Webinar on Post-COVID Engineering Education in Sri Lanka
Ruwan Gopura, Chair for IEEE Sri Lanka Section
IEEE Sri Lanka Section in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka and IMechE Sri Lanka group organized a webinar titled “Post-COVID Engineering Education in Sri Lanka”. The webinar was held on 16th July 2020 from 16:30-18:30. An expert panel comprising of Prof. A. Atputharajah, Dean Faculty of Engineering, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka; Prof. Janaka Ekanayake, Fellow IEEE; Prof. J. P. Karunadasa, Council Member, Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka; and Prof. Leelananda Rajapaksha, former Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, discussed the contextual challenges and explore the opportunities in Sri Lankan engineering higher education. The discussion was moderated by Prof. Ananda Jayawardena, former Vice Chancellor of University of Moratuwa.
The objectives of the Webinar were to critically discuss specific characteristics of engineering education, to elaborate on post-COVID engineering education techniques and their applicability, and to assess the effectiveness of the quality of delivery and meeting accreditation requirements. The Webinar was targeted to decision-makers in engineering higher education, educators of the higher education bodies in engineering, students in engineering higher education, and other relevant stakeholders of the industry. Prof. Ruwan Gopura, Chair for IEEE Sri Lanka Section, and Dr. JR Gamage, Senior Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka co-hosted the Webinar, which attracted around 100 participants.