Abstract:
The field of higher education in Sri Lanka is undergoing significant changes to align with global
standards and foster inclusive growth. However, a notable gap exists among universities in measuring
gender equality and fostering inclusive growth through a quality assurance process. The purpose of
this paper is to address the gap in measuring gender equality through quality assurance review manuals
published by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for reviewing programmes and institutional
performances. The goal is to emphasise the necessity of incorporating gender equality measures into
academic evaluation frameworks and to propose strategies for implementing these measures to foster a
more inclusive and equitable educational environment. A qualitative study utilised document analysis
of manuals to uncover gaps in the quality assurance criteria for gender equality at state universities in
Sri Lanka. To gain deeper insights, six focus group discussions were conducted with stakeholders,
exploring their perspectives on gender measures in quality assurance. The manuals overlook crucial
steps for promoting gender equality in higher education, such as equal facilities, gender-sensitive
curriculum, increased women's participation, professional advancement, work-life balance, and antiharassment
policies. Stakeholders emphasised the need for ten essential criteria as themes: policy
implementation, representation, access to resources, curriculum inclusivity, support services, grievance
mechanisms, career progression, work-life balance, students' experience, and outcome-based measures.
Integrating these ideas into institutional processes can foster a truly equitable academic community,
improving the educational experience for all students and staff. Greater progress toward gender
equality can be made by higher education institutions in Sri Lanka by addressing these gaps and
putting the suggested standards into practice. In the end, this will improve academic performance
while fostering a society that is more inclusive.
