Sri Lanka needs more not-for-profit universities

SLIIT’s achievements to-date clearly proves that the not-for-profit formula is a model Sri Lanka should adopt for our higher education mix 

No longer are governments key players in the managing and operation of higher education institutions, because they are characterised by the economic environment and the frameworks within which they operate.

Before World War II higher education was for the higher social classes but that has changed in the last 30 years or so. The key to this change was Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which helped to form commercial and non-commercial bonds between countries and higher education institutions. Today, higher education plays a universal role and is essential in the world of commerce. Whatever social strata one belongs to, higher education is the game changer that combines people’s skills and talents with labour market requirements.

Entrepreneurial and not-for-profit

To this end comes the need for the not-for-profit higher education institute. What are the more traditional formulas for higher education in Sri Lanka? There are the state universities everyone clamours to get into but has limited capacity and the for-profit private universities that are favoured by the more affluent. What about the in-between formula, one that has proven successful on a global platform i.e. the not-for-profit framework? While the world is now talking about entrepreneurial higher education entities which can collaborate with industry, I believe this is most possible with education institutes operating within the not-for-profit framework such as Harvard University to name one of many. What might characterise an entrepreneurial higher education institute?

They would require leadership and governance, organisational capacity, people and incentives, entrepreneurship development in teaching and learning, ability to create pathways for entrepreneurs, and external relationships with businesses for knowledge exchange. While state universities might be able to meet these criteria, we all know that there is a capacity crunch which they are struggling to overcome which may require time. The for-profit universities offer some of these aspects but their strengths are more concentrated of foreign university partnerships than meeting local job market needs.

The not-for-profit formula on the other hand, can offer the best of both worlds. These universities like Yale, Stanford, Boston, Massachusetts Institute of Technology to name a few, have program advisory boards who give them information on workforce demands so that their curriculums are kept up-to-date. They employ practitioners to develop and teach courses, so that students learn directly from people who are leaders in their fields. They hire experts in teaching and learning who establish instruction best practices and design engaging online learning environments. All this is possible within the not-for-profit formula because these institutes can reinvest their profits to directly impact student experience, which makes them more open for collaboration and entrepreneurial practices, such as supporting and being part of business startups through knowledge sharing.

Tried and tested

Not-for-profits are a tried and tested formula that Sri Lanka needs more of, to develop our industrial ambitions across various sectors. It is regrettable that we have only one higher education institute in Sri Lanka who operates within the not-for-profit framework. 

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), was founded on this formula 20 years ago, out of a pressing need in the country for IT professionals. Regular universities could not meet the demand, and the Board of Investment at that time, recognised the value of the proposed entity and partnered SLIIT to get off the ground. It was a good decision because the Institute has gone from strength to strength and has over the years produced larger numbers of employable graduates who could fit into the bigger plans of the IT/software export market. Today, Sri Lanka boasts of an industry which is equal to several of our successful international peers. 

Solution-based higher education

For us to grow and retain our talent, it is essential to have institutes that will inculcate the culture of being Sri Lankan and national minded. Perhaps that may come across as parochial thinking, but taking into consideration current world trends, where the pandemic has been a disruptive force, and international travel has become more of a challenge, there is much merit in the SLIIT model. Especially so, because SLIIT seeks no external funding for its development, like other institutes of its kind in the world.

Apart from that, most not-for-profit higher education institutes because of their leaning towards entrepreneurship, have a solutions-based approach to higher education. They believe in directing students towards degrees that not only suit their abilities but are valid and relevant to commerce and industry. SLIIT is a good example of this as the institute has passed out highly employable graduates for several industries i.e. the IT sector, engineering, sciences and other, both local and overseas. To-date, SLIIT has produced over 27,000 professionals with over 93% of them employed by the time of their graduation. 65% of those employed in the field of information technology in Sri Lanka are SLIIT graduates.  

Working collaboratively over the years with the private sector in order to fine tune the curricula has gone beyond improving graduate employability. The IT industry has estimated that by 2022 it has the potential to generate $ 5 billion in revenue, enabling 200,000 direct jobs. As one of the leading IT degree institutes of the country, SLIIT has aimed to increase its student numbers from the current 10,000 to 30,000 and produce a quality workforce in order to meet the 2022 estimate, representing its label of being a solutions-based university. 

SLIIT’s achievements to-date clearly proves that the not-for-profit formula is a model Sri Lanka should adopt for our higher education mix. With the development that’s currently happening and in the pipeline for the country, employable graduates are a necessity. Although the pandemic has left chaos and disruption in its wake, it has also opened up great opportunity, and we need students with an entrepreneurial spirit, who see that opportunity and act on it — I see that spirit in the students of SLIIT.

[Dumindra Ratnayaka is the former Chairman of BOI and Founding Chairman of 1990 Suwaseriya Foundation. He is also currently a member of the Council of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT).]