The under employment is almost not existent with such graduates.  The unemployment ratio is generally zero six months after the graduation.  The important question is that how many of our various faculties in our universities produce such capable KSAM graduates. It would be necessary for all faculties in our state universities to produce such graduates if we are to realize the goal set as the “knowledge hub of Asia”.

In this context, some of the faculties of our universities have performed remarkably well.  For example, the three engineering faculties of our state universities, Moratuwa, Peradeniya and Ruhuna, have performed very well and even rank them as producing “World Class Graduates” though these state universities may have a long way to go to be ranked as “World Class Universities”.  The reason is the exceptionally good lecturers available for teaching that has been instrumental in excelling in teaching though there will be a lot of room for developing the research culture and the associated publication practices  to reach the coveted title of “World Class Universities”. 

Since there is ability to produce “World Class Graduates” (WCG), the students who pass out with the basic degree have been able to find employment in the international markets.  This has on the one hand has resulted in brain drain with those who seek greener pastures.  On the other hand, some of these graduates have found gainful employment in many other countries like middle east and Korea with exceptionally high salaries like US $ 5000 to 8000 per month.  A lot of this money would finally end up in Sri Lanka thus further strengthening the balance of payment position in favour of Sri Lanka.  Thus, the number of engineering graduates produced should not depend on the needs of the Sri Lankan industry, but shall depend on the ability of our engineering graduates to gain good employment with 6 -12 months of real industrial exposure after the graduation (if possible even finding employment abroad immediately after graduation).  This is a situation that would ideally be expected from many other faculties of our state universities.

The challenges that we have to face in elevating our state universities to such a state is explained in detail with some emphasis on the opportunities that we have to capitalize to reach the goal of “Knowledge Hub of Asia”.

For over 30 years, Sri Lanka country was involved in a protracted war since 1979.  So, our university system did not receive much money for development (the capital grants and money for Research and Development).  The academics, who stayed in Sri Lanka with tremendous courage and dedication did a remarkable job with the state sector university education (others left seeking greener pastures and it is difficult to blame them for doing so).  However, the staff had to device our own strategies for survival since many of our faculties did not have new equipment, attractive research funding, good research students, etc.

The strategy that was generally devised at successful faculties was to develop our teaching to very high level.  So, some universities like University of Moratuwa could promote the idea of "World Class Graduate" (WCG), the graduate who can fit the world at large and also can secure admission to the world's best universities effortlessly.  However, this would be very different to a "World Class University" (WCU).

WCU is not easy to reach and we will need at least 10 more years where each faculty will need a capital grant of at least Rs 50- 75 million per year continuously for the next 5-6 years with at least Rs 50 -75 million per year allocated for R & D related expenditure (funding the stipend of Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, traveling, purchasing of software, etc.).

After the end of the war in year 2009, GOSL got an opportunity to actively pursue the goals of Mahinda Chinthana.  One of the key features of Mahinda Chinthana was a Knowledge Hub.  So, many administrators at University Grants Commission and Ministry of Higher Education started promoting the "Ranking of a university".  When this was floated first, many staff members were baffled since it was very different to producing quality employable graduates with well planned undergraduate courses.  A highly ranked university will need a lot of post graduates undertaking cutting edge research where there is a good and competitive funding mechanism to sharpen the research and development work.  Thus, the academics in our state universities saw a rapid change of the goals set for them.  Previously, the main goal was producing “World Class Graduates” with the students sent to our state universities as undergraduates.  Now, the new goal has been having a higher rank with our state universities which means concentrating on both the undergraduate programmes and post graduate research.          

2013 Membership Dues - Don't Delay Payments All membership fees are due on the 1st of the year (January 1, 2013).

11-12-13th October 2013 at the BMICH

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