Student mobility programme within universities to enhance student perceptions: UGC
The University Grants Commission ( UGC) is to introduce a student mobility programme within local and international universities to enable undergraduates conduct their studies for a short term in those institutions, Chairperson Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama told the Sunday Times.
Prof Hirimburegama said the objective of the programme was to help students enhance their academic activities during the process.
The UCG has come up with the plan following the launch of their Grievances Solution Programme ( GSP) to discuss issues faced by academic and non-academic staff and students of universities.
“The GSP is a 50-day programme where UGC officials including myself, visit State-run universities around the country to discuss issues of the persons concerned. It commenced in the third week of July and to date, we have completed around five universities,” Prof Hirimburegama said.
Explaining student mobility in State-run universities, she said this will act as a source for the students to move to different universities. It will widen their perceptions in the subjects they are following and also the world around them.
She said that students will only be permitted to go to a university for a specific semester, where subjects they are following are offered. The chairperson added that they will also consider introducing a student exchange programme between international and students.
According to Prof. Hirimburegama, during the GSP programme they were able to speak to all university staffers who apprised them of several shortcomings within the institutes.
“One of them was to revisit the ‘distress loan’ system where a staffer can get a loan from the university in an emergency. Though it is supposed to be realised within a month of the claim, some universities take over three months to do so. The staff wanted this process changed which we are seriously looking at,” she said.
The academic staff has also requested the UGC to increase the funding for research and grant international training.
Meanwhile, the students have raised issues concerning canteens and hostels. The chairperson said that they will be looking at raising canteen standards to international levels.
“But this is not an easy task, as food is sold at a subsidised rate. We are trying to increase standards without affecting the price of food,” she said, adding that, the Higher Education Ministry is currently constructing university hostels around the country which will resolve the hostel issue students are currently facing.
She also said that students raised the problem of university cleanliness. As a solution, the UGC is discussing to outsource this work to a private company. which will ensure proper maintenance within universities.
“This programme is one of the most successful ones the UGC implemented. Students and staff were willing to talk and welcomed this opportunity to improve standards within our universities,” she said.