Mobitel launches 'MBus'

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel recorded its partnership with the Department of Accountancy of the Kelaniya University to introduce 'MBus' - the Master of Business curriculum via its mLearning platform.

With the introduction of this new initiative, students will now have the ability to access the faculty on the internet via a Mobitel dongle-making the mLearning 'MBus' program a unique mode of education which exceeds the traditional classroom experience.

'mLearning,' also known as Mobile Learning, is the process of teaching and learning through the use of mobile and hand-held devices such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), laptops and tablet PCs.

"We, at Mobitel, further enhance our commitment to introduce more mobile enterprise applications aspiring to make education increasingly accessible across the country. By pioneering initiatives such as these we are opening up new vistas of opportunities, both local and global; nurturing students to readily meet real-world challenges, and also encouraging the adoption and usage of new technologies - thus, rapidly building a digitally savvy population. MBus will certainly be a welcome mode of learning for busy executives, as it doesn't require them to be physically present at the university, yet gives them a degree of flexibility and the opportunity to listen to lectures live or in time-shift mode," said the CEO of Mobitel, Lalith de Silva.

"It is already evident how mobile communication has revolutionised the way humans learn and interact. Being able to partner this initiative with the National Mobile Service provider is only going to open all new vistas of opportunities to the people who will contribute towards taking Sri Lanka to its next growth level," said the Deputy Dean of the University of Kelaniya, Prof. Sarath Amunugama.

A company spokesman said mLearning launched in 2008, intends to act as a catalyst in fostering a knowledge-rich economy.

The University of Colombo and Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel launched mLearning, an innovative concept that provides a new gateway to higher education, which was later extended to partnerships with the Open University of Sri Lanka, CIMA Sri Lanka, Edinburgh Napier University of Scotland, the Ministry of Higher Education as well as the Medical College of Sri Lanka.