09/01/2020
SLIATE up Lifts to University Level
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Minister of State for Technology and Innovation Thilanga Sumathipala said that the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE) will be made a degree awarding institute.
The Minister made this observation at a special discussion held on 06.01.2020 with the representatives of the SLIATE Academics' Union and Administration Staff.
The Minister further said,
"SLIATE is like a blossoming flower in the jungle". I feel that it is not being utilized to the best of its ability to deliver value to the nation. Therefore, we will soon develop this institution into a graduating institution.
Our children’s philosophy is different. With this in mind, we need to increase the number of subjects taught by 19 institutions across the country to 60 to 80. We are committed to provide all the material resources needed for this purpose.
We have the potential to improve our institution by forging close ties with the University Grants Commission, State Universities and NGOs which are authorized to grant degrees. We are committed to that. We will start with some of the best subjects that can be easily taken up to graduation.
The scope of education in this institute needs to be updated with greater emphasis on technical aspects. This will enable our children to engage in new research with the latest research institutions under our Ministry. It makes it easier to give value to the organization.
As the first step in this process, in the next two weeks, we will gather all the necessary stakeholders, focus on policy matters and formulate a consensus strategic plan. In line with this, the next recruitment of this institution will be carried out in a new manner. This is the best opportunity to improve SLIATE.
It is easy to do this under the leadership of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who is keen on the need to equip the future generation with the technology for the economic development of the country.
Improving SLIATE into a degree awarding institute will also prevent our country from going abroad for higher education. We will create a system of Advanced Technological Education institutions that will provide students with a degree in the form of a technical university in the future so that it does not interfere with the activities of the students. "
The representatives of the Academic Union spoke about the difficulties and the Minister also promised to focus on addressing these issues with the improvement of the institute.
Ministry Secretary Chinthaka Lokuhetti, Prof. Janitha Liyanage, Dr. Arosha Fernando and SLIATE officials were present at the discussion.