 Minister SB Dissanayake |
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.
Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE - Daily News
