British Council Sri Lanka is looking for 2 or more UK institutions to partner with 4 to 6 Sri Lankan public universities to conduct a 6 month research project that will undertake in-depth research into the skills mismatch situation in Sri Lanka.

The research will predominantly focus on Higher Education practices including factors such as teaching methodology, curricula, assessment and soft skills programmes. The objective is to understand  the needs of the private sector in terms of skills and how public higher education in Sri Lanka can respond effectively with practices that can make graduates from universities more employable.

Each institution  will need to nominate researchers with expertise in areas such as employability, career guidance, human resources etc to engage in the project.

In the last phase of the project, a series of modules or courses will need to be developed for academics in universities so they are enabled in incorporating 21^st century skills into university programmes.

Contingent upon the TOR, funding will be divided between British Council and all HEI’s involved.

The research consortium should produce the following outputs;

1. Research publications on the skills mismatch situation in regard to Sri Lankan HE practices and the needs of the private sector
2. A series of modules / courses that can be delivered to Sri Lankan academics to provide them with an understanding of how to embed 21^st century skills for employability into university programmes

Benefits:

1. Collaboration with public universities of a developing country
2. Reputational benefit flowing from assisting in the socio-economic progress of a developing country
3. Research output on a key issue in the developing world