Students returning back to Sri Lanka after higher education have dropped drastically

While on one hand educational exhibitions have become platforms for core business models in Sri Lanka, students leaving overseas for higher studies and not returning back to the country has increased.

Last week one of the recognised education exhibitions in Sri Lanka, EDEX Expo had a media briefing at the Royal College in Colombo. The Business Times questioned the panel of sponsors and organisers of the exhibition whether private and international educational institutions are setting the stage for Sri Lankan students to study here, go abroad for graduation and ultimately settle there and not return back after graduation.

One of the sponsors who grabbed the ‘platinum plus sponsorship’ title (a grade higher than platinum sponsorship) stressed, “Where students work after they have graduated is insignificant whether in Sri Lanka or overseas. Quality education is something every student deserves and we want to match the skills and talent of the locals with foreigners.” This response came from a representative from the Sri Lanka Technological Campus, a private entity and a subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom, to a question raised by the Business Times.

Adding to that a representative from the American National College mentioned that only a handful of students return to the country after graduation.

To another question that was raised on whether private education could be afforded by all students who do not get a placement in national universities in Sri Lanka, a panelist responded, “Whoever who can afford it are paying for private education. US$ 750 billion that has been going out of the country is stopped by foreign institutions setting up universities in Sri Lanka.”

This year being the 16th edition of EDEX exhibition saw the largest panel of sponsors for the event. The event was held last week at the BMICH in Colombo and followed by events at Kandy City Centre on January 25-26.

According to the media release, this year EDEX Expo encompassed a platform of local and global convergence of key post-secondary educational stakeholders, comprising over 200 education exhibition booths, representing local and foreign universities and institutes from over 20 countries. International presence was enhanced with participation of EDCIL (a government of India facilitation entity), participation of a number of reputed Indian universities together with country pavilions from Japan, Australia and France. Direct or local representatives from leading universities in the US, UK, Russia, China, Singapore, Pakistan, Canada, Hungary and Switzerland also enhanced the value of the Expo further.

To another question that was raised on whether private education could be afforded by all students who do not get a placement in national universities in Sri Lanka, a panelist responded, “Whoever who can afford it are paying for private education. US$ 750 billion that has been going out of the country is stopped by foreign institutions setting up universities in Sri Lanka.”