From Degrees to Jobs: Transforming Sri Lanka’s Higher Education Program Governance System

Wang Dingquan and Dr. E.S. Neranjani
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Wang Dingquan: Faculty of Education, University of Colombo
Dr. E.S. Neranjani: Faculty of Education, University of Colombo

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 6, 3504-3513

Abstract: This study is a library survey to provide a comparative analysis of higher education program adjustment mechanisms in Sri Lanka with the United States of America (USA) and China. While China employs a policy-driven model to rapidly align programs with national strategies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, and the USA relies on market-based mechanisms for agile responses to labor demands, Sri Lanka’s over-centralized system, controlled by the University Grants Commission (UGC), suffers from severe delays in the approval policies, misaligned programs, and stagnant graduate employability. Key recommendations include adopting China’s performance-based program evaluation and the USA’s approach to industry partnerships, while decentralizing Sri Lanka’s approval processes. This comparison underscores that strategic governance reform is essential for Sri Lanka to transform higher education into an engine of economic growth. The study offers actionable insights for policymakers balancing national priorities with institutional autonomy in developing economies.

Date: 2025
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