Interests and attitudes of G.C.E. (A/L) physical science stream students on university education in STEM: A case study in Sri Lanka

Ashan Induranga 1, Kaveendra Maduwantha 1, Buddhika Sampath 1, Neranga Hettiwatta 1, Vimukthi Vithanage 1, Hasarinda Kariyawasam 1, Amalka Indupama 1, Chathudina J Liyanage 2 and Kaveenga Koswattage 1, *

1 Department of Engineering Technology, Faculty of Technology, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
2 Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
 
Research Article
Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 2022, 10(01), 033–038.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gjeta.2022.10.1.0179
Publication history: 
Received on 01 December 2021; revised on 25 December 2021; accepted on 29 December 2021
 
Abstract: 
Sri Lanka has a free education system that gives access to higher education opportunities through the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) examination to a limited number of students. Students can choose their preferred university course if they have fulfilled the required minimum results for university admission. This paper discusses the general interests and attitudes of a sample of physical science stream students towards university education in STEM as a case study in Sri Lanka. The study has investigated several perspectives of the selected sample of G. C. E. (A/L) students through an online survey that includes questions regarding students' attitudes and perceptions on university education and different STEM-related undergraduate courses. The study has covered several schools of three provinces in Sri Lanka, and some of the investigated results are discussed with respect to the provinces. The results revealed career prospects, the academic quality of the undergraduate courses and the reputation of the university as the most influencing factors for undergraduate course selection in STEM disciplines, while engineering-related undergraduate courses were the most preferred ones among the students. The study results can be an asset to further studies since this topic has been rarely explored in the Sri Lankan higher education context.
 
Keywords: 
STEM subjects; Higher education; G.C.E. (A/L); Sri Lanka: Student preference
 
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