SL’s first Faculty of Nursing at Colombo Uni., with Korean aid
View(s):For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, a Faculty of Nursing was opened at the University of Colombo (UoC), with assistance from the government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Inje University of Korea. The opening ceremony was attended by a Korean delegation from the Ministry of Education and Inje University. About 350 Sri Lankans including the Minister of Health, Rajitha Senaratne, UoP Vice-Chancellor Lakshman Dissanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Devaka Weerakoon, and Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital Chairman Athula Kahandaliyanage attended this event.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Inje University President In-Joon Cha stated, “We have been providing strong support for the development of Sri Lanka’s Nursing Education capacity, based on the long clinical experience of Paik Hospital and Inje University’s know-how of Healthcare Education, and excellent Faculty members. In particular, we will exchange not only Nursing Education, but also various kinds of studies, and we will act as a bridge to develop our two countries’ relations through Education.”
Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne stated, “I would like to thank the government of the RoK for supporting the development of Sri Lanka’s Nursing Education capacity through this ODA project. In particular, I appreciate the continuous enthusiasm and efforts since 2013, when Inje University first came to Sri Lanka and started this project. In Sri Lanka, where the number of Nurses is limited, we have focused on increasing the number of Nurses, but with the help of the Korean government and Inje University, we have improved the quality of Nursing Education system. I also became interested in the Education of the Nursing Faculty.”
Following the inauguration, Inje University held a Faculty Development Workshop from Jan.15-23, for newly appointed Faculty members at the UoC Faculty of Nursing, and gave special lectures to new students. The Faculty Development Workshop consisted of lectures and practices on Nursing Theory, Nursing Philosophy, Nursing Research Methodology & Development of 4-year Bachelor in Nursing curriculum. New Faculty members wrote their own Nursing Research plan, set Educational goals of the graduation competencies of the students, and the programme outcomes of the Faculty of Nursing, during the Workshop.
On Jan.12, Inje University President met Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, to find ways to develop Sri Lanka’s Nursing Education capacity and signed an MoU. At this meeting, Minister Senaratne presented a plaque of appreciation to Inje University President In-Joon Cha. During President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to Korea last November, the President expressed his gratitude to the Korean government for the strengthening of Sri Lanka’s Nursing capacity at the Cheongwade (Blue House).