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by Professor R. P. Gunawardane, Moratuwa University

Historically the technical education has not been given its due place and recognition in Sri Lanka. Most of the steps taken in regard to the development of technical education in the past have been based on ad-hoc decisions taken without a clear vision or a long-term plan. Thus, technical education is an area which needs special attention today, in order to bring it up to the main stream of tertiary education acceptable to the general public.

Although Sri Lanka is acclaimed by international organisations for achieving high literacy rate, the country still lacks the required technical and technological skills needed for rapid economic development. Therefore, in the process of expansion of tertiary education utmost priority should be given to promote technological and professional education, so as to open up more avenues and opportunities for tertiary education.

Presently, we have inherited almost single-track higher education system in Sri Lanka. Everyone aspires to enter a 'University' to follow an academically oriented degree programme except for a few professional degree programmes offered by the university system. As a result, there is a conspicuous mismatch between the supply and demand of our graduates.

Furthermore, there has been an unplanned expansion of our university system over the last three decades resulting in 12 ill-equipped conventional universities. None of these universities can be considered as a technological university. Similarly, none of the conventional universities do have a Faculty of Technology or even a Department devoted to Technological Studies. Most of these universities are following stereotype monotonous structure without giving due regard to the need for diversification. This has resulted in large-scale graduate unemployment while at the same time there is a shortage of manpower in technological, professional and other demanding fields. Thus, in the expansion of tertiary education, what is required at the present time is not any more 'traditional' universities but the universities/institutions devoted to high-tech and professional education in demanding fields of the globalized economy.

Attracting talents

Three main reasons have been identified for the failure to attract young talent to the current technical education system in Sri Lanka. They are:

(i) Lack of State recognition for technical education as an acceptable alternative path for higher (tertiary) education and for career advancement.

(ii) Absence of clearly defined path for upward mobility leading to degree status in technical/technological education.

(iii) Poor remuneration and service conditions of technical personnel.

These are not the only ills of technical education system in Sri Lanka. There are many other shortcomings, which I shall not deal with in this article.

In order to attract students to technical education stream, it should be accepted and recognized by the State as an alternative path of tertiary education progressively rising to a level equivalent to university degree status. Furthermore, service conditions of skilled technical personnel with adequate qualifications should be raised at least to the level of university graduates. It is only this way that talented youth can be attracted to this sector of vital importance to our economy.

Similarly, the students who possess Certificate or Diploma qualifications in technical education should have access to university level education and training leading to a B. Tech. degree. Such provision certainly will encourage more students to follow this route as an alternative path to university education.

Furthermore, there is an urgent need for highly skilled practically oriented technical officers/technologists and higher level technology managers for the expanding industries and technological organisations in Sri Lanka.

This brings us to the urgent need for a high-tech institution - a Technological University granting bachelors degree and higher degrees in Technological education in Sri Lanka. There has been a long-felt need to establish such an institution in this country. The establishment of such an institution will immediately raise the status of technical education in Sri Lanka.

Establishment of a Technological University of high standard with international linkages will considerably reduce the enormous pressure and high competition presently being encountered at the university admission process. Furthermore, High-tech graduates passing out from this institution will have more opportunities for employment satisfying human resource needs of the country.

B. Tech degree

Proposed Technological university also will,

(i) Provide an alternative path for those who follow technical education courses to acquire higher qualifications at degree (B. Tech) and postgraduate (M. Tech., Ph.D.) levels.

(ii) Produce qualified teachers/trainers for the technical education sector which is severely handicapped due to the lack of qualified teachers at present, and

(iii) Promote technological research relevant to local needs while serving as a 'Centre of Excellence' in Technological Studies in Sri Lanka.

The Technological University of Sri Lanka should be modelled according to a proven model of a High-tech Institution. There are number of such models available in the world today. One such model is German 'Fachchochshule' which provides about 30 percent of higher education places in Germany. Then there are other models such as Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Universiti Technologi Malaysia, Technological University of Philippines, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Ngoya Institute of Technology of Japan, Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT's) of India and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (CALTEC) of USA. In addition there are well established Technological Universities in France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Australia.

AIT of Thailand is basically an international postgraduate institution devoted to technological studies. IIT's of India, MIT and CALTEC of USA and Japanese Technological Universities are in fact, high level research oriented technology institutions. On the other hand, German Fachchochshule model and Korean KAIST model are more practical oriented High-tech institutions which may be suitably adapted to match Sri Lankan needs.

Proposed Technological University of Sri Lanka may be established by an Act of Parliament outside the University Grants Commission. However it may come under the purview of the UGC for the purpose of accreditation and quality assurance. This administrative arrangement will allow the Technological University to be more flexible and innovative in its approach towards admission criteria, management and linkages with the world of work. It is also necessary to get the private sector involved as a partner in the establishment and the management of the proposed Technological University.

Multiple entry

The Technological University will initiate and conduct practically oriented degree programmes in most demanding technological disciplines such as Information and Communications Technology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Materials Technology, Agricultural and Food Technology, Chemical Technology, Environmental Technology, Electronics and Instrumentation, Automobile Engineering and Motor Mechanism, Biomedical Engineering etc.

Multiple entry and multiple exit schemes should be in operation in this institution with appropriate bridging courses to prepare students for High-Tech Courses. It is suggested that about 25 percent of the places may be reserved for direct admission from GCE (A/L) results after administering a suitable aptitude test. Remaining 75 percent of the places will be available for students coming from the Technical Education stream with certificate and diploma qualifications received from recognised technical institutes, such as Advanced Technical Institutes (ATI's) of Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technical Education (SLIATE), Vocational Training Authority (VTA) Institutes, National Apprenticeship and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) Institutes, Colleges of Technology, etc. Direct recruits from GCE (A/L) results, however will have to spend additional one semester (6 months) in industry going through an industrial apprenticeship prior to enroling in the degree programme.

The B.Tech degree programme is based on a Course Unit/Credit Scheme and the total degree programme last for 8 semesters or 4 years. The certificate holders from the recognised Technical Institutes will join at the second year and diplomates at the third year level for the B.Tech Degree programme through a credit transfer scheme. Similarly, multiple exit scheme allows students to leave at the end of first year with a certificate, at the end of second year with a diploma and after three years with an Associate Degree. They may rejoin later to complete the B.Tech Degree if they so wish.

B.Tech Degree of the Technological University is equivalent to any Bachelor's Degree of traditional university. However B.Tech Degree is more practically oriented and involves hands-on experience in handling technical equipment, technopreneurship training, problem solving and innovation. The whole degree programme involves an in-built practical/industrial experience of two semesters.

Thus, lateral and upward mobility in technical education is assured in this scheme. Furthermore mobility of students also should be possible between the conventional universities and the Technological University after a screening process. The conceptual framework showing the position of the proposed Technological University in relation to the diversification of Sri Lankan tertiary education is depicted in the diagram.

It is absolutely essential for our technological University to affiliate with an international Centre of Excellence in Technological education such as a fachchochshule of Germany or KAIST of Korea. This affiliation or twinning arrangement will allow students to obtain double degrees - degrees from both institutions, if they so wish. This opportunity will enhance wide acceptance of the qualification. It also assures quality of the B.Tech, Degree and enhances its international recognition. The twinning arrangement will be extremely useful in curriculum development and staff training which are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of this High-tech institution in Sri Lanka.

The proposed Technological University should preferably be located in a metropolitan area in proximity to industrial establishments. As a fast-track approach it may be possible to identify a suitable existing institution for development as a National Technological University in Sri Lanka.

Two possible locations may be suggested for this purpose:

(i) At the premises of the National Institute of Technical Education (NITESL) in Colombo by pooling human resources in NITESL and the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa (ITUM).

(ii) At the premises of the Advanced Technical Institute in Labuduwa, Galle by pooling human resources in this Institute and the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Galle.

The strengths and resources of these two institutions in each of the above options may be exploited to their full potential in developing the proposed Technological University.

During the year 2001, there has been a series of discussions with the government of Germany regarding the support for the establishment of a 'fachchochshule' type High-tech Institutions in Sri Lanka. Several teams from Germany visited Sri Lanka, preliminary studies undertaken and reports submitted. Unfortunately this proposal has not been followed-up by the authorities in subsequent years losing yet another golden opportunity to revitalise technical education system in Sri Lanka.

Nevertheless, it is not impossible to channel foreign donor assistance for the purpose of setting-up a Technological University in Sri Lanka. This project should be given utmost priority since HRD in technological disciplines is vital for economic development in a globalised knowledge-based economy.

Industrial development of any country is directly linked to its capacity for mastery, adaption and development of technology. This capacity could only be developed through a comprehensive programme of HRD in technological disciplines. The establishment of a High-tech institution or technological University would go a long way in achieving this objective fulfilling a long-felt national need.

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