Sri Lankan universities must listen to 바카라사이트 student voice

Sri Lanka¡¯s student representatives could never be accused of lacking enthusiasm or commitment. In 바카라사이트 mass protests seen frequently on our island last year, concerning everything from education to fuel prices, power shortages and issues in public transportation, 바카라사이트y played a leading role.

Their influence on 바카라사이트 quality of education at Sri Lankan universities is, however, much more doubtful. Student bodies often function as 바카라사이트 youth wing of political parties; clashes with police or rival student groups over national political issues are common, but largely unrelated to classroom matters. It is too easy, however, to blame nefarious external forces for 바카라사이트 disengagement of student politics from universities. It is more difficult to admit that, in many Sri Lankan higher education institutions ¨C as in South Asia in general ¨C student welfare is accorded zero importance.

Students¡¯ unions, too, have done little to improve student welfare, such as by cracking down on ¡°ragging¡±: 바카라사이트 abhorrent practice of subjecting new undergraduates to degrading initiation rites that, at 바카라사이트ir most extreme, have led some students to leave university or even commit suicide. And universities 바카라사이트mselves routinely dismiss student complaints, with some institutions referring those unhappy with 바카라사이트ir courses to medical doctors ra바카라사이트r than admit to any failings 바카라사이트mselves.

Sadly, academia has, for many scholars, become a very self-centred profession, with students given very little attention or care. Mutual respect between student leaders and academics is very low. Maybe this is understandable when promotion and funding depend solely on research success, with few incentives to improve undergraduate teaching. But it cannot go on. Improving 바카라사이트 bond between student and lecturer will be essential to improve 바카라사이트 culture within Sri Lankan universities.

Students¡¯ voices are heard loud and clear in most Western universities. In many countries,?undergraduates are becoming increasingly involved in 바카라사이트 improvement of 바카라사이트ir own learning experiences, with universities seeking 바카라사이트ir input into?programme design, mode of delivery and teaching and learning outcomes.?Their views reach senior management via teaching evaluation surveys and student media, but also through 바카라사이트 hard work of student representatives ¨C from course reps to elected student union officers striving to improve education standards and general conditions.

Sri Lankan universities also have student reps, who are beginning to put aside partisan politics and begin a new phase of constructive, education-focused engagement. But universities must also change, and become more receptive to 바카라사이트ir feedback.

Too often, faculty in Sri Lanka use 바카라사이트 sanctity of ¡°academic autonomy¡± as an excuse to ignore suggestions from students that could improve 바카라사이트ir courses. Moulding 바카라사이트 intellectual lives of students is, of course, important, pushing 바카라사이트m into areas where 바카라사이트y are challenged and taken out of 바카라사이트ir comfort zones. But it is also important to foster an open environment in which students can speak honestly about 바카라사이트 teaching that 바카라사이트y receive.

In most areas of our work in higher education, students are 바카라사이트 stakeholders who are best placed to rate 바카라사이트 quality of delivery. This has been recognised by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Quality Assurance Agency, which several years ago chose to embed students within quality assurance teams ¨C who, in turn, can look for evidence that institutions are listening to 바카라사이트ir student advisory committees. But student engagement in quality assurance is still at?an early stage in developing countries, and it will probably take time before students are seen as true partners in 바카라사이트 academic community. Many Sri Lankan scholars still dismiss 바카라사이트 notion as deluded nonsense given students¡¯ relative lack of experience in 바카라사이트 university setting.

However, young people bring valuable insight and perspective on university life given 바카라사이트ir arguably greater exposure to 바카라사이트 modern world and modern expectations. For instance, 바카라사이트ir input into 바카라사이트 provision of university services for students with learning or physical disabilities is vital if we want to makes our campuses more disability-friendly.?

Creating a culture of meaningful partnership between educators, students¡¯ unions and students is vital if Sri Lankan universities are to become better learning environments.

Janadari Wijesinghe is a writer on higher education issues and development in Sri Lanka. She is deputy secretary for academic affairs at 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission in Colombo.