Privatization of Higher Education

A solution for the issues in higher education or in fact the problem? Dileepa Witharana and Ruvan Weeransinghe

Seminar on the Future of Higher Education in Sri Lanka 7th January 2012 University of Colombo

Content
A discussion on higher education reforms or the current trends in the education sector Placing the proposed private university and quality assurance bill within the model of higher education reforms A discussion on the argument justifying private universities and the assumptions behind it A discussion on the possibility of achieving the broad objectives of higher education through private universities?

3 mains trends in higher education

Establishment of private universities Weakening and gradual privatization of state universities Re-definition of the role of universities by narrowing down the scope to producing labour force required by market

Private university and quality assurance bill

Non-state University Council
fro m Ab so rb sta te

d Right to awar ees degr

hu ma nr es ou un rce ive rs i s tie s Threa Hu ts to auto nomy sci man en itie ce sa sd n thr isc d so ea ipli c ten ne i al ed sb ein g
te es sta siti of iver n un rtio po rivate a orb y p b s i ng b A d fun

Establishment of private universities

Qualification Framework, Quality Assurance and Accreditation Board

Weakening of state universities

Non-state University Council Fund

Re-definition of the role of universities to be in line with market logic Trends in higher education

Bill

Popular argument to justify private universities

Creating opportunities for university education for those who have passed A/Ls but are unable to enter Sri Lankan universities as a result of the restricted places available in the state university system

Assumptions behind the privatization argument

All those who pass A/Ls but are unable to enter state universities should be provided with higher education opportunities at universities This assumption deserves a comprehensive discussion, but no such discussion has taken place

Assumptions behind the privatization argument

Government has no money to expand opportunities in the state universities even by a fraction and private universities can save money that goes out of the country otherwise These assumptions deserve a comprehensive discussion, but no such discussion has taken place

Assumptions behind the privatization argument

Private universities will help to increase the level of university entry beyond the current value of 16% This assumption deserves a comprehensive discussion, but no such discussion has taken place

Can the broad objectives of higher education be achieved through private universities?
Objectives of higher education Create ability to make sense of the world Produce active partners to engage in the socio-politicaleconomic processes Produce agents of positive social change Create active partners who contribute to social justice Objectives of private capital

Maximizing profits