What After A/L’s ?
Cont. Article of : What After A/L’s ? Selecting a University / Institute to pursue your Higher Education if you have not entered a local University
As we discussed
in my previous article about the
Higher education options a Sri Lankan Student has in Sri Lanka, in their quest for
higher education and training, students and the public sometimes encounter
“DEGREE MILLS” – dubious providers of educational offerings or operations that
offer certificates and degrees that may be considered bogus.
In Sri Lanka or anywhere else in the world, degrees and
certificates from these bogus’ mills may not be acknowledged by other
institutions when students seek to transfer or go for Higher studies. Employers
may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing
Employment for these students. Nor any Scholarships or Tuition assistance for
higher education would be granted for them.
Cont. Article of : What After A/L’s ? Selecting a University / Institute to pursue your Higher Education if you have not entered a local University
As we discussed
in my previous article about the
Higher education options a Sri Lankan Student has in Sri Lanka, in their quest for
higher education and training, students and the public sometimes encounter
“DEGREE MILLS” – dubious providers of educational offerings or operations that
offer certificates and degrees that may be considered bogus.
They may also encounter “accreditation
mills” – dubious providers of accreditation and quality assurance that may
offer a certification of quality for institutions without a proper basis.
Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm the entire future generation of the nation. And the Nation itself is in Danger. Education plays a vital role in the development of any nation.
Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm the entire future generation of the nation. And the Nation itself is in Danger. Education plays a vital role in the development of any nation.
There is a premium on both quantity
(increased access) and quality (relevance and excellence of academic programmes
offered) of higher education.
Therefore higher education institutions will always require independent accreditation to verify the quality and efficiency of their Institution.
Therefore higher education institutions will always require independent accreditation to verify the quality and efficiency of their Institution.
In Sri Lanka or anywhere else in the world, degrees and
certificates from these bogus’ mills may not be acknowledged by other
institutions when students seek to transfer or go for Higher studies. Employers
may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing
Employment for these students. Nor any Scholarships or Tuition assistance for
higher education would be granted for them.
“Accreditation” from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public
about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree mills and
accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive
neither an education nor an useable credential.
In
my previous article I have spoken of four types of Higher Educational Institutes in Sri Lanka.
(1). Public National
Universities
(2). Private Institutes which offer their own degrees recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka
(3). Private Institutes which offer Foreign university degrees in affiliation with Foreign Universities
(4). Professional Institutes
(2). Private Institutes which offer their own degrees recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka
(3). Private Institutes which offer Foreign university degrees in affiliation with Foreign Universities
(4). Professional Institutes
The first type of Institutions and their programs are well
Recognised by Local & International UGC’s, Commonwealth Association of
Universities & are accredited by recognized U.S, U.K, European, Asian,
accrediting organizations. There is no question about Sri Lankan Government
Universities.
But the question is about the Categories (2) and (3). There is no
mechanism in Sri Lanka to assess these Institutions and guarantee that these
Institutions offer quality Education. There is no parameter to
judge whether they offer a quality competitive education.
The
issues of “deterioration in quality of education in most Private & even
some public Institutions in Sri Lanka", is a serious matter to be
addressed by the authorities immediately. An immediate Strategic Plan of Action
should be drafted with policies including the establishment of an independent
national accreditation body.
It should be made mandatory for every higher educational institution in the
country to be accredited by this independent accreditation agency to verify the
quality and efficiency of their programs.
This
need is particularly critical in those institutions involved in online
learning, because online learning has unusual technology issues and a wide geographic
span, and Institutions offering foreign degrees in Sri Lankan campuses,.
This
accreditation agency should support these educational institutions by acting as
an industry watchdog for the organizations that accredit them and ensure those
same accrediting organizations are kept abreast of the latest industry
standards.
There
has been a widespread discussion in Sri Lanka for several years now that we
should allow Private Universities to function.
In USA & Europe Private universities, are more prestigious and well-respected, than most Government Public Universities. Such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Buckingham UK, etc,…
In USA & Europe Private universities, are more prestigious and well-respected, than most Government Public Universities. Such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Buckingham UK, etc,…
Infact as we all know, privatized
Schools in Sri Lanka, Monitored by the Education & Examination Departments
& teaching the Local syllabus doing Examination Department exam papers, are
more prestigious & well reputed than most Government Schools.
As such Private universities, if
allowed with a proper monitoring & Accreditation system should be a huge
benefit for Sri Lanka.
Although annually around 200 000
students sit for A/L’s in Sri Lanka only 25000 students are offered
opportunities in Local Subsidised Government universities. Around over 50 000
student are expected to be going abroad for University education. This is a
huge amount of foreign currency draining away from the country. This money can
be retained in the country if we establish a well reputed methodically monitored
an internationally standardised Accredited Private University system in the
country which would offer quality competitive
education. This would infact attract foreign students to come to Sri Lanka for
Higher education as well, which would pave the way for Sri Lanka to be
developed as an Education Hub.
But at present in Sri
Lanka, If a student does not enter a Sri Lankan Government University, Some
parents enrol them in Local private institutions which offers either UGC
approved Degrees or foreign University degrees. But these parents fail to ask
the most important question !!!
·
“What is the guarantee that these Private institutions can
offer that their education system is well accredited & assessed by a
reputed independent autonomous accreditation body?”
·
“Are these Certificates recognised internationally by all
International Universities & are these eligible to apply for International
Scholarships”
·
“Are they actually the same institutions
that they claim to be or advertise in respect to Curricular aspects, student
support & progression?”
·
“Are these local private institutions,
recognised Internationally to the same standard of a Government Commonwealth
“National University” ?”
·
“Do the students get the same real
time International exposure & experience & quality equivalent to
studying physically in a foreign or Local Government University for real?”
·
“Can you enter a National Government
University in Sri Lanka or abroad for Postgraduate studies with a Bachelor
degree from such a private institute offering a degree from a foreign
university / institute ?”
·
“Are these programmes online, external
or distance learning programmes of the mother University ? Thus this degree you
get will not be an internal degree.”
·
“What
are the academic quality assurances? & Teaching-Learning
and Evaluation?”
·
“Who
will be teaching you? How many Phd Lecturers, how many M.Sc’s? Who are the
frequent visiting lecturers,.? What are the Education standdards of the
teaching panel ?”
·
“What are the Infrastructure facilities &
learning resources available & how often do they update.?”
·
“What are the Research, Consultancy
and Extension opportunities offered, and Innovations and Best Practices ?”
IS YOUR
INVESTMENT WORTH IT,..?
Considering these
aspects, it is a timely requirement that a proper independent, autonomous
accreditation & assessment body be
established in Sri Lanka to standardise these Private institutions and make
them a valuable asset to the country.
But currently
considering the present situation of these private institutions the best option
available for Sri Lankan students who pass their A/L’s but fail to enter a
local Government University is to study in a Government Commonwealth State
university in India such as Bangalore University, Mangalore University, Rajive
Ghandhi University of Health Science & Visveswaraya Technological
University, without taking a risk & going to local Private Institutions which may or maynot be recognised through out the world as they are not assessed & accredited.
Indian Government Commonwealth State Universities are of the same recognition of Sri Lankan Government Commonwealth State Universities.
Ultimately these
Graduates from India will be in par with any Sri Lankan Government University
Graduate, in fact would be much better in English knowledge, productivity,
forwardness, independence characteristics, quality of behaviour etc,….
Since
1991 AMASA
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES has been consulting and admitting over
5000 Sri Lankan students to mainly Indian Government Commonwealth
Universities and also for other countries such as New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada
etc,... .
Majority
of our students have gone to India as you can finish a complete degree
including 3 year Hostel fees, 3 years food & living expenses & total
University fees within Rs. 500 000 (Five Lakhs Sri Lankan Rupees). That
too you can pay in instalments within the 3 years.
After
graduation they then either come back to Sri Lanka to follow the Postgraduates
in any National Government University such as, University of Peradeniya
or University of Sri Jayawardenapura etc,… or some migrates to countries like
Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Europe etc,...
We assist
them in each and every step they take until they finish their
studies.
Further we do assist them in getting Permanent Residency in Countries like New Zealand
& Canada as well.
Contact us on 0777 840028 for further information
regarding this or visit our website www.education.amasa.lk
By : G.A. Amodha Galgamuwa
AMASA EDUCATIONAL SERVICESBy : G.A. Amodha Galgamuwa
higher education institutions to set the price of their tuition independently of their students' ability to pay based upon their or their family's current household income. Teolinda Literature
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