1. Sri Lanka The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia
Dr Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne
Secretary Ministry of Higher Education Sri Lanka
Regional Education Hubs: Reality or Rhetoric
Ministry of Higher Education
Sri Lanka

2. Structure About Sri Lanka Post-war macro economic environment
Government’s vision: Mahinda Chinthana
Challenges and Opportunities
Implementation
Comparative advantage
Marketing Sri Lanka as a Centre of Excellence
Questions and learning from others
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

3. About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

4. Post-war macroeconomic environment
Population 20 million (61% below Age 35)
8% GDP growth – 2nd fastest growing economy in South Asia
Stable government with 2/3 majority in the parliament
Per capita income US$ 2000 in (expect US$ 4000 by 2015)
Inflation rate 6.8%; unemployment below 5.4%
Booming tourism sector
Stable Sri Lanka Rupee
Conducive environment for investment – attracting FDI
Rapid infrastructure development (highways, shipping/air ports, housing)
Foreign reserves (US$ 7 billion)
Budget deficit of 6.8% of GDP in 2011
Average annual GDP growth forecast for period is 6.2%
Worker remittances are growing at around 13%
Significant shift in the country’s economy towards services (7%)
Economy projected to expand 6.5% in 2011 (6.3% in 2012)
Sources: Central Bank of Sri Lanka and Department of Census and Statistics
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

5. Government vision (Mahinda Chinthana)
“Develop a youth who can see the world over the horizon”
“We have the opportunity to make this country a knowledge hub within the South Asian region. I will develop and implement an operational plan to make this country a local and international research and training centre for knowledge”
Mahinda Chintana 2010 (President’s Mandate)
HE Mahinda Rajapaksa
Executive President
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

6. Government vision cont.
Sri Lanka - Miracle of Asia

7. Challenges and Opportunities
State sector HE structure
Post Advanced level Study Options
15 National Universities
2 Buddhist Universities
17 HE Institutes
12 Advance Technological Institutes
Demand for HE increasing annually 6.3% (600,000 students in 2017)
Supply vs. Demand
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

8. Implementation
Position Sri Lanka as a regional education hub in South East Asia
Expand HE provision to meet local demand
Attract international HE providers
New regulatory framework to monitor quality across state and private sector provision
Establishment of international campuses
Expand in-country delivery of foreign degrees and qualifications through TNE partnerships
Market Sri Lanka as a study destination in the region
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

9. Implementation cont. Pass new Higher Education Act
Ease restrictions on state universities to enrol foreign students and offer internationally accredited programmes
Incentives to stimulate rapid expansion of private educational provision
Provide 20% additional HE places for SL students
Attract 10,000 foreign students by 2014 and increase to 100,000 by 2020
Establish 10 world-class foreign university campuses by 2013
Develop higher education as one of our key exports
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

10. Implementation cont.
Legislation – HE Act, Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council
Up-grade state universities to world-class universities
Promoting non-state sector higher educational institutes
Provide maximum opportunities for HE within the country
Enhance institutional freedom - deregulation
Multiple routes and pathways – choice and flexibility – local – national – international – Institutional
Incentives (Ministry, BOI etc.)
Public-Private Partnerships
Reduce dependency on treasury funds
University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

11. Marketing Sri Lanka as a centre of excellence
Agriculture
Creative industries (fashion, design)
Hospitality, Tourism, Travel and Leisure
Health and Life Sciences (traditional medicine – Ayurvedha)
Architecture
Philosophy (Buddhism etc.)
Conflict and peace studies
Security and defense studies
Business, Finance, IT, Management (BPO etc.)
Uva Wellassa University
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

12. Comparative Advantage
Geographical location
Rich heritage
Diverse culture
English language
High literacy rate (93%)
Recognition of the importance of Education
Low cost of living
Safety and security
High quality national universities
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

13. Questions and learning from others
What is our niche? (subject areas, UG or PG?)
Regional accessibility?
Student experience/support systems?
Brain gain?
Access, equity, quality – avoiding state/private divide?
How to balance international academic standards with national needs and local identity and culture?
Funding models?
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia

14. Thank you
Sri Lanka – The Most Cost-Effective Education Hub in Asia