Loyola Campus first became operational in February 2015 in Mannar. It was a project initiated by Jesuit Refugee Service- South Asia in partnership with Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins (JC:HEM) and the Jesuit Province of Sri Lanka. The Centre was established in response to the need of a larger number of people especially the youth in the northern section of the island. Sri Lanka’s Northern Province has been deeply affected by the civil war, its population is still recovering from the terrible conflict. In particular, the war had a debilitating effect on people’s access to quality educational facilities. At the moment the Centre is developing a programme where learning is taken beyond its four walls of the Centre into villages and schools in Mannar where many students require assistance and help.
The existing building was redesigned to provide two classrooms, each equipped with 20 computers. Three certificate courses are offered at Loyola Campus, Vavuniya: certificate courses in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) a certificate course in Computer Applications: Graphic Design for Desktop Publishing and Microsoft Office. The Centre hopes in future to offer NVQ level courses that will bring better opportunities for the students who come to the Centre.
JRS- South Asia handed over the operation of the Centre to the Jesuit Province of Sri Lanka in December 2016. The Centre has become part of Loyola Campus network operating in Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Hatton and Puthukuduyiruppu from 1 July 2017.
