Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) in Sri Lanka was established in partnership with University of Staffordshire in the UK and Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Malaysia to deliver degree programmes in Business Management, Computing/IT and Law.
What began with a pioneering cohort of 41 students has evolved into one of the most successful transnational education partnerships in the region. More than 6,500 graduates have completed University of Staffordshire awards, making a considerable contribution to industry, innovation and community across Sri Lanka and beyond.
For much of the past 25 years, employability has been close to 100%, with over 90% of graduates securing employment within three months of graduation.
This month, Professor Raheel Nawaz, Pro-Vice Chancellor at University of Staffordshire, visited APIIT to mark this important milestone and the launch of its Impact Study, a comprehensive reflection of APIIT’s journey, outcomes, and contribution to national capacity building.
Professor Nawaz also celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2025 and presided over the annual graduation ceremonies, where a total of 780 students received undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Business, Computing and Law from University of Staffordshire.
“We are extremely proud of our longstanding partnership with APIIT, which continues to be one of our most important international collaborations. A partnership of this strength is built over time – through shared values, shared ambition and a shared belief in what education can make possible,” Professor Raheel Nawaz said.
“It has been a privilege to meet colleagues at both APIIT’s Columbo and Kandy campuses. Together, we remain committed to creating opportunity, elevating skills and supporting students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
“The success of our joint programmes – reflected in progression rates consistently above 90% and virtually 100% employment outcomes with over 90% of students securing work within three months of graduating – is a testament to APIIT’s leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Speaking on the launch of the Impact Study, Orlando Edwards, Country Director of the British Council Sri Lanka, welcomed and commended APIIT’s work in undertaking the Impact Study, which demonstrates a strong commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous improvement. “Understanding graduate outcomes is essential to shaping programmes that truly meet the needs of learners, employers, and the wider economy. The British Council recognises and values initiatives like this that strengthen the higher education ecosystem and contribute to a more informed, responsive, and globally competitive sector,” he said.
The importance of the partnership was also highlighted by the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, who noted that: “the partnership between University of Staffordshire and APIIT Sri Lanka, now in its 25th year, is a strong example of how transnational education can deliver real impact. This collaboration has enriched Sri Lanka’s higher education landscape by providing an increasingly diverse community of learners with access to world class British education, playing a vital role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s human capital.”
The visit also included the launch of APIIT’s new campus premises in Colombo – inspired in part by the flexible, collaborative design principles seen in University of Staffordshire’s Catalyst building in Stoke-on-Trent and at its London campus.
APIIT already operates a 58,000 square-foot campus in the heart of the city and has now opened a newly acquired and fully repurposed 50,000+ square-foot premises, which has been transformed into a modern, purpose-built learning environment.
The new premises is designed to support APIIT’s growth into specialist disciplines, housing Biomedical Science and Engineering laboratories alongside Psychology provisions. It will also host Computing and Business lecture sessions in collaborative classrooms that reflect the needs of next-generation learning.
Professor Nawaz commented: “The opening of the new campus premises is a proud milestone for APIIT and an equally proud moment for us at University of Staffordshire, marking the next exciting chapter of our partnership.
“For a quarter of a century, our two institutions have worked side by side, united by a shared belief that high-quality, internationally recognised education should be accessible and transformative.
“These new facilities demonstrate APIIT’s continued commitment to providing high-quality education that prepares the next generation of Sri Lankan leaders, innovators and changemakers.”