MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

IMPROVING RELEVANCE AND QUALITY OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

December 12, 2007

Prof. Shermal Amaratunga

Dean, Faculty of Arts

University of Colombo

Cumaratuna Munidasa Mawatha

Colombo 3

Dear Prof. Amaratunga,

Quality Enhancement Fund (QEF)– 3rd Round

Subsequent to the World Bank Mission in November 2007, the Ministry of Higher Education, in consultation with the University Grants Commission and other stakeholders, made a decision to hold another round of the QEF Competition. This was made possible by the availability of some savings in the Project, due to variation of Sri Lankan Rupee in comparison with US Dollars during the period 2003 to 2007.

Considering the limitations in the time frame (a 2-year operation). And the experience gathered from the previous two rounds of competitions, and also in order to address the relevance and quality of Humanities based undergraduate programmes urgently, it was decided to restrict the 3rd round of the Competition to Arts or Humanities or Social Science or Aesthetic Studies Faculties or Institutes only. Also it has been decided to award upto Rs.20m per University to all successful proposals (with a minimum of 70% marks from reviewers). The project implementation period from these grants will be 18 months. It has been proposed that the first three proposals getting the best marks will be eligible to obtain a grant up to Sri Lankan Rs.25m. The writing of proposals and the procurement of goods and services etc. will be carried out in a very simplified manner.

The details regarding the 3rd round of competition are given in the attached guidelines. We will be conducting a few workshops on proposal writing in the next few weeks.

Please note that the closing date and time for submission of the desk proposals will be 15th February 2008, at 4.00 p.m. For further information, you may contact me, or the QEF Coordinator, Dr Krishantha Mediwaka.

Thank you.

Sincerely

Prof. J.P. Karunadasa

Project Director

CC: The Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education

Chairman, University Grants Commission

QEF Coordinator, IRQUE Project

Procurement Specialist, IRQUE Project

IRQUE Project, Ministry of Higher Education, 140 12 Gemunu Mawatha, Nawala Road, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

T,le: 0094 11 2814280 Fax: 0094 112814283 E-mail: ppdu@irque.lk

website: www.irque.lk
