Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD) Ministry of Higher Education & Highways

Project Highlights Project Period : June 2017 to June 2023 (5 Years) Project Value : US$ 100 Million Sources of Finance IBRD : US$ 67 Million IDA : US$ 33 Million Key Results Areas Increasing enrolment in tertiary education in priority disciplines Improving the Quality of Higher Education Promoting Research Development and Innovation

Country Context Sri Lanka is a lower-middle-income country with per capita income of US$ 3,900 and a population of around 21million but country shows some demographic and economic characteristics of a upper-middle-income country; low population growth rate (0.92%) , structure of the economy moving towards services (61%) and industry (31%) Some Basic human development levels in Sri Lanka are high by the standards of LMICs to UMICs (Primary and Secondary Education, Literacy Rate and Life Expectancy) Primary and secondary education outcome are improving recent fast providing a strong foundation for development of higher education Government considers higher education as a vital engine for development of and the promotion of shared prosperity

Sector Highlights Low gross enrolment ratio in Higher Education Sector due to limited opportunities available Shortage of qualified academic staff Quality variation among institutions Domination of teacher centered traditional and passive student learning Variation of employability prospects and employment experience Less focus on research and innovation Low level of public funding Private education without proper regulation (quality enhancement is required) Lack of proper QAA system

Key Results Areas Results Area 1: Increasing the Enrollment in Higher Education in Priority Disciplines for Economic Development STEM Areas and ATIs under SLIATE Results Area 2: Improving the Quality of Higher Education Enriching Teaching Learning and Assessment (ELTA) and English Language Skills Enhancement (ELSE) Professional Development - Postgraduate Funding , Short Term Training for Capacity Building Strengthening QAA work Results Area 3: Promoting Research Development and Innovation Develop a culture of research & development and innovation & Commercialization (RDIC) System of competitive performance based research Projects STEMS- HEMS Interdisciplinary research Development of University Business Linkages

Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs) Results Area 1: Increasing the Enrollment in Higher Education in Priority Disciplines for Economic Development DLI 1 (US$ 22m): Increasing intake in STEM degree programmes DLI2 (US$ 8m): Higher Education Sector Development Strategy Results Area 2: Improving the Quality of Higher Education DLI 3(US$ 24m): Faculty level System for Enriching Teaching Learning and Assessment (ELTA) and Enhancement (ELSE) DLI 4(US$ 11m): Department level systems for Enriching Teaching Learning and Assessment (ELTA) and s Enhancement (ELSE) DLI 5(US$ 12m): Postgraduate Funding , Short Term Training for Capacity Building Strengthening QAA work Results Area 3: Promoting Research Development and Innovation DLI 6 (US$ 16m): University level systems for Research and Development, Innovation and Commercialization

Programme Implementation National Level Agencies: Ministry of Higher Education and Highways (MHEH) University Grants Commission(UGC) Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) Institution Level Universities (OTS) Advanced Technological Institute Operation Monitoring and Support Team (OMST) This will be set up in the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways integrated with the UGC to provide academic, Technical and Operational Expertise for the Implementation of AHEAD