Newsletter Issue 2
Is Non-State Higher Education a Business? Some Reflections
Author: Athula Pitigala-Arachchi
Looking at the non-state higher education from a business perspective, one could, no doubt, recognise several typical practices of the corporate sector. These include corporate planning/strategizing, marketing, seeing students as customers, customer (student) orientation and a focus on customer satisfaction, demand responsiveness, continuous efforts at improving efficiency/productivity, and expectation of a reasonable return on the investments made. These are not necessarily bad things; on the contrary, these, in an appropriate regulatory environment, may help improve quality and standards of higher education provision.
ChatGPT – An Educator’s Friend or Foe?
Author: Gamindu Hemachandra
Three months after the release of ChatGPT, academia is still debating its implications for teaching, learning and assessments. The conversation seems to be dominated by the dangers posed by the tool to academic integrity. It’s ironical that one of the landmark technological advancements of our time, a programme that many believe has passed the Turing Test, is labelled as a rogue tool that helps students to cheat. As educators, shouldn’t we start by celebrating a wonderful new development and then talk about how we can leverage this innovation for better teaching and learning?
Meeting with UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy – Lord Davies of Abersoch
SLANSHEI has been working towards improving and expanding TNE partnerships in the country. Following the meeting with the Regional Director of British Council South Asia, and further improving ties with the British Council, the Ex-Co of SLANSHEI was invited to meet the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy, Lord Davies of Abersoch, for a discussion on UK Transnational Education (TNE) sector in Sri Lanka.
SLANSHEI Meets Regional Director for British Council South Asia
Adrian Chadwick – Regional Director British Council South Asia and his team in Sri Lanka met with Dr. Athula Pitigala-Arachchi, President of SLANSHEI, and a team of SLANSHEI representatives. The meeting was an opportunity to hold a fruitful exchange of ideas to set up a basis for further discussion and collaboration.
Adrian Lauded the efforts of SLANSHEI in bringing together the key non-state higher education providers of the country to work towards a shared vision, despite the obvious competition in the market.