In a significant move to revitalize the higher education sector, Suren Raghavan, the State Minister for Higher Education, recently announced a series of transformative initiatives during a press conference at the Presidential Media Centre on Friday, December 15. The unveiling of these plans underscores the commitment of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to usher in comprehensive reforms in the humanities faculties of the country’s universities.
A key highlight of the announced reforms is the establishment of a National Higher Education Authority, a brainchild of President Wickremesinghe. This authority is slated to play a pivotal role in conducting exhaustive research and studies, both domestically and internationally, to inform ongoing education reforms within the region. The envisioned authority aligns with 21st-century standards and seeks to consolidate university administration into a cohesive and streamlined framework.
In his address, Minister Raghavan disclosed that a substantial financial allocation has been earmarked for the education and higher education sectors. The primary focus of this funding is to execute a comprehensive series of reforms within the Humanities Faculty of Sri Lanka’s universities. To facilitate this transformative process, a specialized discussion session is scheduled for the upcoming month.
President Wickremesinghe’s strategic decision to institute a National Higher Education Authority aims to centralize efforts in understanding and implementing global best practices in higher education. The envisioned authority is poised to function as a hub for research and advancements in education reforms, fostering collaboration and innovation in the pursuit of academic excellence.
To enhance the administrative efficiency of universities, a strategic initiative has been devised to appoint Deputy Vice-Chancellors alongside the existing Vice-Chancellors. This move reflects a commitment to bolstering leadership structures within higher education institutions. Concurrently, efforts are underway to harness the expertise of lecturers and professors who have pursued opportunities abroad, with a concerted drive to repatriate their valuable skills.
Qualified professionals from Sri Lanka who have excelled in their academic pursuits abroad are being actively encouraged to return to the country and contribute to teaching and research activities in state universities. The response has been encouraging, with several lecturers already committing to actively engage in providing their expertise to the local academic landscape.
Addressing concerns related to incidents of violence within university campuses, a comprehensive plan has been unveiled to foster an atmosphere conducive to quality education. As part of this initiative, a target has been set to enroll 41,000 students in Sri Lankan universities for the upcoming academic year. Notably, these students are required to participate in a four-month social service activity aligned with their chosen subjects as a prerequisite for university admission.
The government has meticulously designed a novel program to facilitate this pre-university engagement, emphasizing the importance of community service and social responsibility. This initiative not only aims to curb incidents of violence within university campuses but also seeks to instill a sense of civic duty and ethics among the future leaders and professionals emerging from the Sri Lankan education system.
In conclusion, the unveiled reforms underscore the government’s unwavering commitment to transforming the higher education landscape in Sri Lanka. By instituting a National Higher Education Authority, fostering collaboration with global educational standards, repatriating the expertise of overseas professionals, and promoting a culture of social responsibility, the government aims to usher in an era of excellence and inclusivity in Sri Lanka’s higher education institutions. These initiatives signal a bold step towards creating a vibrant and globally competitive academic environment.
