The Sri Lanka Government is promoting non-State sectors to introduce quality Higher Education to improve access and enhance freedom of Higher Education, in addition to free education, in our country, said Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake. Addressing the opening of a two-day workshop, “Innovations in Higher Education for Knowledge-Based Economies & Economic Growth in the [...]

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Govt. woos Private Sector to introduce quality Higher Education in SL: SB

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The Sri Lanka Government is promoting non-State sectors to introduce quality Higher Education to improve access and enhance freedom of Higher Education, in addition to free education, in our country, said Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake.

Addressing the opening of a two-day workshop, “Innovations in Higher Education for Knowledge-Based Economies & Economic Growth in the SAARC Region”, jointly organised by SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) in Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s Higher Education Ministry, assisted by the University Grants Commission, he said that, “As a result, new world class universities are being established in Sri Lanka, with 54 private institutes offering various cross-border Degree programmes. Hence, the country hopes to attract foreign professors, researchers and 50,000 foreign students by 2020.”

“World Class Universities, Globally Employable Graduates and World Market Oriented Entrepreneurs are some new concepts of the Higher Education sector, and non-State Higher Education concept is one of those.

To legalise same, we have now drafted the ‘Quality Assurance, Accreditation & Qualification Framework Act’, to be passed in Parliament soon,” the Minister said.

He said innovation in Higher Education is very much needed for all SAARC member countries, as it is becoming the most attractive region for Higher Education.

“Eradicating ragging from the university system was one of the big changes we introduced into our system very successfully, thereby removing the inhuman bullying of newcomers into the universities,” he said, adding that, till 2010, State universities were dominated by extremist student groups for a decade, and now State universities are run by professional administrators.

He said that, according to the employability survey, the main issue is with liberal Arts graduates.

“Their (liberal Arts graduates) employability on graduation was as low as 28%, against the 65% for Management, 70% for Agriculture, 72% for Science, and 91%-94% for Medicine, IT and Engineering. To improve the quality and employability of graduates, we have now introduced Outcome Based Education and Student Centered Learning as a remedial solution,” he added.

The Minister said 300% tax benefits are offered if the private sector invests in national research projects, 500 PhD support programmes, affiliated school program with universities have commenced and new Engineering and IT degree programs with new Petroleum, Gas, and refine engineering related degree programs are initiated.

According to him, the Ministry is working with the private sector to introduce training and part-time work for undergraduates, planning to diversify liberal Arts programme and provide vacation for academics to work in the private sector. He said the country plans to convert Higher Education as one of its exports. -Nadia Fazlulhaq

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