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British Council hosts premier networking event with representatives from top universities in UK
The British Council Sri Lanka hosted a premier networking event with around 15 higher education institutions from the United Kingdom (UK), with the aim of showcasing the UK’s world-class higher education system and foster collaboration with local stakeholders.
The event was well received, and it many of the British Council’s local networks and partners comprising of agents, counsellors, heads of education institutions, actively engaged with the university representatives to exchange information and insights on the UK’s education sector.
The UK welcomes approximately 400,000 international higher education students each year. Positioned at the top of the world rankings, UK universities have a reputation for developing the skills that employers look for, nurturing critical thinking skills, creativity, and confidence in the process. Along with benefiting from the academic tradition of some of the world’s most famous universities, it also provides access to the latest facilities in world-class research. Education in the UK also helps develop English skills and confidence in speaking the language, an attribute that is highly valued by employers worldwide.
In her opening remarks, British Council Sri Lanka Country Director, Maarya Rehman said: ‘We are witnessing extraordinary growth in Sri Lankan students choosing the UK as their preferred international study destination. Our latest statistics indicate a 369% growth in Sri Lankan student numbers. The Study UK program has greatly influenced this growth and we will continue to work closely with students, agents, counsellors, parents and educational institutions to provide the best that the UK has to offer and in turn showcase Sri Lanka’s potential to the UK.’
Highlighting the opportunities created for students in Sri Lanka, British Council’s Director Education South Asia, Salvador Lopez, said ‘we believe that whilst the graduate route provides a very exciting offer for our students, world-class education, globally recognised degrees and a diverse and welcoming environment rich in shared history and culture make the UK an attractive destination of choice for Sri Lankan students. It enhances their flexibility and cultural awareness, improving their chances of future employability. Most importantly, a UK degree and work experience are highly valued worldwide.
For over 70 years the British Council has been present in Sri Lanka, working with individuals and institutions to build trust and understanding between the UK and Sri Lanka, particularly through our work in Education, English, Arts, and Culture. We believe our work can and does transform lives and contribute to positive change. We’ve built trust and insight through forging strong, mutual relationships with individuals and partners. With an increasing number of higher education institutions and professional bodies from the UK represented in Sri Lanka, offering a variety of courses in partnership with local institutes, students now have a wide choice of options to study either in the UK or in Sri Lanka to obtain a world-class qualification.
The British High Commission’s Head of Public Diplomacy, Anusha Anthony, talked about the UK government’s prestigious and fully-funded scholarship programme – Chevening, which offers ambitious Sri Lankans who see themselves as future leaders the opportunity to pursue their Masters in the UK to further their career and support the development of their country.
The event highlighted the British Council’s pivotal role in supporting the academic ambitions of students through its various scholarship schemes as well as providing support in learning English, in selecting and applying for the right university, or simply through advice and guidance from our long-established network of professionals. Applications for the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM are open until the end of March 2022. The British Council scholarships for Women in STEM support women who aspire to pursue postgraduate study in science, technology, engineering, or maths at a university in the UK.
The changing landscape of the education market demands the creation of new opportunities and events such as these, serve as an excellent platform for a wide range of education stakeholders to come together to discuss strategies for a collaborative and sustainable future, especially in times like these when face-to-face interaction is limited.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
