Lanka hosts regional meeting on recognition of qualifications in higher education

July 31, 2014, 9:26 pm,the island


by Dasun Edirisinghe

The 13th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific in conjunction with the Regional Workshop on Quality Assurance in Higher Education will be held in Sri Lanka for the first time on August 04 and 05, the Higher Education Minister says.

Addressing a media conference at UGC auditorium, Minister S.B. Dissanayake said yesterday that 35 countries would participate in the workshop which would cost Rs. 8 million.

"We are happy to host the workshop as it will enable us to exchange our students and teachers with global universities, while getting recognition for local qualifications and quality assurance," Minister Dissanayake said, adding that it would help Sri Lankan universities with securing higher global rankings.

Secretary of the Higher Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne said that at present 4,000 foreign students from West Asia, China, Japan, India and the Maldives were studying in the state and private universities here.

Dr. Nawaratne said that when Minister Dissanayake took office there had been only 300 foreign students in Sri Lanka.

UGC Chairperson Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama and Additional Secretary of the Ministry Piyasena Ranepura also attended the media conference.