UC joins Priyanthi to offer best of US higher education

Unique co-op option for undergraduate students

Priyanthi & Padmasena Dissanayake soon after signing agreements to represent University of Cincinnati in Sri Lanka, with Vice Provost, International, Dr. Mitch Leventhal and Assistant Director, International Admissions, Jonathan Weller, at Cincinnati, Ohio.

CINCINNATI, Ohio, USA. - Since its founding in 1819, the University of Cincinnati (UC) has been a top research institution creating incredible innovations for society such as the first antihistamine, the first live polio vaccine and the first electronic organ. Each year, this urban university graduates 5,000 students. More than 1,800 international students presently attend UC and, of those, most are from Asia.

Cooperative Education at UC
Striking an ideal balance between academics and professional practice, distinguishes UC from other US universities. UC founded Cooperative Education, (Co-op) in 1906 and US News and World Report ranks UC’s Co-Op programs among the top 5 in the US. Co-op students alternate terms of classroom study with terms of paid, professional work, in specially structured academic programs. Co-op is required in many architecture, business, design, engineering and technology programs. UC has over 3,500 Co-op students in over 50 disciplines, working with over 1,400 employers. The cumulative annual salary for UC Co-op students is over US$ 30 million.

Co-Op programs typically take five years to complete. Students will ultimately spend four years studying at UC (and paying tuition) and one year gaining paid, professional co-employment. Students DO NOT pay tuition when they Co-op. The average Co-op student earns around US$ 40,000 in income during their undergraduate career.

Each student admitted into Professional Practice, is assigned to a Co-op faculty member who helps the student identify program objectives and suggests work assignments. This faculty member also functions as liaison between the student and the Co-op employer.

Co-op students are not required to co-op in Cincinnati, though most students do co-op in Cincinnati. The university has thousands of Co-op opportunities throughout the US and a growing number of international opportunities. This unique opportunity allows Co-op students to work and live in almost any major US city, which allows international students to spend Co-op terms in cities where they may have family connections.

Cincinnati, USA: Mid-size metropolis with a Small Town sensibility
UC’s vibrant urban campus is uptown Cincinnati’s most important destination. The city of Cincinnati is at the nexus of three US states: Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. It is currently ranked as the second most livable city in the United States. Metro Cincinnati is alive with the arts, public parks, and accessible public transportation.

The local international airport enables South Asian students to easily reach Cincinnati.

Many national and international corporations are headquartered in Cincinnati, including GE Aviation and its aircraft engine production facility. Procter & Gamble began in Cincinnati and operates in the heart of the city. Chiquita Brands International is housed downtown, along with the Kroger Company, one of America’s largest retail grocers, Federated Department Stores, which includes Macy’s & Bloomingdales, and American Financial Group which had over US$ 4,000,million in sales last year. These firms, and hundreds of others, welcome many UC Co-op students each year.

Opportunities for Sri Lankan Students
There are hundreds of undergraduate and postgraduate programs to choose from, including innovative ACCEND (Accelerated Engineering Degree) programs in the College of Engineering, that allow students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in only five years – and still earn a year of Co-op professional work experience.

UC rewards strong academics with many scholarship opportunities available to international students. The UC Global Scholarship of up US$ 28,000 (US$ 7,000 per year for four years) to qualifying undergraduate students.

Many postgraduate programs also provide generous scholarships and assistantships to international students. In fact, the postgraduate programs in Chemistry have committed a limited number of full scholarships to students from Sri Lanka and other academic programs may follow suit.

Developing stronger ties between UC and Sri Lanka
UC recently hosted Priyanthi Dissanayake to display its commitment to developing strong ties between the university and Sri Lanka. In fact, the Vice Provost, International Affairs, Dr. Mitch Leventhal, will be in Sri Lanka from October17-20 – first ever visit by a senior official of UC - to explore the possibilities further and he is scheduled to meet with the US Ambassador in Colombo and the Minister of Higher Education, address students of Ladies College & undergraduate students of plant sciences at the University of Colombo, meet with Chemists aspiring to earn a PhD at UC and visit American National College.

Priyanthi Dissanayake is expected to assist many talented and deserving Sri Lankan students to join UC and enjoy its unique Co-op program, whilst getting a world class education. More details of UC & Priyanthi Dissanayake are available on www.uc.edu & www.schols4us.com