Page 148 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

128 OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATON IN ASIA
Good Practices from AAOU Members

attain excellence in life-changing education Further, for each of the goals, a number of
by providing equitable learning opportunities objectives and corresponding strategies
and the new mission statement is to provide to achieve these objectives have been
lifelong learning opportunities through developed. Accordingly, a total of twenty-
Open, Distance and Flexible Education with eight (28) objectives and seventy-six (76)
a commitment to excellence in teaching and strategies are in place. Further, for each of the
research. strategies, action plans have been developed
to achieve the planned strategies and these
Based on these new visions and mission actions plans are monitored on a quarterly
statements, six goals for the university for basis, by the Centre for Quality Assurance
the next five years starting from 2021 have of the university and a quarterly report is
been devised. These goals are as follows. submitted to the Council of the University.

Goal 1: MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Achieve excellence in quality of teaching
and learning which support life-changing The Organizational Structure
education. Even though the OUSL when established
had a different management system to
Goal 2: that of the conventional universities, in the
Achieve excellence in research, along with year 1987 the university’s management
global visibility and recognition. structure was converted to one that is similar
to the conventional universities, with the
Goal 3: introduction of the first OUSL ordinance by
Improve human capital and infrastructure the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Accordingly,
facilities. the Governing Authority of the University
is a Council which is chaired by the Vice-
Goal 4: Chancellor who is the Chief Executive
Widen access to education and enhance Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of
opportunities for Life-Changing Education. the University. The Council of the University
comprises of all the Deans of the Faculties,
Goal 5: two Representatives of the Senate and the
Ensure high quality educational support Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University. In
services. addition, the University Grants Commission
appoints a specified number of external
Goal 6: Council Members, one more than the internal
Ensure social and environmental members, as in the case of the conventional
responsiveness. universities in Sri Lanka. However, for the
OUSL there are three additional appointed
members, one from the Ministry of Higher
Education, one from the Ministry of Mass

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)