It is my privilege to welcome you to the Faculty of Education of the Open University of Sri Lanka. Formerly an educational unit from the university’s inception, the Education Division attained Faculty status on 01.02.2024 and now marks 25 years of excellence. As the new Dean, I am truly honoured to address you.
The Faculty of Education currently consists of four departments: the Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education, the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, the Department of Special Needs Education, and the Department of Educational Leadership and Management. Preparations are underway to establish a new department focused on educational technology.
We are also proud that the Faculty of Education of the Open University of Sri Lanka is the second Faculty of Education in Sri Lanka, with a focus on teacher education. The Faculty of Education is committed to providing professional development programs for both aspiring and practicing teachers through its 28 regional and academic centres across the island. As a leader in professional education and in line with our vision and mission, our academic and non-academic staff are committed to providing education through open and distance learning. The Faculty of Education also conducts a number of short-term courses. We also offer programs ranging from certificate courses to doctoral programs, and our aim is to produce graduates who can successfully enter the world of work with skills that meet the needs of the twenty-first century. Accordingly, plans are being made to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Learning Design and Technology and a Master of Arts in Learning Design and Technology. I hope that these degree programs will help teachers in Sri Lanka advance in technology. addition, various programs are planned to be launched throughout the year with the objectives of building a research culture among the academic staff in the Faculty of Education, instilling an inclination towards aesthetic and extracurricular activities among the graduates, providing necessary guidance to children with special needs, providing programs aimed at sustainable development and greenhouse development, increasing the participation of alumni and sharing knowledge with the general community.
The Faculty of Education is already playing a prominent role, and I am happy to state that the invaluable advice and guidance of the current Vice-Chancellor, Senior Professor P.M.C. Thilakaratne, has been a great strength in this regard. I would also like to gratefully recall the Assistant Registrar, Heads of Departments, and academic and non-academic staff who have been working tirelessly to advance the Faculty of Education over the past several years. I invite you all to join me on the journey of the Faculty of Education as we pave the way for the future advancement of education. Working as one family, regardless of caste or religion, let us work together to elevate the Faculty of Education towards knowledge, innovation, and excellence in education.
Prof. Shaminda Wanasinghe
Dean, Faculty of Education
The Open University of Sri Lanka.