The need to establish a Higher Education Commission to regulate and monitor private universities and other degree-awarding institutions was raised at a meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education held recently.
The committee examined the operation of private universities in Sri Lanka and the issues relating to their recognition by the University Grants Commission (UGC), during a discussion on November 21, chaired by MP Hesha Withanage.
During the discussion, the Committee Chair highlighted the emergence of institutions awarding degrees of inadequate quality and the resulting harm caused. He noted that many such institutions operate with profit-making as their primary objective rather than providing quality education. The Chair stressed the importance of ensuring that the entire process, from student admission to awarding of degrees, remains under the supervision of the UGC.
The Vice Chair of the UGC, expressing his views, underscored the need to establish a Higher Education Commission to regulate and monitor private universities and other degree-awarding institutions. He explained that such a body would enable the creation of comprehensive data systems and facilitate links with universities worldwide, allowing access to essential information on institutional standards and programme quality. This, he noted, would help ensure accurate decision-making when approving prospective private universities. These comments were further supported by the Additional Secretary (Non-State Higher Education) of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, and by officials of the UGC.
The Committee also focused on issues related to state universities, scholarships offered for foreign degree programmes, and other related matters. (Newswire)