A Two - Day Workshop on Ethics and Values in Higher Education as a Faculty Development Programme (FDP)

The Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) in collaboration with Globethics Academy, Geneva, Switzerland, conducted a two-day workshop on Ethics and Values in Higher Education, a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on the 5th and 6th of December 2024 at the Senate Hall of the College House under the patronage of Senior Professor S P Premaratna, Director of the Human Resource Development Centre, and Dr S Rajadurai, as the Convener.

The main objectives of the programme were:

1. Equip faculty to teach and mentor in ethics effectively for higher education and executive programs.
2. Strengthen faculty capacity in applied ethics research, collaboration, and publication.
3. Promote ethical standards in institutions for accountability and impact.
4. Enable faculty to engage in local and global policy dialogues on ethical issues.
5. Foster transformative ethical leadership among faculty for addressing global challenges.

The workshops were held in a blended mode: on-site and virtual sessions by experts from South Asia and Geneva, Switzerland. The On-site speakers comprised Ms Rajula V, the South Asia Regional Manager at Globethics; Dr Mandappali Joshua Theodore George, the Associate Director of International Ranking and Accreditations of Woxen University, Hyderabad, India and Dr R D Goodwin, the Principal of VVS PG College, Andhra Pradesh, India. The Globethics speakers namely, Dr Ignace Haaz, Managing Editor; Dr Amele Ekue, Dean of Globethics Academy; Ms Lidia Sloutskovski, Academic Office Manager; and Professor Dr H C Christoph Stückelberger, Founder of Globethics conducted the workshops online.

The discussions and activities during the programme explored ethical leadership, value-driven decision-making, and strategies to address ethical dilemmas in higher education. The participants gained insights into ethics embedding institutional policies, research practices, and educational frameworks, thereby fostering a culture of integrity and excellence. The collaboration between the University of Colombo and Globethics Academy marks a significant milestone in promoting ethics and values in higher education, reaffirming the university’s commitment to advancing value-based education.