‘Make universities strategic partners in development’

Text of Address by Professor Ranjith Senaratne, Vice Chairman, University Grants Commission at the convocation of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, held at the BMICH on February 5, 2012, titled ‘Let us make our universities a strategic partner and a catalyst of regional and national development’

In Sri Lanka there are 15 universities with an academic strength of around 4,500, including about 500 Professors and Associate Professors and over 1,750 Senior Lecturers with PhDs or equivalent qualifications. An appreciable number of these senior academics are promising scientists with international experience and make a significant contribution to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in their respective fields. According to a study conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2004, the academics in the universities have accounted for more than 60 percent of the R&D personnel in the country.

In addition, there are over 60,000 undergraduates and over 4,000 post-graduate students in our universities who are pursuing studies in a multitude of faculties such as Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Natural Science, Agriculture, Humanities, Social Science, Management and Law. Only about 2 percent of the students receiving school education in our country have the privilege of entering university. Thus these students undoubtedly constitute the distilled spirit of the youths of the country.

Higher education

Presently, a sum exceeding Rs 20,000 million or Rs 20 billion is spent annually on higher education in our country. To produce a graduate, the government expends typically around Rs. 500,000, or more, depending on the degree programme, university etc. In addition, to provide school education from Year 1-13, though we call it ‘free’ education, a substantial amount of public funds is spent.

As the Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman said “There is no such thing as a free lunch”, and somebody is paying for it. In regard to education, it is supported by the sweat, toil and labour of the common man. Therefore it is incumbent upon the university community including its students to cultivate a deep sense of civic consciousness and reciprocate by providing a tangible service to the community and society. With at least one university being situated in each province, universities are in a unique position to become true and effective partners in national development by mobilizing and channelling their rich intellectual and infrastructure resources for regional development.

Engagement with community

In societies where universities are public institutions, serving the public interest through outreach activities in legitimate and necessary. Government in many parts of the world are now pushing public funded universities for ‘value money’. Industry and the world of work look for skilled graduates, while society and the community desire thoughtful and knowledgeable leadership and reflective professional support from graduates. Various stakeholders demand skills, knowledge and the ability to apply what is learned to the good of the society and themselves. To meet such demands, universities should be fully and explicitly engaged, not only in teaching and research partnerships, but also in outreach activities to meet society's intellectual, social, economic, environmental, spiritual and cultural needs.

In Sri Lanka, a substantial proportion of the population is still living in rural areas without basic amenities and services. There exist a wealth of dormant forces, faculties and talents in rural areas which need to be harnessed and channelled for rural development. As Dr. Abdul Kalam said, young minds that have been ignited are the most powerful resource. This resource is mightier than any other resource on earth, in the sky and under the sea. The 20 million minds of our nation are indeed a great power waiting to be tapped!

There are many youths in rural areas bubbling with creativity and enthusiasm. Their trapped energies and suppressed initiatives need to be liberated and harnessed. Only a burning candle can light another candle. What a great responsibility and a moral obligation the intellectuals and professionals of this country have in this crucial hour to ignite the dormant inner energy of the youths in rural areas and guide this tremendous energy in a constructive manner for nation building! Any attempt to make Sri Lanka a developed country should address these in the rural sector, empowering its people. Rural development is an essential need for transforming Sri Lanka into a knowledge economy.

Acceptable solutions

Therefore it is imperative for universities and higher education institutions to be actively involved with the society of which they are part. It is time that universities embrace engagement with wider society not as an adjunct to, but as a sine qua non of, their central purposes. Hence engagement should be considered as a ‘core value’ for the university, which can no longer keep aloof from society. Universities need to get to the bottom of issues faced by society and community concerning livelihood, disease, poverty, illiteracy, agriculture, industry, productivity, education, environment etc. and find acceptable solutions to them.

In order to achieve this, the engagement must embrace a great deal more than just ‘links’ to the ‘outside world’. It should be a truly organic relationship, like that between mother and child or husband and wife.

Active dialogue

Here, our scientists should become civic scientists and contribute towards societal transformation. In this new capacity, scientists should step beyond their campuses, laboratories and institutes and move into the centre of their communities to engage in active dialogue and action with their fellow citizens. They should ask themselves the question of how their knowledge can make an impact on the common man's life. Our academics should become fearlessly people-friendly, have a positive attitude and provide a responsive and proactive service to the people. In other words, they should become practical academics or ‘pracademics’.

The Sagara Wishva Vidyalaya, established by the President when he was the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, is based on the philosophy that it should cater to the trained manpower needs of the fisheries and allied sectors and help those engaged in these sectors to improve their living standards and social status. Thus serving the fisheries community, industry and other related stakeholders are clearly embedded in its mission and prominently reflected in its academic and vocational courses.

To be continued