Aquinas College of Higher Studies

The Aquinas College of Higher Studies also known as Aquinas University College^[2] is a Sri Lankan nonprofit private Tertiary education institute that provides both academic degrees and vocational training.^[3]

Aquinas College of Higher Studies

Motto	Maitrya Satyajjjnasa
Motto in English	Truth in Charity
Type	Private Vocational University
Established	1954
Founder	Rev. Fr. Peter Pillai[1]
Accreditation	UGC, TVEC
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
Academic affiliation	International Federation of Catholic Universities (Partner)
Location	Borella , Sri Lanka
Website	aquinas.lk

History

The Aquinas College of Higher Studies was founded in 1953 by Catholic priests Peter A. Pillai, the former rector of St. Joseph's College, and Thomas Cooray, the Archbishop of Colombo, as a Catholic university open to all ethnic and religious groups. It was registered in 1954 by the Ministry of Education Ceylon and was established in Colombo 8.^[3][4]

Initially, it offered external degrees from local state universities such as Universities of Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Colombo and Sri Jayewardenepura, as well as foreign universities, while agricultural training was carried out in the 47 acre farm in Walpola, Ragama.^[5] After 2005, when it received approval to grant degrees, Aquinas moved on to develop its own degree programs. Since then, it has expanded both degree programs and infrastructure as well as attracting students from SAARC countries.^[6][7]

Organisation

The Aquinas College of Higher Studies is run as nonprofit philanthropic institution administered by the Archdiocese of Colombo. The College also works in close collaboration with foreign Universities and Higher Educational Authorities. It is accredited to provide its own academic degrees by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is registered with the Tertiary and Vocational Educational Commission (TVEC) to provide vocational education.^[3][2][8]

Faculties

Faculty of Agriculture

• Department of Agri-Business Management^[9]
• Department of Crop Management^[9]
• Department of Livestock Management^[9]

Faculty of Business and Hospitality Management

• Department of Business Management^[10]
• Department of Hospitality Management^[10]

Faculty of Education & English

• Department of Education^[11]
• Department of English^[11]

Faculty of Science And Technology

• Department of Information & Communication Technology^[12]
• Department of Nursing & Pharmacy^[12]

Faculty of Social Sciences And Humanities

• Department of Humanities^[13]
• Department of Psychology^[13]
• Department of Religious Studies^[13]
• Department of Sister Formation^[13]

References

1. "Aquinas Uni's Education and Career Fair 2013 tomorrow | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. "Aquinas University College". www.fiuc.org. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
3. "Aquinas College of Higher Studies | History". www.aquinas.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
4. OMI, Rev Fr Leopold Ratnasekera. "On the path to the Sainthood". Daily News. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
5. "Online edition of Daily News – Features". archives.dailynews.lk.
6. "An Interview conducted with very Rev. Dr. Susith Mark L. Silva, The Vice Chancellor / Rector of Aquinas College of Higher Studies: (ACHS) by Sr.Concelia Mariampillai HC". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
7. "The very first Convocation of Aquinas College". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
8. "'Hospitality Management' from Aquinas College of Higher Studies". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
9. "Aquinas College of Higher Studies | Faculty of Agriculture". www.aquinas.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
10. "Aquinas College of Higher Studies | Faculty of Business and Hospitality Management". www.aquinas.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
11. "Aquinas College of Higher Studies | Faculty of Education & English". www.aquinas.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
12. "Aquinas College of Higher Studies | Faculty of Science And Technology". www.aquinas.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
13. "Aquinas College of Higher Studies | Faculty of Social Sciences And Humanities". www.aquinas.lk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.