International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), the premier healthcare training school in Sri Lanka, joined forces with the University of Surrey, UK, to raise the bar in South Asian healthcare education. The strategic partnership seeks to offer regionally competitive educational paths for nurses and healthcare practitioners.
In accordance with this pact, IIHS and the University of Surrey will offer globally recognized nursing courses, facilitating Sri Lankan and local students to receive international qualifications without leaving their countries. A transition program will also be created to facilitate students' partial education in IIHS, then transferring them to the University of Surrey to study their final year.
The alliance will merge UK and Sri Lankan curricula, giving its graduates the tools to address healthcare issues globally. IIHS already has over 3,500 government nurses trained and assisted in the academic development of 2,000 students. The latest move further enhances its position as a leading center for healthcare education.
IIHS CEO & Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe described the partnership as 'an important step' toward progressing world-class health education in Sri Lanka and the region. "IIHS is committed to leading the future of healthcare professionals and promoting global healthcare leadership", he added.
Dr. Shelini Surendran, Associate Dean (International) at the University of Surrey, emphasized Sri Lanka's increasing recognition as a regional education center. "This collaboration ensures students throughout Asia have access to world-class UK healthcare education at IIHS. By uniting academic quality with accessibility, we offer students a direct route to their professional aspirations," she added.
The move is anticipated to position Sri Lanka as a hub of excellence in healthcare education by drawing in foreign students, injecting money into the education sector and economy, filling the global shortage of nurses with highly skilled graduates, and raising Sri Lanka's reputation in academia through research and international partnerships.
