Applicability of Student Learning Experience Survey Instrument in Sri Lankan Context

Abstract

The use of students learning experience in quality evaluation of higher education is widespread around the world. Outcomes of these exercises are used as indicators of teaching quality, accountability, learning improvement, process benchmarking and performance-based funding. Applicability of Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) as a survey-based instrument in evaluating teaching quality and students’ support were tested and validated in many countries. However, this instrument was not used previously in the South Asian and Sri Lankan context. This paper examines the applicability of students’ CEQ in Sri Lanka, where there is a need for improvement in teaching quality of public-funded universities, because till date there is no appropriate outcome-based evaluation system in place. Findings supported the structure of a slightly modified version of student CEQ and further support the applicability of the instrument in a non-western context.