Sri Lankan students and working professionals will soon have the opportunity to earn internationally recognised degrees from Germany’s state-recognised Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences while gaining practical work experience in Colombo, following a new partnership between AI Academy and the Berlin-based university.
Under the partnership, AI Academy will offer two Tomorrow University qualifications — a BSc in Applied AI and an MBA in AI & Technological Transformation — through its local incubator model. The collaboration was announced at a press conference held at Hatch on August 24.
The programme is built around a work-study approach that enables students to pursue a university degree while gaining professional experience from the beginning of their academic journey.
Students enrolled at AI Academy will work on paid, real-world projects for Sri Lankan and international companies from the outset. Rather than treating education and employment as separate stages, the model allows participants to build professional portfolios, gain practical industry exposure and apply their academic knowledge to genuine business challenges while completing their degrees.
The partnership also enables Sri Lankan students to pursue a German higher education qualification without relocating overseas. Tomorrow University is a private institution in Germany recognised by the State of Hesse. Its MBA programmes are accredited by the German Accreditation Council through ACQUIN, while its Bachelor’s programmes are accredited by FIBAA and internationally recognised.
The MBA in AI & Technological Transformation is designed for professionals seeking to combine business leadership with AI and emerging technology capabilities, while the BSc in Applied AI places a strong emphasis on practical and applied learning. Both programmes reflect Tomorrow University’s focus on challenge-based education and applying knowledge to real-world problems.
Linda Speldewinde, Founder of AI Academy, said, “At AOD, we didn't just teach design — we sent Sri Lankan designers out into the world and they are now building names for themselves internationally, going head-to-head with graduates from the best design schools globally.
“That happened because we approached design education differently: real work, real clients, real stakes, rooted in impact, from day one. AI Academy is built on that exact same conviction, now applied to a field that's transforming every industry.
“It shouldn't be required for students to choose between earning, learning, and creating something of their own. From Colombo, they should be able to accomplish all three.”