Local lecturers can read for PhD in New Zealand

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

In another welcome move to develop the country’s higher education sector and further develop the bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the University of Otago, New Zealand will offer scholarships to Sri Lankan lecturers to follow their PhDs in New Zealand.

Director Business Research of the University of Otago Dr. Graham McGregor visited Sri Lanka and held discussions with Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake and his Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne recently in this connection.

During his brief visit Dr. McGregor told the Sunday Observer that the key objective of his mission to Sri Lanka is to meet university lecturers and create the environment for them to follow their PhD at the University of Otago, one of the key universities which is specialised in the area of research in New Zealand. Our university intends to provide an opportunity for Sri Lankan academics to have their PhD education in New Zealand and secure their knowledge and skills to help develop the knowledge based economy in Sri Lanka.

To make this endeavour a success, I would like to speak to the Sri Lankan lecturers in universities and make personal contacts with them by assisting them to gain entry to the University of Otago. My university is also interested in developing a research relationship with Sri Lanka. That would be a very useful international research collaboration between two countries. Because international research has become one of the paramount needs for universities all over the world today.

Invitations to universities

Dr. McGregor during his brief visit to Sri Lanka received invitations from universities such as Colombo, Jayawardenepura and the South Eastern University to conduct discussions with their academics. These discussions were centred with the objective of opening avenues for Sri Lankan academics to follow their PhD in the University of Otago, he said.

He said Otago, the oldest university in New Zealand has been established by the Scottish people. It has an outstanding medical faculty. A few Sri Lankan academics also work in this faculty. It has four main faculties such as health science, science, humanities and commerce. The commerce faculty which I represent is popularly known as the School of Business. It has gained international recognition among students worldwide. The School of Business has seven departments covering a wide range of business activities. In addition, we have a very good Tourism Department.

Dr. McGregor said one of his key responsibilities is to help his staff in developing research. We have a system called Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF). All staff have to develop a portfolio to show what kind of research they had done and in what activities they have been involved.

As a part of that I had discussions with one of my colleagues Sriya Kumarasinghe who is a lecturer in accountancy in the business faculty of my university. We discussed research and she explained the concept of “Sarvodhaya” in Sri Lanka. I gave her a paper of mine about building community knowledge management in New Zealand. She stressed the importance of contacting the Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne and to provide the opportunity for the Sri Lankan lecturers to do their PhD in the University of Otago. I contacted Dr. Nawaratne and he invited me to come to Sri Lanka to explore the possibility of implementing some scholarship programs for the benefit of Sri Lankan academics to do their PhD in Otago University. Prior to my visit, I had discussions with the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Wellington, New Zealand Aruna Abeygoonesekera.

Visit to Sri Lanka

On the invitation of Higher Education Ministry Secretary, I visited Sri Lanka to see how we can assist Sri Lankan academics to develop their skills in their specialised fields. I think we should strengthen the ties and potential research collaboration among the Sri Lankan and New Zealand universities. Initially if we can start on a small level, it would assist the Sri Lankan academics who are keen on doing their PhD in foreign universities. I came here to get first hand information on the education system of Sri Lankan universities and make joint efforts on building a potential on research.

I would present a report to my university regarding the potential for research development. The focus now in New Zealand, Australian and British Universities is to conduct more research. Even our Vice Chancellors are keen on their staff being involved in more research activities and publishing international journals to demonstrate how they can collaborate internationally in this regard. At present this is an important trend among the universities in all those countries.Our university has introduced a number of PhD scholarships for students.

The beneficiaries will also get a living grant of 22,000 New Zealand dollars. Our university is a very research focused university. We are looking for top Sri Lankan academics. They have to do an application process to gain admission. We have already introduced this scholarship scheme and any Sri Lankan academic can apply. They can go to the Internet and make their application.

But as an initial step they should converse with one of the academic staff of our university and they will supervise them. I am here to explore the possibility if anybody wants to take the first step in this process. At present, some Sri Lankan lecturers are doing their PhD at the School of Business and three Sri Lankan Associate professors are teaching at the School of Business of our university.

I am also here to get some first-hand information about the higher education sector in Sri Lanka. I gathered that a number of Sri Lankan university staff had left the country. At present, the Sri Lankan Government has commenced its rebuilding phase and attempts to groom young people as academics for the future.

Those academics should have an international focus. New Zealand is small, but a very safe country. We have about 125,000 people. Nearly 23,000 students are studying in our university. There are eight universities in New Zealand and all universities in New Zealand are State owned universities. Only two of our universities, the University of Otago and the University of Auckland teach the subject of medicine.

Auckland has the largest population in New Zealand. The university is the biggest employer in our city. Our education standards at all levels are high. Our doctors, lawyers and business people are also internationally recognised. Our School of Business has international accreditation. I specialise in the area of business research. We believe capability can be built by academics talking to the business community.

Key objectives

One of the key objectives of my visit was to develop collaboration specially in research. Later a delegation from my university hopes to visit Sri Lanka and conduct further discussions with Minister Dissanayake and his Secretary to further develop our relationship. I understand the Sri Lankan Government has given priority to develop the country’s health and education sectors. I believe these things are fundamental in any successful society. The academics also have to play a lead role to form a knowledge based economy in Sri Lanka. As terrorism has been eradicated, Sri Lanka has good future.

During my meeting with the Higher Education Minister, he stressed that tertiary education is fundamental to the students in Sri Lanka and to promote the country among the international community. Sri Lankans are also advanced in the field of science and education. This could pave the way to develop Sri Lanka’s economy. I hope tourism will also benefit the Government’s attempts to develop the economy.

I hope the collaboration of my country would be vital to develop the higher education sector in Sri Lanka. Building an international relationship is vital for Sri Lanka to further strengthen its bilateral ties worldwide. Fontera one of the world’s largest dairy producers in New Zealand is popular in the Sri Lankan market. It has also led to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. I would like to see more dialogue and a more developing relationship between the two countries. It is also essential to sign an MoU between our university and the Higher Education Ministry. We are very keen to develop our relationship with Sri Lanka.

I will return to my university and report on the very positive experiences that I had here. Most Sri Lankan university academics welcomed me and invited me to visit their universities. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Sri Lanka for producing brilliant surgeons such as Dr. Rohana Kumara and Dr. Harsha de Silva who rescued my life about one year ago by doing nearly 10 hours surgery in New Zealand.