'Lack of career focus, main drawback in our degrees'

By Anuradha KODAGODA

'One of the biggest problems in our local education system is the lack of career focus in many of the degrees and other higher education programs. Today this unfocused approach has led to many complexities in our education system in terms of limited career opportunities and employability.

Except for the bachelor degrees in Engineering, Medicine, Architecture and Dental Science, most of the other degree programs have major problems in terms of employability.

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLF) is focusing on improving employability in the higher education system which we think would be a great guidance for the future professionals of the country," said the Chairman of Sri Lanka Foundation, Prof. Ranjith Bandara.

The Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF), one of the highly recognised institutes for leadership, education and training, recently signed an MoU with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) of Bangkok, to introduce a few higher education diplomas and degree programs.

As Prof. Bandara said the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) will offer highly professional degree programs to local students where they get the opportunity to improve their abilities and skills in whatever professional areas they choose.

"Even though the existing local education system is more focused on improving academic capabilities, I believe it must be a combination of academic and career focus.

Professional training should be an essential element in the higher education system.

"Therefore SLF is planning to offer a few post graduate degree programs such as Professional Masters Degree in Banking and Finance, Professional Masters Degree in Business Management and a few other Post Graduate degree programs in collabolration with AIT," he said.

"These Professional Masters Degrees vary to the conservative post graduate degrees in the country in many aspects, as it includes analysing the practical aspects of the relevant subjects without restricting the knowledge to lectures.

I think the best way of learning is to understand and analyse the given topic rather than being restricted to theories and texts," he said.

"Other than the masters degree programs, SLF as the main contact point of AIT, conducts a range of training activities with bilateral cooperation on executive education, international symposium, seminars and conference capacity development, and international exposure visits," Prof. Bandara said.

"Being in the industry for the past few decades, the main drawback I see in our local education system is the lack of development of soft skills.

This is other than the major points that I have already mentioned.

For example a doctor should not only be thorough in his subject but at the same time if he/she should have good communicational skills, as it would be of value for his profession," he said.

As I have observed throughout my professional career, very few people have all these skills with all the theoretic education they get in their higher education.

Therefore, in our post-graduate degree programs we are planning to pay extra attention to make them understand the importance of these soft skills and also teach they how to improve soft skills in their professional career," Prof Bandara said.

As Professor Bandara said it is envisaged that this important step of the SLF will enhance international collaboration and establish cooperation between the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Sri Lanka Foundation (SLF) in realising the objectives of both SLF and AIT from a stronger platform and move towards sustainability and growth.

The MoU between the SLF and AIT was signed by the the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Foundation, Prof. Ranjit Bandara and the President of AIT Prof. Said Irandoust.

AIT being an internationally recognised Institute of Higher Learning is mandated to help meet the region's growing needs for advanced learning in engineering, science, technology and management, research and capacity building.

AIT's mission is to develop highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of the region and its integration into the global economy.

AIT is based in Thailand and has affiliated centres in other parts of the world.

The Sri Lanka Foundation is known to be the foremost and pioneering Adult Education Centre in Sri Lanka, established in 1974 under an Act of Parliament, The Sri Lanka Foundation Law No.31 of 1973.

The Sri Lanka Foundation functions autonomously under the purview of the President and is managed by a board of management.

The SLF as a centre of leadership, education, and training offers a wide range of academic programs in fields such as. Social and Institutional Development, Psychology and Counselling, Business and Enterprise Management, Language and ICT, a Digital Film Academy, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. A novel addition is the centre for well-being to foster and nurture multi-dimensional aspects of improving the quality of life.