International Relations Office

The TOOLKIT project is a three-year Erasmus+ Capacity building project co-funded by the European Union, the aim of which is the enhancement and Modernization of Internationalization Strategies Undertaken by Universities in Asian Countries. In order to enhance and modernization Sri Lankan partner universities, University of Peradeniya, University of Kelaniya, together with University of Bologna, Italy organized an Online National Workshop. The Program was held via Zoom meeting facility on 27th October 2020 with started from 1.00 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. Sri Lankan time.

This was an awareness program on internationalization strategies for Universities in Sri Lanka to enhance their international dimension in teaching, research, and innovation, as part of the TOOLKIT project. Many distinguished invitees from the Ministry of Education, representatives of government and private universities across Sri Lanka and other partner universities of TOOLKIT project were present in this event.

Prof. Neelakshi C. Premawardhena, Director, International Affairs, University of Kelaniya, welcomed the gathering and Mr. Frank Hess, Head of Operations, Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and Maldives made the opening remarks at this session. Prof. Upul B. Dissanayake, Vice-Chancellor, University of Peradeniya, Prof. Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kelaniya and Ms. Krishanthi Meegahapola, Director, Overseas Education, Ministry of Education also delivered speeches at the event. Before the start of the presentation session, Honorable. State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion, Mr. Susil Premjayantha shared his thoughts and congratulated all partners of the TOOLKIT project.

Ms. Giovanna Filippini – TOOLKIT Project Coordinator, University of Bologna, delivered her presentation of TOOLKIT needs analysis report: “Developing an Asian Way to internationalization: needs and priorities in Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka”. Afterwards, Ms. Raimonda Markeviciene - Head of International Relations Office Vilnius University, Lithuania, introduced the training on international strategies held in Vilnius. Further, representing the Sri Lankan partners, Prof. Shameen Jinadasa - Director International Relations Office, University of Peradeniya, and Prof. Neelakshi Premawardhena, University of Kelaniya, presented their outline of Internationalization Strategies to the invitees. An interesting Q&A session was also held after the presentations, where a number of participants posted their questions where were answered by both Sri Lankan and European partners of the project. The event was concluded by remarks from both Prof. Shameen Jinadasa, University of Peradeniya and Prof. Neelakshi C. Premawardhena, University of Kelaniya.