World class status for six universities
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE
The Sri Lankan higher education system will be converted to the most
cost effective education hub in Asia, said Higher Education Minister S B
Dissanayake yesterday.
Minister
SB Dissanayake |
As the first step to reach this goal, moves are under way to convert
six universities to world class university status. The Higher Education
Ministry allocated Rs 100 million each for the six universities aiming
to upgrade academic, infrastructure and other education and research
related facilities.
The minister was addressing Vice Chancellors and deans of faculties
of the six universities at a workshop held in Colombo on conversion of
six universities to world class status.
In accordance with world rankings, only the Colombo University is
placed among the world's 1,000 universities. Therefore, the university
system has to be subjected to radical changes so as to reach world class
status.
Accordingly, at the initial stage Ruhuna, Colombo, Moratuwa,
Peradeniya, Kelaniya and Jayewardenepura Universities will be upgraded
to meet the status, the minister said.
The minister further added that, certain programmes such as CIMA, CIM,
AAT and a few more professional courses will be conducted at
universities in the future. These programmes will definitely be a value
addition for university pass outs. The courses will be offered at
discounted rates through a loan scheme. It has been noticed that the
employment rate of those passing out from the university is around 60
percent. But if these graduates have undergone professional courses,
they would definitely be at a higher position when entering the job
market.
In line with ongoing higher education sector development activities,
the Higher Education Ministry is engaging in improving the quality and
equity in higher education, so that all qualified students will have
access to an inclusive higher education system while upgrading certain
universities to world class stats, University Grants Commission Chairman
Professor Gamini Samaranayake said.
A world class university gains international recognition for research
which will provide teaching and academic staff of high calibre. It will
the best students without boundaries and produces high calibre graduates
who reach the highest levels in their chosen fields.
A world class university has a history of superior achievement and
makes substantial contribution to society.
Such a university has a management team that is competent while
having the capacity to mobilize financial resources and is cost sharing,
the Chairman noted. |