Abstract:
This study describes some selected challenges of recent
changes in Sri Lankan higher education in social sciences
and how those challenges can be strategically addressed.
There is a strong sentiment that universities in Sri Lanka
are in a state of constant crisis, as rising demand for higher
education is not being met, despite its growing importance
on the sustainable development agenda. This criticism
is predominately directed toward social sciences and
humanities in higher education institutions, in terms of their
relevance in the market economy. The mismatch between
the needs of society and courses offered by universities
has contributed to a high-level of graduate unemployment.
A mix-method research approach method was employed
in this research and both quantitative and qualitative
data were gathered. The analysis of data indicates that
challenges stemming from recent changes in social science
education are often related to transformed and reinterpreted
expectations of university education and about approaches
to university education. Maintaining and improving quality
of education, improving the relevance of curricula at a time
of rapid change in the market economy, accommodating
societal needs going along with dynamics of global higher
education are some of those challenges leading to an
unstable situation in the social science education unless
strategically addressed.
