Page 146 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Mechanisms at Sri Lankan
Universities and the Way Forwards for Policy Implications

1*
2
Upali Pannilage , Gunanayagam Vickneswaran ,
Department of Sociology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka 1
Department of Social Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka 2
upannila@gmail.com*

Abstract
There are certain mechanisms under the institutional academic and administrative systems,
common to all state universities in Sri Lanka that could facilitate to satisfy the requirements
of Student with Disabilities. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of those mechanisms in
meeting the needs of students with disabilities to investigate the research problem of
whether there are effective and established mechanisms in state universities in Sri Lanka to
address the need of inclusive education. It focuses on specific areas of teaching and
learning, academic administrative structures, staff development, financial allocation and
monitoring and evaluation. The overall objective of this study is to investigate the
effectiveness of existing academic and welfare mechanisms in state university education
for students with learning disabilities, and to identify the gaps in policy orientations and
the practicalities in the available mechanisms. The study was a cross sectional study based
on cases study method and the study is also based on explanatory type in its nature using
qualitative methods. The study is confined its case location in two state universities: Eastern
University of Sri Lanka and University of Ruhuna. In both universities, the study universe
is confined to students of arts, humanities, and social sciences. Sri Lankan state universities
have centrally directed policy mechanisms for teaching and learning and well-established
mechanisms of student welfare systems. Even though the universities have sufficient
academic and administrative structural arrangements, functions of those arrangements are
ineffective due to various reasons to serve the special needs of students with disabilities.
Beyond the reality that certain policy mechanisms are to be newly implemented to sustain
technological and financial resources, existing mechanisms can be operated effectively
with the available resources to meet the academic and welfare needs of students with
disabilities.

Keywords: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Students with Disabilities

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