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Smart Classroom at University of Colombo Successfully Unveiled

2022.02.17

On 17th February 2022, UNESCO-ICHEI successfully held a virtual inaugural ceremony of Smart Classrom at University of Colombo (UoC), sponsored by Weidong Cloud Education Group (China). The event was attended by Prof. Wei HAN, Executive Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, Mr. Zhiqian Wang, Vice President of Weidong, Senior Prof. Chandrika Wijeyratne, Vice Chancellor of UoC, and Senior Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake, former Vice Chancellor of UoC, along with important members of the project. Senior Prof. Kapila CK Perera, Secretary of Ministry of Education, delivered a special address through video to congratulate this achievement.

The event was kicked off with a traditional lighting of the oil lamp ritual to express best wishes for the Smart Classroom project. Then Senior Prof. Chandrika Wijeyratne, Vice Chancellor of UoC delivered an opening speech to express her appreciation to UNESCO-ICHEI and Weidong for giving UoC the opportunity to deploy such a Smart Classroom. She pointed out that University of Colombo was the first and top state university in the country to pilot blended teaching and learning before the pandemic. She is confident that with this newly deployed Smart Classroom, the University will continue to enhance its capacity in developing blended teaching and learning practice and eventually share its experiences with other institutions in the country.

Senior Prof. Chandrika Wijeyratne, Vice Chancellor of UoC delivered the opening speech

Prof. Wei HAN said that she was particularly impressed by the close collaboration among the various parties to realize this project. UoC is the first university UNESCO-ICHEI worked with to pioneer the remote installation solution and the successful deployment of this project is the best demonstration of an international collaboration during the covid-19 pandemic. She looked forward to seeing the Smart Classroom playing a bigger role in facilitating the digital transformation of higher education at UoC.

Prof. Wei HAN Spoke at the Ceremony

Mr. Zhiqian WANG, Vice President of Weidong thanked UNESCO-ICHEI for its coordination on the project. Weidong is committed to enhancing global higher education quality through innovation and its partnership with UNESCO-ICHEI has been extremely meaningful. Specifically, the year 2022 marks the 65th anniversary of China and Sri Lanka's diplomatic relationships. Weidong will continue to work with UNESCO-ICHEI and UoC in the future, promoting a smooth transformation of higher education in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Zhiqian Wang, VP of Weidong Cloud Education Group Spoke at the ceremony

Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake, former Vice Chancellor who initiated the partnership between UNESCO-ICHEI and UoC, spoke at the ceremony as well. He reviewed the partnership of UoC with UNESCO-ICHEI and SUSTech, speaking highly of the rapid achievements both institutions have made over the past few years. He encouraged the University to work closely with both institutions in the future.

As the chief guest of the ceremony, Senior Prof. Kapila CK Perera, Secretary of Ministry of Education, expressed his appreciation to UNESCO-ICHEI and Weidong for contributing to the higher education development at UoC and in Sri Lanka. In his video speech, he pointed out that this type of international collaboration under the context of global pandemic is very unique. He added that he had high expectations on the smooth operations of Smart Classroom.

Senior Prof. Kapila CK Perera, Secretary of Ministry of Education Delivered a Video Speech

Towards the end of the ceremony, Senior Prof. Chandrika Wijeyratne and Senior Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake led the team to conduct plaque unveiling and ribbon cutting ceremony to symbolize the full deployment of the Smart Classroom at University of Colombo.

Unveiling the plaque of Smart Classroom

Visiting the Smart Classroom

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