Research rules curb Lankan academic freedom
A new Treasury circular relating to increased funding for research in state universities has raised alarm bells amongst Sri Lankan academics as such research must now conform to government policy.
The circular sent to heads of state institutions and received by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has raised concerns among academics that this is another attempt to stifle independence of universities and academic freedom.
One of the contentious clauses in the February 11 circular, which is available on the Treasury website, says that heads of departments of the researchers have to declare that “I personally evaluated the research proposal/assessed the recommendations of the evaluation committee and strongly recommend that this research proposal is in line with the government policies and hence contribute to the development of the country”.
Another concern is that the academic allowance has set conditions compared to earlier where there were no such restrictions. “We are opposed on both issues,” Chandragupta Thenuwara, President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) told the Business Times, adding that all these issues would be discussed at a meeting with the UGC and other officials on April 2. “It affects academic freedom.”
Universities are funded by the state but operate as autonomous bodies. However in recent years the influence of the government in many ways including the appointment of Vice Chancellors has made autonomy only in theory.
In the 2014 budget, the Government increased the monthly research allowance to university academics and other public officers to 35 per cent of their initial salary from 25 per cent earlier.
This circular titled “Payment of Research Allowances as per Budget Proposals 2014” replaces the circular titled “Payment of Research Allowances as per Budget Proposals 2011”. However the March 3, 2011 dated circular has no guidelines as to how the research should be conducted or that it should be in line with any stated government policy.
Academic research undertaken in universities has had a strong sense of independence on issues of political, social or economic interest. Academics have spoken freely and with independence on any issue in public and to the media. The new circular said that for a research project to be approved for entitlement of the allowance, an interim report of the research including its progress against “the action plan of the proposal should be submitted to the Research Management Committee within a period of six months from the date of commencement of the research. Continuity of granting (the) research allowance is subject to the satisfaction of the Committee on the progress of the research work”.