Sri Lankan higher education system needs specific reforms: UGC Chief

Following is the keynote speech delivered by University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Mohan de Silva at the International Higher Education Conference jointly organised by CMA Sri Lanka, CPM Sri Lanka and Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA) in Colombo recently. 

The title I am entrusted to speak is ‘A professional vision to create a knowledge Economy’.

Quality Higher Education is the magnet for nation building. Universities and Higher Education Institutes have a vital role to play to produce valued human resources for this purpose.
Since 1947, Sri Lankans have been blessed with a policy of free education including higher education and later free healthcare.

These visionary reforms have brought many firsts in South Asia to Sri Lanka. Excellent male and female literacy rates, life expectancy rates and health care indices to name few.
In the context of higher education, whilst many countries in the region have evolved in line with global trends, Sri Lanka lagged behind with necessary reforms in the higher education sector; the sector that is responsible for creating human resources to accelerate the country ‘s knowledge economy.

In this presentation therefore, I wish to touch upon briefly, some reasons why we lagged behind when compared with our neighbours and also what higher educational policy formulators have already proposed to the policy makers in this county for the progress of higher education.

‘‘As the higher education evolved globally, and transparency, accountability and good governance became norms

Why we lagged behind
Firstly, why did we lag behind our neighbours?  
On the 16th October 2019, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of C.W.W. Kannangara considered by many as the ‘Father of 
free education’. 

This legendary personality was fighting with our colonial masters 72 years ago, to obtain opportunities to voiceless rural youngsters, entry into education. The nation is ever so grateful to him. This was Sri Lanka 72 years ago.

The world has changed. Change of course is inevitable but it is the rate of change that matters. The cry for free education and higher education that emanated 72 years ago that has continued up to this date has ‘environmentalised’ as a right of the people and as a secondary outcome may have inhibited the progress of non-State higher education compared to other countries in the region.

Therefore, the rate of change that was witnessed in Asian subcontinent responding to ever increasing demand for higher education was not witnessed in Sri Lanka. We clearly lagged behind.

‘‘Free education opportunities are available for students at all levels in the country. Whether optimal use of these placements had been made use of is questionable

State-sponsored free higher education
University Grants Commission was established by an Act in 1978, and that has been amended 6 times. Lets first look at the good side.

Successive governments spent money for free higher education. Contrary to popular belief, student enrolments have increased. 

For example, the total number of seats available in mid 1970s was 3500. Today in 2019, it is over 31,000 in 15 State universities. 

In addition, there are 4 other State universities that comes under Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Technology and Skills Development. 

There are also 38 technical colleges and 8 university colleges offering certificate courses, diplomas, Higher Diplomas and degrees. All in all, once a student completes GCE OL or AL, excluding university sector, there are at least 185,731 placements in all these places. 

If you add 31,000 degree placements from UGC controlled State Universities, it comes to a grand total of 216,231 placements; all free. Approximately, 250,000 sit for 
GCE A/L.

UGC has tried hard to address the issue of skills mismatch; to have a major curricular revision in Humanities and Social Sciences to suit the present day needs

It is also important to reiterate that although 150,000- 160,000 pass the GCE A/L, Sri Lankan system consider three simple passes in 3 subjects the qualifying level for universities.  
This level of achievement may be considered by some as insufficient although whether the AL result alone should be the only yard stick for selection has 
been questioned. 

However, this question must be answered when developing a selection process for universally within the free higher education system where the selection process must be transparent and fair to all students. Therefore, Z score system is the one presently in use. 

As you can see free education opportunities are available for students at all levels in the country. These are free. Whether optimal use of these placements had been made use of is questionable. 

 
Of course the quality needs to be looked at but the key point is to recognize the presence of an excellent structure in Sri Lanka. It is worth comparing with the availability of such all free educational opportunities in the regional and developed countries. 

Let us, look at the Infra structure facilities including hostel facilities in state universities. This has been increased progressively, contrary to what you here during student protests.
For example, during last 5 years, in those that come under the preview of UGC, an extra 100 hostels have opened up each with facilities to house 400 students. In general, universities charge a very nominal fee ranging from Rs.700 to 1200 per year as hostel fees. Today, most of the peripherally located universities provide hostel facilities for entire 4 years and all universities provide hotel facilities for first years and final years.

Lets analyse student financial welfare system; the Mahapola Scholarship scheme comes in due to the vision of another great personality Lalith Atulathmudali. 

Today 50 percent of students benefit Rs.5000 a month during their entire university period. In addition, another 16 percent of students get student bursaries worth Rs. 4000 per month. This means that, around 66 percent of admissions every year get financial support. These are not loans. They need not pay back.   

‘‘In the present day context, society expects universities to produce able graduates and of course able graduates must be employable

STEM education
Opportunities for STEM education have substantially increased. 

During last 5 years, a total of 29 Technology degree programmes including 12 Technology faculties have opened up and for the first time in the history of post colonial Sri Lanka two medical faculties were opened in one year increasing the available medical seats by 160. University of Moratuwa will have another Medical Faculty ready to accept students and extra 60 to 75 medical seats will be made available for 2020 intake.

Of course, more opportunities obviously need to be created to respond to the ever increasing demand, the thirst for quality higher education. All I have presented is what is available. 

Other side of the coin 
How much of these facilities have been used to address the needs of the country to contribute to knowledge economy, Subject I am entrusted to address. Let me be objective now.
UGC conducted a Tracer study on Graduate Employability in 2017. The objective was to find out the employability status of our graduates 2 years 
after graduation.

The slide shows objective evidence that what we produce does not tally with the skills, the employers seek. As you see, 50 percent of graduates in Humanities and Social Sciences are unemployed at 2 years from graduation. 

Another interesting fact that came to light in this Tracer study 2017 was the link between the English proficiency and employability. It was found that if a student has obtained A grade for General English in AL, irrespective of the discipline they entered into in the university and the degree they obtained, 88.3 percent of them were found to be employed, 2 years 
after graduation. 

If a student has obtained A grade for General English in GCE O/L then, 82.24 percent were found to be employed irrespective of the degree they have obtained.

UGC has tried hard to address this issue, the skills mismatch; to have a major curricular revision in Humanities and Social Sciences to suit the present day needs. I am happy to mention that under the World Bank project called Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) project, we offered a Competitive Block Grant to Humanities and Social Sciences Faculties, to the tune of Rs. 100 million per proposal for this purpose. I am happy to report that 8 Humanities and Social Faculties have won this grant. 

They will commence major revisions including introduction of socio emotional skills and internships and commencement of bilingual education to commence this long awaited major curricular revision.

 Also during last five years almost all English Language Teaching Units (ELTUs) in the State Universities were gazetted as English Language Teaching Departments (ELTDs) to empower the staff who are employed for this important task and they have started working with a new vigor to improve English language proficiency in university students.

Safe, conducive learning environment
Do we have a safe and conducive learning environment in our State universities like in other countries? 
Well. We have all heard aboutan organized from of physical emotional and sexual abuse that goes on in State universities under the disguise of ‘ragging’. What have we done to address this menace?

First we wanted to understand the magnitude of the problem for which we conducted a scientific study; UGC &MOHE together supported by UNICEF. The title was ‘Study on ragging and SGBV in the university system and implementing interventions and mechanisms to combat Ragging and SGBV in the Sri Lankan University system’.

This study involved a cohort of nearly 15 000 students, 1500 staff, Vice Chancellors, other university staff, council members and included 94 focus group discussions with stake holders to understand the magnitude and the impact, root causes and to plan combat strategies. 

Of many combative strategies UGC and Ministry of higher Education has conducted together with university authorities, a parallel major media campaign by the UGC and Higher Education Ministry, ably supported by some VCs, the society has now understood the magnitude and the scale of this physical psychological and sexual violence in universities that has been existence for over two decades but hidden from all. 

Now it is on the surface and everyone is against it.  Many have joined this fight; the staff, the students parents, the media and now latest Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) who has written to all presidential aspirants to respond. 

UGC measures for quality education
What measures have we taken to ensure quality of education in institutions under the purview of UGC?
A new QA process was introduced in 2015 to all State universities with a Score card for the first time to assess the quality of Institutions & Programmes and classify the universities and degree programmes as Very Good/ Good/ Satisfactory & Unsatisfactory. Results are being published in the web for parents and students to see.

This has not gone well with some but it was a necessity of the times. 

Accreditation
At policy level, a national QA and Accreditation Bill has been gazetted to cover and to accredit all academic distinctions to be awarded within the shores of Sri Lanka. Such a label from a national QA and Accreditation by an independent third party, will provide a seal of approval for all academic programmes of any State, non-State or foreign institute offered in Sri Lanka, acceptable and respected by all, locally, regionally and globally. 

It will also enhance the quality and transparency of the process and therefore the respect for such accreditation. This is the global view regarding QA and Accreditation today. Many countries in our region are actively engaged in the competition and as we are all aware, the Accreditation is often used to project an institution to those who may wish to gain a degree from that organization with confidence. 

Issues arise when it comes to professional degree programmes. 

The specific issue, to put it precisely is that, professional organizations that are empowered by Acts or Ordinances feel threatened that another authority is transgressing their power and authority. 

Some professional bodies are empowered to accredit degrees in their disciplines. The basis behind such approach has been that professional organizations are run by professionals of the discipline and that they have the expertise of the profession. This is understandable and justifiable. There are many such professional organizations including your esteemed organization.

The norms
As the higher education evolved globally, and transparency, accountability and good governance became norms, the need to display the transparency, accountability and principles of good governance was extended to all bodies including professional bodies. 

It is expected that all such organizations are run with openness, transparency and accountability based on principles of good governance. 

A National Quality Assurance and Accreditation System that oversees all accreditation processes in higher education will not interfere with the integrity, power and respect of such professional organizations but instead would enhance the credibility of the professional degree or diploma locally and globally. 

This is the view of the INQUAAHE International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education, one of the largest global net works of Quality Assurance in Higher Education and APQN Asia Pacific Quality Network. 

The basis behind the concept is to provide the legal framework to solidify the expectation that all Professional Accreditation Agencies shall display the transparency and principles of good governance and refrain themselves from ownership and protectionism issues.

It is therefore important that such National Quality Assurance and Accreditation System when established is independent, and represented by experts with unblemished professional records from different disciplines and devoid of political and any other influences. 

Such a Commission will not interfere with integrity and the power of professional organisations established under any other acts but would act as a watch dog like the national Audit Act of 2018.

The political interference of such positions must be removed which in fact had got it to this bill at the time of submission. This must be removed at the parliament and the committee level. 
The UGC has made strongest representations to this effect to the high level policy makers. Once such issues are removed, we hope that this will be a historic bill for progress.

Sustainable funding 
Finally, the UGC feel that the present funding system to State universities is clearly not sustainable. Universities continually request more funds for buildings and other infra structure facilities and produce products that may not fit to the society and to market needs. 

Universities argue that they are not employment factories and portray themselves as knowledge creators and knowledge givers. This justification may be philosophically right in 19th and 20th century when Oxford and Cambridge were developed away from the London because of the belief then that, the noise from a busy town may disturb the intelligent
 high academics. 

In the present day context, society expects universities to produce able graduates and of course able graduates must be employable. In a competitive society in which we live, universities too must be ready for competition for progress and with the present university act and UGC regulations, universities are hampered from entering 
such competition.

Therefore, universities must be provided with more autonomy. The academic and non academic staff should be given Special Category Status with a performance based pay structure and performance appraisal system and they must be made accountable for what they do. Funding from the government should be based on student numbers and performance of the universities. 

The performance must be assessed on a set of performance indicators. Student Satisfaction surveys regarding quality of teaching and learning activities, external quality assurance reviews, research, IP activities and presence of safe and conducive learning environments for students must be liked to funding. The Faculties should be given greater autonomy to initiate supplementary academic activities including income generating projects and allowed to function as strategic business units. Universities should be empowered to recruit international students on a fee levying basis. 

The concept paper to this effect has already been submitted to government by the UGC with necessary details. And unless we more away from the conventional funding system, Sri Lankan higher education system in our opinion is doomed to fail, if we continue to hang on to popular jargons such as 6 percent of GDP without specific reforms. 

In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, I have tried to be honest with you and told you where we were, where we are now, what we have done and what needs to be done to create a Knowledge Economy for nation building.