In the early years of university education in Sri Lanka, there was a good education, numbers entering the university were small and they came from the upper strata of society, English was the medium of instruction, funds were available, and good job opportunities were available in the Government sector. Today the situation is very different. Much larger numbers of students are being admitted and they come from all backgrounds, Sinhala/Tamil is the medium of instruction, funding is limited, and state sector employment is minimal. The consequence has been a decline in standards and a major problem of unemployed graduates.

Under the IRQUE project, all universities will be encouraged to ensure quality and relevance to all their undergraduate courses. The project will fund degree programs on a selective basis to overcome their identified weaknesses so that undergraduates could face their future with confidence, and obtain employment more quickly and with higher remuneration. Undergraduates will also benefit from grants provided to universities to improve English language competency, improve IT skills, and improved student services. This new tertiary education system also aims to instill positive social values in undergraduates by financing programs that define a range of relevant activities with regard to this aspect. The aim of the IRQUE project is to provide undergraduates with a complete and balanced tertiary education, which will mould them into responsible, educated citizens of our country.

The IRQUE project envisages the setting up of a system, which will end the chronic problem of unemployed and under-employed graduates. These persons pose a serious socio-economic problem. Its solution will ensure that the young men and women trained at our universities would be able to contribute to the country’s competitiveness; i.e. the graduates will be able to play a leading role both in developing our economy and strengthening the social well being of the country. Our tertiary education will be invigorated, and as a long-term benefit of this project, a new generation of professional and educated individuals will be available to guide our country forward in today’s globally competitive environment.