20 December 2024 12:00 am Views - 66
According to the report, the Sri Lankan enrolments increased significantly by 50 percent over the past two academic years, with 53,915 TNE enrolments alone in 2022-2023, making it the fastest-growing country among the top 10 host countries for UK TNE.
| University of London Professor Emerita Mary Stiasny OBE |
| British Council South Asia Director of Cultural Engagement Kate Joyce PIX BY NISAL BADHUGE |
The statistics indicate that the TNE programmes are becoming an increasingly popular option among Sri Lankan students, aligning with the growing demand worldwide for quality education and international accreditations.
Delving deeper into Sri Lanka’s TNE landscape, Mirror Business recently spoke with two TNE experts, University of London Professor Emerita Mary Stiasny OBE and British Council South Asia Director of Cultural Engagement Kate Joyce, to understand the socioeconomic benefits, impact and challenges the avenue faces within the local context.
TNE and South Asian context
The experts defined TNE as an avenue that provides the local students an opportunity to earn an internationally recognised qualification from foreign institutions while studying in their home country. The TNE programmes in general operate under various models such as branch campuses, franchise arrangements or dual-degree programmes, to offer students optimum accessibility.
The avenue has become significant in the South Asian region, where large youth populations face limited higher education opportunities. With 150 million people expected to enter the job market by 2030, creating sufficient capacity within the higher education systems, to accommodate millions of students, is a major challenge.
In this context, TNE serves as a viable option for many countries, as the avenue helps with fulfilling domestic educational requirements while providing access to diverse subjects that the local systems may not be equipped enough to offer.
Relevance of TNE for Sri Lanka
No different are the issues in the Sri Lankan higher education landscape, as the sector currently grapples with the critically low capacity in state universities. According to the British Council report, 171,532 students qualified for university education in 2022 but only 44,000 spots were available to accommodate new students.
Adding to the woes are the gaps in the local curriculum, especially for emerging industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), data science and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
“Many countries do not have enough provisions and structural resources to support their large youth populations. So, this is a way for students to access higher education that might not otherwise be available. Also, for a person who might not be able to travel to another country, due to physical, social, cultural or economic reasons, TNE allows them to earn an internationally recognised degree while staying in their own country,” Prof. Stiasny said.
Evolving TNE landscape in Sri Lanka
Based on the findings of a comprehensive research study on the Sri Lankan TNE landscape, the experts revealed that there is a growing focus among the local students towards business-related and STEM educational fields.
This shift is primarily fuelled by the increasing demand for skills that align with the modern job market, especially in sectors where employment is guaranteed.
“In Sri Lanka, there is a big focus on employability. It’s about what areas graduates can take to get there. Employers deem these graduates to possess skills that are highly valued in the workforce like cross-cultural competencies, leadership skills, English proficiency and entrepreneurship, which are often nurtured by TNE through international exposure and collaboration,” Joyce said.
Additionally, there is a growing interest in Sri Lanka towards creative economy sectors such as digital marketing and filmmaking, which she projected would significantly contribute in stimulating the creative economy of the country.
Socioeconomic impacts in pursuing TNE
The impact and effects of establishing TNE programmes extend beyond the entire education sectors, according to the experts. The collaboration between the local providers and international partners facilitates capacity building among institutions, educators and students.
More often these capacity building partnerships often lead to research collaborations, which the experts pointed out has a far-reaching impact on the broader society.
Moreover, TNE contributes positively in strengthening public services, as it encourages the exchange of skills and knowledge among the workforce.
Assessing impact of TNE in Sri Lanka
The impact of TNE is typically measured at an institutional level by tracking the progress of providing the institutions and students, especially in terms of what they go on to achieve after completing their studies.
Accordingly, the experts shared that the report by the British Council on Sri Lanka’s TNE landscape was conducted in an effort to examine the existing course offerings, benefits and challenges that need to be addressed within partnerships and at policy level.
At the discussion, Joyce cited an example of a case study of an institution that previously couldn’t award degrees, had increased collaborations with international partners and was able to expand its accreditation to start offering the programmes.
“So, employment, capacity increments, teaching capacities and research capacities all are considered. These can also lead to various publications and recognitions on the global stage while showcasing the milestones the students achieve after they complete the programmes,” she stated.
Training skilled professionals
In response to the demand for specific industries in Sri Lanka’s labour market and visible mismatch in skills in the educated labour force, the expert highlighted several areas where TNE could play an important role.
As an example, they cited the growing demand for STEM-related courses such as marine engineering, where the TNE programmes can offer students opportunities to follow specialised degrees and certifications that are internationally accredited.
These emerging fields are vital to address both local and international challenges, with issues such as climate change, energy security and digital innovation becoming integral components of the global economy.
Prof. Stiasny also emphasised the increasing need for interdisciplinary programmes in Sri Lanka, especially in sectors such as AI and data science, noting that the TNE programmes have the potential to help Sri Lanka cultivate a skilled workforce, which is ready to meet both national and international needs.
“Based on the demand for STEM courses such as engineering and mathematics here, I think we will see an increase in interdisciplinary programmes in the future,” she stated.
Meeting evolving job market demands
TNE has a vital role to play in equipping the Sri Lankan youth to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.
The experts opined that the TNE programmes help fill the gaps of the local education system by offering additional resources and a broader global perspective for the study subjects. This helps in equipping the local students with essential skills such as digital literacy, language proficiency and adaptability.
However, the experts noted that a scientific study is yet to be carried out to prove that the graduates of the TNE programmes often possess a more comprehensive skill set compared to the state sector graduates. They added that TNE could be utilised as powerful driver of economic growth, as it facilitates partnerships, especially between the private and public sectors.
They highlighted that many of the TNE programmes are developed with the input of local institutions to ensure that they align with the requirements of the local industries.
“The creative industries are one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, so it would be very interesting to see how Sri Lanka could expand in this area. Definitely, AI, data science and digital sciences are some fields for future growth,” Joyce stated.
Addressing brain drain through TNE
The TNE programmes are an efficient strategy for Sri Lanka to retain its talent as a majority of TNE programmes, according to the experts, offer the local students the opportunity to study global curricula without the need to relocate to another country.
“That is the reason, I think, why TNE is welcomed here. There is a lot of potential for improving employability with education that is locally focused. Students are not only completing their studies but also gaining the skills, which are directly relevant to the country. So, it’s more of a brain gain or brain circulation that happens through TNE,” Prof. Stiasny opined.
Policies and legal frameworks
The British Council of Sri Lanka has been actively working with the policymakers and public institutions to improve the regulatory environment and policy frameworks in Sri Lanka. The key areas of focus in these efforts include recognition, quality assurance and alignment with international accreditations and standards.
However, the expert shared that there is a negative perception that the TNE programmes are of lower quality, due to the lack of local regulations in Sri Lanka. They went on to assure that the programmes are designed in compliance with the same standards followed in the UK, while adhering to rigorous quality assurance frameworks that certify the programmes’ credibility.
“Having a clear structure that addresses conditions, recognition and quality assurance is really important. I believe that if Sri Lanka had a unified nationwide quality assurance framework, it would certainly help with the protection of credibility and enhance the perception of the TNE programmes,” Joyce asserted.