“Double degree” opportunity for arts undergrads, to reduce unemployment: UGC Chairman
Students who have been selected to the arts faculties will be given the option of earning a degree in computer science as well.
University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Sampath Amaratunge told Education Times that a proposal was made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to give arts stream undergraduates the opportunity to follow a degree in computer science simultaneously, to minimise the unemployment problem.
The undergraduates selected to the arts faculties will be able to select diploma courses in computer science if they are not interested in following a degree in the subject, the UGC Chairman added.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Sampath Amarathunga
“The opportunity provided will enable students to receive a double degree – one in arts and the other in computer science,” Prof. Amaratunge said.
Initially the opportunity will be given to around 3,000 students to follow degrees in computer science.
The students will be required to register with the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) to follow the programmes.
The UGC has discussed the issue with the World Bank and is planning to obtain Rs 400 million for the project so that more labs for computer studies can be set up and the relevant staff recruited.
The decision has been taken sincearts graduates find it difficult to obtain employment after completing their degrees. This decision will be gazetted shortly.
Under the previous government when the issue of unemployment of arts graduates was raised, the then administration plannedto reduce the number of students entering the arts faculties. Due to public protests the suggestion was dropped.