Barriers to Professional Success of Engineers in Sri Lanka

The professional success of engineers is a key driver of national development in Sri Lanka. Due to the scarcity of systematic academic studies on the professional success of Sri Lankan engineers, this study was conducted to explore the barriers that influence the professional success of Sri Lankan engineers. An online questionnaire was distributed via email to over 4,000 Chartered Engineers in the country, following a convenience sampling approach, as a qualitative survey. The responses were analysed using NVIVO software employing the thematic analysis method. The study has revealed unethical behaviour of stakeholders, lack of practical knowledge & skills, issues of work-life balance, lack of facilities, financial barriers, and regulatory barriers as the barriers influencing the professional success of engineers in Sri Lanka. Since the sample consists only of chartered engineers, this study does not reveal the barriers faced by other groups of engineers in the country. These findings support further investigations on barriers in a more focused manner. Recommendations are made to address these barriers, fostering a more supportive environment for engineers to thrive.