Culture
* Sinhala
* Economics – (Sinhala / English)
* Sociology – (Sinhala / English)
* Mass Communication – (Sinhala / English)
* Christian Culture – (Sinhala / English)
For more information contact: Mr. Neville Fernando 4611151
Bachelor of Arts General Degree - BA - English Medium
Duration: 3 Years
For more information contact: Mr. Neville Fernando 4611151
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies - BA - English Medium
Duration: 3 Years
For more information contact: Rev. Sr. Rita: 4611288