1st Series
Topic: "Getting Published in High Impact Journals"
Som Naidu, Associate Professor (Learning Transformations), Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia
Topic: "Developing virtual Collaborative Learning Collaborative Harnessing the Power of Social Media"
Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena, Distinguished Professor, University of New Mexico, USA
Topic: "Current Status of the Japanese Institutional Repository in Open Access Activity and its Further Collaboration with Sri Lanka"
Kazu Yamaji, Associate Professor, National Institute of Informatics, Japan
Topic: "The Essentials of "MOOC" Phenomena: The Prospects for "After-MOOCS""
4. Tsuneo Yamada, Professor in Department of Informatics & Center for Open Distance Education, The Open University of Japan
Topic: "Learner support: reflections on paradigms, models and pedagogical approaches for 21st century learners in Higher Education"
5. Godson Gatsha, Educational Specialist in Higher Education, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada
Topic: "Making the University Relevant"
6. Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Founding Chair, LIRNEasia
Topic: "Distance Education and its relevance to job market"
7. Naveed A. Malik, Founder Rector, Virtual University of Pakistan
Topic: "The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Invent It"
8. Kathryn Chang Barker, Consulting Education Futurist and Strategist & Higher Education Expert Consultant at Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), State of Qatar
Diplomatic Skills Programme for Academics at BIDTI
The IRU and Staff Development Centre (SDC) of the OUSL together with the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) joined hands to organize an exclusive 2-day workshop on “Diplomatic Skills Programme for Academics” which was held on the 6th & 7th June at BIDTI. Programme objectives were that academics develop their capacity to deal with foreign counterparts in a manner productive for the personal and institutional development. They become more conversant of international protocols relevant to their field and become outstanding performers in international events.
An array of subjects which included an Introduction to Diplomacy, Diplomatic protocol, Etiquette & Correspondence, Communicating Skills, Negotiating Skills (both bilateral and multilateral), Organizing and attending international conferences and Techniques in developing partnership were covered. These topics were presented by highly skillful and dynamic resource persons with years of experience within the field. They were able to share their knowledge gained at first hand, while catering to the needs and occasions befitting that of an academic.
Nominees representing the Faculties of OUSL, CETMe, and academics invited from the Universities of Kelaniya, Moratuwa, Sri Jayawardenepura and Wayamba University of Sri Lanka were among the participants of this event. Without doubt, the insight gained through the participation of this workshop will be of fundamental importance for all the participants engaging in and forging partnerships with overseas individuals or institutes, and especially in organizing international events, including conferences.
At the end of the 2-day workshop, all participants were awarded a certificate by Ms. Pamela J. Dean, the Director General of BIDTI. The IRU is hopeful of continuing their partnership with the BIDTI in conducting this programme again, in the future.
OUSL is a member of the Asian Association of Open Universities and in 2020 and we will host the 34th Annual Conference of Asian Association of Open Universities in 2021.
2nd Series
Topic: "Point-of-Care Devices for Diagnosing Infectious Diseases"
1. Wamadeva Balachandran, Research Professor, Brunel University London, UK
Topic: "Taming Knowledge Explosion through Conceptual Teaching and Learning"
2. Nancy Ridenour, Dr. Jenny Vacek & Dr. Judy Liesveld, University of New Mexico, USA
3rd Series
Topic: "The meeting of so many nationalities with such earnestness of purpose"
4. Srinivasa Rasgavan, Professor, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science and the chair of the School of Library & Information Science, Bharathidasan University, India
Topic: "The Futures of Distance Education"
2. Ormond Simpson, Visiting fellow, London University
Topic: "Meeting of the minds: A psychological perspective on culture and international education"
3. Brian Haas PhD, Assistant Professor of psychology, University of Georgia, USA.
Topic: "Quality Assurance and Sustenance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): an overview"
3. Brian Haas PhD, Assistant Professor of psychology, University of Georgia, USA.
4th Series
Topic: "Microbiome, the future of Medicine"ies with such earnestness of purpose"
1. Janaki Lelwala Guruge, Senior Research Scientist, Center of Genome Science and Systems Biology, Washington University School of medicine, USA.
Topic: "Mainstreaming Disaster Education and Research in Open and Distance Learning (8th February 2018)"
2. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain, PhD –
Topic: "Ethics in Psychology: Global and Sri Lankan contexts"
3. Jeanne Marecek, Senior Research Professor in psychology, Swarthmore College, USA
Topic: "The Philosophy and Practices that are Revolutionizing Education and Science"
4. Rajiv Jhangiani, Special Advisor of the Provost on Open Education, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
5th Series
Topic: "Latest Trends in High Rise Building Design & Construction"
1. Priyan Mendis, Senior professor of infrastructure Engineering in University of Melbourne, Australia, Leader of Advance Protective Engineering Structure, Director of Australian Research Council
Topic: "Use of Learning Analytics in ODL"
2. Bart Rienties, Professor of Learning Analytics, The Open University, UK
Topic: "Trends in Open, Distance, and Online Learning in Indonesia - with a specific reference to University Terbuka"
3. Aminudin Zuhairi, Senior Lecturer of Open and Distance Education, University of Terbuka, Indonesia
Topic: "An Overview of MOOCs in India"
4. Jeetendra Pande, Assistant Director-Research, Assistant Professor- Computer Science Department, Utkan open University, India
6th Series
Topic: "Affordable Health Care Solutions for Developing Countries: Design & Development of Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering (22nd January 2020)"
1. Muhammad Yar
Topic: "Use of Learning Analytics in ODL"
2. Bart Rienties, Professor of Learning Analytics, The Open University, UK
Topic: "Trends in Open, Distance, and Online Learning in Indonesia - with a specific reference to University Terbuka"
3. Aminudin Zuhairi, Senior Lecturer of Open and Distance Education, University of Terbuka, Indonesia
Topic: "An Overview of MOOCs in India"
4. Jeetendra Pande, Assistant Director-Research, Assistant Professor- Computer Science Department, Utkan open University, India
Public Lectures by Vising Fellows
Topic: "Learner Support Services"
1. Saumya, Assistant Professor at School of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India
Topic: "Quest for functional strategies in online teaching: policy approach"
2. Md. Fakhrul Islam Patwary, Assistant Professor at School of Social Science, Bangladesh Open University