Internationalising Higher Education

Project Sri Lanka: a model for internationalisation in higher education
David Baker, Director, International Office, University of Durham, UK, and Laura Youngson, Participating student, Project Sri Lanka, University of Durham, UK introduce Project Sri Lanka. This is a project grounded in humanitarian objectives and brings together Durham University students and staff with community and regional partners to assist in the regeneration of tsunami-devastated communities in southern Sri Lanka. The project provides provision of physical structures and equipment, emotional and spiritual support, intellectual and academic support, and financial aid for education. It is now is being developed as a model that demonstrates the effective embedding of internationalisation within institutional culture, and one which should be readily transferable to other regions of the world.

What Sri Lankan higher education really needs from us - a personal view
David Swinfen, Emeritus Professor, Commonwealth History; former Vice-Principal,
University of Dundee, UK introduces a report on how higher education in Sri Lanka has been affected by the tsunami presents the view that it was only the latest in a series of disasters - including the civil war and chronic under resourcing - to befall higher education. David Swinfen will discuss his work with the British Council, Arup Associates and South Eastern University, to develop a new campus and academic plan for SEUSL. He will talk about the challenges of the security and political situation in Sri Lanka and conclude by saying the greatest need is for staff capacity building and that higher education institutions in the UK can best help by offering split PhD programmes, and help with teaching, curriculum design and development in specified subject areas.