THE LIGHT OF EDUCATION – THE WAY BEYOND

SRI LANKA’S MULTITUDE OF CHALLENGES

Sri Lanka has weathered multiple crises all within the span of a few years. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to the economic crisis that continues to grip our nation, Sri Lankans have endured a tremendous amount of hardship, driven only by the powerful hope that fortunes will eventually change for the better.

The number of both young and experienced professionals who have sought better opportunities overseas due to the growing sentiment that there would be no immediate relief for them or their families in Sri Lanka is a strong indication of the difficult situation the island is in. And the mounting number of passports being issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration reflects the appetite for greener pastures abroad.

Domestically, poverty levels are skyrocketing with the impacts of inflation affecting the most vulnerable groups in society.

In this vein, the economic implications of a mass migration of skilled workers from Sri Lanka must also be measured. There is clear concern that the macroeconomic policy malaise that has gripped the nation over the past many decades has finally culminated in a limited window for economic development with a heavy weight placed on policy makers to ensure that a ruinous economic collapse does not come to pass.

Education: the sustainable way out

Sri Lankans are aware of the many opportunities that the country missed in its journey towards economic development and prosperity. What the country must strive towards now however, is creating the space for young people to grapple with and overcome the challenges that face them for the sake of their own future. The only way that Sri Lanka can escape its difficulties in a sustainable manner is to invest in high quality, world-class education.

This education must revolve around nurturing essential skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. It needs to be embedded with practicalities and not merely on theoretical underpinnings. Moreover, it must consider the wider context in which Sri Lanka must necessarily operate as part of an interdependent global economic system. Education must also look at the implications of public policy decisions at both micro and macro levels.

Royal Institute of Colombo (RIC), through its 30+ year affiliation with the University of London, is poised to create a new generation of competent, skilled and dynamic graduates, geared with all the skills necessary to drive Sri Lanka into the future.

In particular, RIC is eminently proud of its association with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which provides academic direction for all Economics, Management, Finance and Social Sciences (EMFSS) programmes at RIC.

The University of London and LSE are no strangers to high quality education. LSE is ranked amongst the top five universities in the world and second in Europe for social sciences (QS World University Rankings 2023). Academic direction indicates that all assessments, grading and syllabi were produced and conducted through the academics of the LSE, which safeguards the quality and standard of the education received by RIC students.

In an era of multiple economic challenges, students who enrol at RIC are provided many avenues of study pertinent to the field including:

  • BSc (Hons) Economics
  • BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance
  • BSc (Hons) Economics and Management
  • BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Economics

RIC’s management portfolio also includes the BSc (Hons) Business and Management and BSc (Hons) Management and Digital Innovation degrees. Students who wish to pursue finance and accountancy as specialisations may also consider the BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance and BSc (Hons) Finance programmes. Sri Lanka’s challenges cannot be overcome through policy alone. Policies must be complemented by data driven decisions and international networking.

The BSc (Hons) Data Science and Business Analytics, as well as the BSc (Hons) International Relations degrees are also strong opportunities for students to contribute to both their careers and the fortunes of the country in a meaningful way.

The RIC advantage

Each of the above degrees is an academically rigorous programme. While they are structured by LSE for effective learning and taught by RIC, a complementary advantage lies in the opportunities we provide to students through the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) of RIC.

Students are provided with direct opportunities to work under prestigious and reputed companies in Sri Lanka, to hone their skills and ensure a smooth transition to a workplace of the future.

It is the culture of academic excellence and the reward for such excellence that RIC champions. We produce not merely graduates but citizens who will create a brighter and more prosperous Sri Lanka. Every RIC graduate has the potential to change our country for the better. Their skills become all the more important in the economic context we live in today.

– Compiled by Ruwandi Perera

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