Autonomy for State-run Universities: Ministry calls for proposals

The Higher Education & Highways Ministry has called for proposals from the Universities for them to function autono- musly.

Higher Education & Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella told the Education Times that the proposals have been called through the University Grants Commission (UGC) in keeping with a proposal by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to give more autonomy to the Universities.

The Universities will have the powers to decide on academic courses, admissions and administration, instead of the intervention of the UGC, which will play a more facilitative role.

"This will enable healthy competiton among universities, instead of administration by one organizsation," Mr Kiriella said.

"In other countries, universities are independent and make their own decisions. In Sri Lanka, the situation is different, where universities are run according to a government programme," he said.

He said the Government has already decided to allow universities to work independently.

"If universities take over their own administration, student protests at Lipton’s Circus too should reduce. If it doesn't, that means the administration of the universities is faulty," he said.

"We are ready to provide autonomy, but there are some who oppose the system. That is why we have called for proposals from the universities to work out the modalities," he said.

UGC Vice Chairman Prof Gamini Gunaratne told Education Times that the scheme being worked out would be in a manner that benefits the students as well.

"There may be a possibility of increasing the intake, as Universities with good courses may be able to attract more students, while also trying to improve their rankings," he said.

He said the UGC will continue to fund construction of buildings etc, but the universities too will be able to request funding for their programmes through the ministry.

He said that, under this system, the Universities will be free to recruit academics, adhering to the basic guidelines and qualifications set out by the UGC.

He said this move will also help override criticism that universities have no room for improvement under UGC administration.

By Damith Wickremasekara