CVCD Conference 2015
Conference Theme: Trends in Higher Education
13th and 14th November 2015 @ The Blue Water Hotel, Wadduwa
Programme
Day 1 – 13th November 2015
9.00 Inauguration
- Lighting of the traditional oil lamp
- National Anthem
- Welcome address by Prof. Vasanthy Arasaratnam, Chairperson, CVCD
- Address by Prof. Mohan de Silva, Chairman, University Grants Commission
- Address by Mr. D.C. Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education & Highways
- Address by Hon. Mohan Lal Grero, State Minister of Higher Education
- Address by Hon.Lakshman Kiriella, Minister of Higher Education & Highways
- Address by His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena
10.00 Refreshment break
Session 1 – Chair – Prof. Ananda Jayawardane, Vice-Chancellor, Moratuwa University
10.30 Keynote Address – Changing landscape of higher education
Prof. B.V.R. Chowdari – Executive Director, National University of Singapore
11.30 Discussion
11.45 Expanding role of universities in nation building and economic development
Mr. Ravi Fernando – Operations Director, Malaysia Blue Ocean Strategy Institute
12.15 Discussion
12.30 Flexible course delivery and potential of open and distance education
Dr. Ishan Abeywardena – Adviser, Open Educational Resources,
The Commonwealth of Learning
13.00 Discussion
13.15 Lunch
Session 2 – Chair – Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Jayewardenepura University
14.00 Financial autonomy for higher education
Prof. Malik Ranasinghe, Member, University Grants Commission
14.30 Discussion
14.45 Session for sponsors
15.00 Panel Discussion – Theme – Trends in higher education and strategic direction for state universities
Moderators:
Prof. Uma Coomaraswamy, Competent Authority/Eastern University
Prof. S.A. Ariadurai, Vice-Chancellor, Open University
Panel Members:
Prof. P.S.M. Gunaratne – Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission
Prof. Lakshman Dissanayaka – Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo
Prof. Narada Warnasuriya –Senior Professor of Paediatrics, Kotelawala Defence University and Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Dr. Harsha Subasinghe – Founder and CEO, Codegen International (Pvt) Ltd
Dr. Gamika Prathapasingha – Head/Department of Livestock and Avian Sciences, Wayamba University
15.45 Refreshments break
16.00 Group work (6 groups – please see the topics below)
17.30 Close – Day 1
Day 2 – 14th November 2015
8.30 Group photograph of participants
Session 3 – Chair – Prof. Sumithra Jayasekera, Vice-Chancellor, Wayamba University
9.00 Keynote Address –UGC’s vision for 21st century higher education and expectations from the state universities
Prof. Mohan De Silva – Chairman, University Grants Commission
10.00 Discussion
10.15 Innovative and enterprising universities
Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger, Director, School of Entrepreneurship Promotion and Training, University of Leipzig, Germany
10.45 Discussion
11.00 Refreshment break
Session 4 – Chair – Prof. Gamini Senanayake, Vice-Chancellor, Ruhuna University
11.30 From teaching universities to research universities
Prof. Priyan Dias, National Research Council
12.00 Discussion
12.15 Aligning university governance, autonomy and accountability to meet the challenges of higher education trends
Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake – Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo
12.45 Discussion
13.00 Lunch
Session 5 – Chair – Prof. Vasanthy Arasaratnam, Chairperson, CVCD
Facilitators:
Prof. Ranjith Wijayawardane, Vice-Chancellor, Rajarata University
Prof. M.M.M. Najim, Vice-Chancellor, South Eastern University
14.00 Group presentations
15.30 Key points – Prof. Ananda Jayawardane, Vice-Chancellor, University of Moratuwa
15.45 Refreshments and close
Working Group Topics (to be discussed during latter part of Session 2)
(Group members will be informed in advance)
- Retaining the competitive advantage of the state sector higher education
- Promoting multi-disciplinary research
- Ranking of universities – to what extent, at what cost for what benefits?
- Challenges for internationalization and strategies to overcome
- Making state universities innovative and enterprising
- Education ensuring social responsibility