Highlights:
- The Accelerate Higher Education Development Expansion and Development (AHEAD) Project for Sri Lanka aimed to increase enrollment in priority disciplines in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, improve the quality of degree programs, and promote research and innovation in the higher education sector, contributing to building human capital for more and better jobs.
- Over 120,000 students—including 70,000 female students (58 percent)—benefitted from curricula improvement, stronger university-industry collaboration, and English language skill enhancement.
- STEM enrollment in select higher education institutions (HEIs) increased by 10 percent annually from 2017 to 2023— nearly 30 percent above the end target.
Development Challenge
Sri Lanka's higher education sector is vital for economic development and the transition from a lower-middle income country (LMIC) to an upper middle-income country (UMIC). However, the sector has been underdeveloped with the gross enrollment ratio at 21 percent (2014)—below LMIC and UMIC averages—and the share of students in priority science, technology, engineering, mathematics disciplines (STEM) was even lower, with 13 percent in science and 7 percent in engineering. Overall, the country ranked 88th out of 115 countries for higher education participation. It also faced additional challenges including inadequate research and innovation output (138th out of 204 countries), passive student learning, and scarcity of qualified academic staff in the higher education sector.
Results
- Over 120,000 students—including 70,000 female students (58 percent)—benefitted from curricula improvement, stronger university-industry collaboration, and English language skill enhancement.
- STEM enrollment in select higher education institutions (HEIs) increased by 10 percent annually from 2017 to 2023— nearly 30 percent above the end target.
- HEIs in remote areas saw a significant rise in enrollment. The Faculty of Technological Studies at Uva Wellassa University, located in one of Sri Lanka's least-developed provinces, experienced more than a 100 percent increase in enrollment in 2023 compared to 2017, after the project supported advanced laboratories in microbiology, food systems, and biosystems.
- At the Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education (SLIATE), STEM enrollment exceeded the target by 12 percent.
- 91 Research and Development and Innovation Commercialization (RDIC) sub-projects achieved 80 percent or more of their outcome targets, exceeding the initial target of 48 RDIC sub-projects.These sub-projects included innovations that improved key Sri Lankan export products such as graphite-infused rubber tires that are more efficient than normal rubber tires, and a range of cinnamon-based beverages such as wine, beer, and cola.
- University-Business Linkage (UBL) offices were established in all 15 targeted universitiesto strengthen university-industry partnerships, facilitate technology transfer, and connect graduates and research outputs with the private sector—building a structural bridge between higher education and the labor market that sustains job-relevant outcomes beyond the project's life.
WBG Approach
Contribution to WBG Targets and Jobs
The project contributed to the jobs agenda by producing more and better-qualified
STEM graduates for the labor market; improving graduate employability through English, soft skills, and work-linked learning; and fostering innovation ecosystems with direct spin-off enterprises and additional workers hired through RDIC grants.
Lessons Learned
The engagement of academic staff in the design and management of the operation significantly contributed to its success. AHEAD was designed by a team of academic experts drawn from several universities across multiple disciplines such as STEM, humanities and social science. This enabled high- quality knowledge inputs into the design of the operation. Some of these academic experts were also a part of Operations and Monitoring Support Team of the Government’s Ministry of Higher Education to implement the results areas of the project. This ensured a deep understanding and sustained commitment to the project implementation.
Next Steps
The World Bank Group will continue to engage on the skills agenda with a special focus on key economic sectors such as agri-business, tourism, and the care economy, and the cross-cutting area of digital skills. The World Bank is currently assisting the country to review the skills that will be needed in the future, especially in the context of rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence and industrial robots, and in sectors that are expected to generate future jobs such as health and elder care for an aging population, and skills for agri-business and tourism.