Introducing a Model Academic Literacy Program for Sri Lankan Higher Education: Responding to Needs Analysis

Abstract

The concept of Academic Literacy is relatively new to Sri Lanka. However, the academics of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo have developed a model program for enhancing the Academic Literacy of undergraduates. This model covers six phases of program design and this study describes phase 1 of the project, which was completed in the academic year 2020-2021. This study aims to discuss the system- level implications of the Academic Literacy program designed based on the findings of a needs analysis conducted among the staff and undergraduates of the Department of Physics. This study employed the purposive sampling method to collect data. The research tools used to obtain data included needs analyses conducted on students and academics, non-participant lecture observations, and a study of documentation includ- ing existing curricula, lab reports, mid-semester assignments and end-semester papers. Third-year and fourth-year undergraduates (N-59) and Physics lecturers (N-10) were the participants of the study. Data collected were triangulated and analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Both lecturers and undergraduates believed that students lacked academic writing skills (especially in research writing) and academic presentation skills and were unable to develop well-structured and logical answers in semester-end papers. There is a growing need for introducing prerequisite courses for academic writing development and Academic Literacy courses to support Physics curricula. Based on the findings of the needs analyses, a model Academic Literacy program is designed and will be delivered starting from the third year and ending in the fourth year with a course on thesis writing. This study presents details of the conceptualization behind the model program and discusses the potential of this program, or different versions of it, for other contexts within Sri Lankan higher education. Keywords: Academic literacy, Science undergraduates, Sri Lanka