RETHINK: Opening the door for foreign universities in Sri Lanka
View(s):It has been enunciated time and again of the importance of understanding the new reality in the field of education, which has abruptly transformed global education.
Nearly 70% of Gen Z students in Sri Lanka plan to study, work, and settle overseas. This leads to foreign countries targeting international students by offering a post-study work visa after graduating from their universities. Overall, around 20% intend to travel and experience a different foreign destination and are usually convinced to revert to their country after studying abroad. Further, just 10% of candidates hope to study in top ranked universities and enjoy the status that it brings. However, as a study destination, Sri Lanka has faced several barriers in attract international students, and convincing local students to remain, due to the inefficient education system, economical structure, and immigration law.
Dr. V. Janagan Chairman- IDM Nations Campus International.
The latest proposal by the Sri Lankan government to permit foreign universities to operate in the country, may deprive state university students of opportunities, and may seem as if the government is encouraging state students to consider foreign universities for better opportunities. On the other hand, bringing the best ranked foreign universities to Sri Lanka will be an unfair move for students in state universities who have earned the right for free education. These students face an unfair competitive advantage to get ahead in the job market.
Further, the assignment-based assessments adopted by foreign universities may create conflict of interest when compared with the conventional written and continue assessment system adopted by state universities. This could impact entry into the job market.
If the government can encourage bringing in foreign universities to Sri Lanka, experimenting a new mechanism of recognising local higher education institutions could be a possibility. This step will be a positive move and bring in the best education practices and revenue to the country such as in Malaysia and India.
In Sri Lanka a large number of students who cannot enter state universities or study abroad, register with foreign affiliated institutions locally. Hence a significant amount of foreign currency reserves are drained by university fees that are transferred abroad, creating a major challenge for our economy. Further, prospective students are struggling to pay their tuition fees due to the lack of foreign currency, as the country’s economic crisis continues.
Instead of bringing foreign universities to Sri Lanka, enabling Sri Lankan state universities to offer various degrees in affiliation with private higher education institutions will bring in an income for the Sri Lankan government, and reduce the excessive financial incentives earned by foreign universities. These degrees can be offered to students who don’t gain entrance to state universities.
Permitting foreign universities to expand beyond present levels will create more foreign currency reserve drain as they send back the money to the country of origin. Hence, policy reform should consider encouraging affiliation between state universities and private institutions, to offer state university degrees. Ensuring raised ranking of state universities to that of internationally accepted world-class universities will also attract students who want to study in best ranked universities, leading to long term growth of our motherland.
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