IRQUE: Awards ceremony

The IRQUE project is a World Bank assisted project of the Higher Education Ministry for improving relevance and quality of undergraduate education.

The Quality Enhancement Fund (QEF), being a major component of the IRQUE project, has introduced a proposal based competitive funding scheme for the first time in Sri Lankan undergraduate education system. During this competition, the study programmes (Faculties or Departments) were requested to identify their strengths and weaknesses through a SWOT analysis, and formulate activities to address the identified problems. The evaluation of proposals was carried out by a panel of reviewers comprising national and international academia, according to a set of specified selection criteria.

In the first round of competition for the QEF, 17 grants were awarded (a total of Rs. 1426 million) in March-April 2005 for a period of 5 years, while in the second round 10 grants were awarded (a total of Rs. 652 million) in April-May 2006 for a period of four years. Competition for Batch 3 was launched in December 2007 only for the faculties of Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities, Aesthetic Studies etc. and the Advanced Technological Institutions of SLIATE.

The Award Ceremony of QEF Batch 3 grants is scheduled to be held on Friday, September 5, 2008 commencing at 9.00 a.m. at the BMICH, Colombo. Higher Education Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala, will be the Chief Guest of the awards ceremony, while Country Director, World Bank, Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Chairman, University Gratns Commission and many other personnel would grace the occasion.