International Business Research; Vol. 13, No. 4; 2020 ISSN 1913-9004 E-ISSN 1913-9012 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 30 Students’ Perspective on the Emotional Intelligence of Teachers on Student Engagement I. Welmilla 1 1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka Correspondence: Dr. (Mrs) I. Welmilla, Senior Lecturer, Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Received: January 2, 2020 Accepted: March 11, 2020 Online Published: March 20, 2020 doi:10.5539/ibr.v13n4p30 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v13n4p30 Abstract Student Engagement has emerged as a central theme in the context of Higher Education in recent years. Thus, there is great consent towards it. Due to several factors, undergraduates are diverted and disengaged consequently, especially the state universities of Sri Lanka currently experiencing this issue. Even there are many factors impact student engagement. This study explored the significance of teachers with their emotional intelligence competencies for getting student engagement. University students prefer to take student-centered teaching where it is possible if only teachers are ready and capable to take account of students' interests, needs, and perspectives on adaptation with their teaching approach. Having understood the phenomenon above, the current study designed to investigate the impact of the emotional intelligence of teachers in higher education on student engagement based on students’ perspectives. This is an explanatory study that the data collected from the sample of 1455 undergraduates selected from the state universities in Sri Lanka on which stratified random sampling method was adopted. Finding reveals that students are engaged but not actively and as per the students’ point of view lecturers are just good rather excellent enough on emotional intelligence competencies. However, there is a strong positive relationship as well as have a significant positive impact of emotionally intelligent teachers of higher education on student engagement. Ultimately it is concluded that higher education teachers require to expand the substantial amount of skill on emotional intelligence. Further, then active student engagement can be ensured. Keywords: emotional intelligence, higher education, teachers, Sri Lanka, student engagement 1. Introduction Professionals of the nation grow with the guidance of teachers; indeed, they are the living legends for the individual as well as the national development as a whole; consequently, the country’s development depends upon individuals’ development. According to the educational system of Sri Lanka, from six years, up to eighteen students spend most of the time by Schooling (Primary and Secondary education). Once eligible to attend universities another three or four more years (with relevant to the degrees) spending with, and it will be carried in the form of Masters, PhDs, and so on. It indicates that teaching professionals are life driven factors for every human being, so teachers are the ever forgotten relationship that everyone comes across in their life. Hence, all have great memories of teachers. According to Hargreaves (1998), teaching is a form of emotional labor, so teaching professionals require emotional intelligence to an extent. Concerning many authors’ concerns, emotional labor is a medium used to generate commercial value. In contrast, teachers with emotional competency have been considered caring, motivating, communicating, and understanding the real need of students (components of emotional intelligence). Moreover, guide students to become successful in their academics as well as their personal life under which this study gives prime attention towards the emotional intelligence competencies of teaching professionals of the higher education sector, especially the state universities in Sri Lanka. Most of the students prefer to adopt their teachers as role models (Singh, 2015) in their life it is not only merely because of technical and other competencies. There is something unique feature of them adopted by the teachers; it might be the teaching pattern that correlates with students' expectations and consents. Lecturers are competent enough on subject areas, how handling emotion at work also matters in this era since the generation is come up