A learning experience for both local and visiting students
What happens when you bring some of this country’s most brilliant young minds together with some of New York’s own? Debate, discussion and new friendships- if a recent session conducted by the Colombo Law Faculty along with New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, was any indication.
The week-long co-teaching programme was organised jointly by the Gallatin School and the Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo. Themed under ‘Human Rights: Global and Local’, the programme saw the participation of almost 50 students and teachers from both institutions, from March16-20.
The five day programme included lectures, presentations, field visits, and discussions. Both local and international students visited the Family Planning Association, Centre for Policy Alternatives, National Child Protection Authority, Women and Media Collective, Legal Aid Commission and Human Rights Commission. Interactive sessions were conducted on topics such as counter-terrorism, religion’s perspective on religious freedom, social movements and human rights among others.
“It’s been an eye-opener,” said Huvini Chinthani, a final-year student from the Faculty of Law. “If the relevant authorities pave the way for students to take part in more programmes like this we’ll be in a much better place as university students, I think. Taking part in these discussions inspired me to pursue further studies after university.”
Angie Liao, a student studying human rights law noted that the site visits in particular have challenged her focus. “Just being here has opened my eyes to a new perspective, especially on the topic of counter terrorism. We’ve spoken about this with a lot of Sri Lankan students and it’s very interesting to hear what they have to say.”
Dr. Vasukie Nesiah from the Gallatin School shared that these experiential learning sessions have been in the pipeline for some time. “I think both groups have a much more deep understanding of the local and global aspects of human rights,” she noted. Together with University of Colombo lecturer Dinesha Samararatne and student coordinator for the programme Sushmitha Thayanandan, Dr. Nesiah was instrumental in organising the programme between the two institutes.