The Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) Info Day Session - Sri Lanka, held on 3rd July 2024 at the Hotel Galadari in Colombo, was a resounding success. This event brought together over 170 prominent figures from academia, government ministries and institutes, industry, and the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka, fostering a spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The event was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation.
The day commenced with opening remarks by Snr. Prof. Sampath Amaratunga, Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
Hon. Dr. Suren Raghavan, State Minister of Higher Education, and Dr. Johann Hesse, Head of Cooperation from the EU Delegation to Sri Lanka, delivered insightful speeches highlighting the significance of the Erasmus+ program in enhancing higher education. This was followed by a compelling video clip providing an overview of Erasmus+ activities in Sri Lanka.
A key highlight was the presentation by Mr. Eugenio Delfino, Project Adviser and Sri Lanka CBHE Coordinator from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). His comprehensive presentation on Erasmus+ CBHE actions set the tone for subsequent sessions, which showcased best practices in CBHE projects across various sectors, including energy, sustainable tourism, health, the environment, and university-enterprise collaboration. These sessions featured 13 successful projects implemented in Sri Lanka over the past four years, namely THREE-LANKA, EUSL-EN, CESTour, SPIRIT, IncEdu, nEUROcare, TRANSMED, CAPAGE, BRITAE, TESS, LBS2ITS, SUCCESSFUL, and SECRA.
Dr. Jenny Elmaco, a Key Academic Expert from the Centralized Support to the Network of Erasmus+ National Focal Points, led an engaging online presentation on "Partner Searching and Application Procedures for Erasmus+ Funding." This was followed by a brainstorming session on "Exploring Ways to Collaborate with Industry," where participants from various industries, ministries, and academia interacted to generate new ideas. A dynamic panel discussion and Q&A session allowed participants to engage with expert panellists. These sessions, moderated by two vice-chancellors of state universities, maintained high levels of academic engagement and enthusiasm until the end of the event.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Ashiqur Rahaman, Regional Manager for Asia, Centralized Support to the Network of Erasmus+ National Focal Points, followed by a vote of thanks. Attendees then enjoyed refreshments, capping off a day filled with meaningful interactions and knowledge sharing.
Throughout the event, a poster exhibition showcased details of the 13 successful CBHE projects, allowing interested individuals to collect leaflets for more information.
The Erasmus+ CBHE Info Day Session provided invaluable insights into the opportunities available through Erasmus+, strengthening the ties between Sri Lankan and Global higher education institutions. The event underscored the commitment to fostering international academic cooperation and building capacity in higher education.
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