Reimagining Sri Lanka’s university system: Strategic blueprint for global competitiveness

IN an era where both academic and professional landscapes are evolving rapidly, it is increasingly important to examine how education systems adapt to emerging societal and industry needs. This article brings together two professionals with shared academic roots but distinctly different career trajectories, offering a unique lens through which to view educational reform.

- By Prof. Nandana Rajatheva and Eng. Janaka Seneviratne

Both authors graduated from the University of Moratuwa in 1987. Since then, their paths have diverged in ways that enrich this dialogue. One author has built a distinguished academic career and now serves as a professor of wireless communication at the University of Oulu in Finland. The other has pursued a career in multidisciplinary civil engineering and asset management, currently contributing to the Australian Local Government Sector.

Bringing together their collective experiences, this collaboration aims to explore reforms in higher education. One author will act as a facilitator, helping to extract and contextualise academic insights from the coauthor’s expertise.

This article is the first in a three-part series. The next instalment will focus on vocational training reforms and will include input from an expert in the globally recognised corporate sector. Together, these contributions will highlight alternative pathways into paraprofessional careers and entry into university-level education, broadening the conversation around inclusive and adaptive education models. The final article focuses on human resource management strategies designed to support the successful delivery of education reforms across the public sector workforce.

Catalysing change

Sri Lanka stands at a pivotal moment in its educational journey. With global competition intensifying and domestic challenges mounting, the country’s university system must evolve into a dynamic, innovation-led, industry-integrated ecosystem. Drawing inspiration from India’s National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and its sweeping reforms, this blueprint outlines a bold, actionable strategy to reposition Sri Lanka’s higher education sector as a driver of national development, talent retention, and foreign investment.

Vision