British Council unveils research on transnational education in Sri Lanka

From left: British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Orlando Edwards, British Council South Asia Education Director Salvador Lopez Carbajal, University of Kelaniya Vice Chancellor Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, and University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge

• Report makes recommendations to bridge gap in higher education quality and drive economic growth

The British Council has released a pivotal report that offers valuable insights into the current state and future potential of transnational education (TNE) in Sri Lanka, underscoring the opportunities and challenges faced by students and educational institutions.

The report was launched at the BMICH and was attended by the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick, Education Ministry officials, education policymakers, officials from the University Grants Commission, as well as State and non-State university officials.

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said: “Despite Sri Lanka’s high literacy rate and impressive strides in basic education, its higher education capacity remains a significant challenge, with only 44,000 of the 171,532 qualified students gaining admission to State universities in 2022. This shortfall has driven a growing demand for private higher education and transnational education which has proliferated in the last few years. We hope that this report will shed light on how TNE can bridge the gap in Sri Lanka’s higher education landscape.”

British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Orlando Edwards said: “The report is a testament to our ongoing commitment in South Asia, where we collaborate with governments and stakeholders to enhance access and quality of international education, while fostering cross-border partnerships and collaboration. Sri Lanka is rapidly becoming a hub for transnational education. In 2022-2023, it emerged as the second-largest country for UK TNE, accounting for 10% of all UK TNE enrolments globally with a 50% surge in UK TNE – totalling almost 54,000. This research report highlights the immense potential of TNE in bridging the gap in higher education access and driving economic growth for the country.”

“By addressing key challenges such as quality assurance and regulatory frameworks, Sri Lanka can fully capitalise on the benefits of transnational education and create a world-class higher education ecosystem.”

The report, commissioned by the British Council to Times Higher Education, emphasises the significant role of TNE in providing Sri Lankan students with access to international qualifications and the benefits of cross-border educational partnerships. 

Education Minister Susil Premjayantha (left) and British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Orlando Edwards

The report offers recommendations to further strengthen TNE in Sri Lanka. Some of these recommendations include:

• Establishing a public repository for TNE activity in order for all to have access to transparent and comprehensive information on the TNE landscape – its scale, quality, and success. It would also aid decision-making for students to identify appropriate programs, and for policymakers/providers in designing future programs and strategic alignment to the country’s needs. 
• Establishing a public repository for TNE activity to help in decision-making and strategic TNE development. 
• Developing a unified nation-wide quality assurance system applicable to all higher education programs and integrating TNE programs into a national qualifications framework to ensure consistency with local higher education standards. 
• Encouraging public-private partnerships for a stronger support system in enhancing TNE related services.
• Expansion of UK TNE offerings beyond Colombo, with the consideration of better geographical distribution and establishing more branch campuses to make higher education more accessible. 
• Enhancing academic and non-academic features, such as diversifying assessment schemes and providing comprehensive student support services, which are crucial for improving the overall student experience. 

Panel discussion with stakeholders (from left:) Curtin Colombo CEO Dr. Athula Pitigala-Arachchi (TNE Provider), John Keells Group Retail Sector Human Resources Head Arunajith Nandana, University of Kelaniya Vice Chancellor Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Times Higher Education Consultancy Director Dr. Ishan Cader, and British Council South Asia Insight and Engagement Regional Head Sandeepa Sahay  

Edwards further said: “The British Council’s report is pivotal in the development of Sri Lanka’s TNE landscape. We will be studying its recommendations closely and seeing how we can use the information provided to influence our TNE policies moving forward.”

The full report can be downloaded at: https://www.britishcouncil.lk/programmes/education/comprehensive-report-transnational-education-sri-lanka