HRDC certificate awarding Ceremony 2025: Celebrating Excellence in Higher Education

The Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) hosted the Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (CTHE) Awards Ceremony, recognizing the achievements of academic staff who completed the CTHE programme in 2023. The event also celebrated the accreditation of participants by the UK-based Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), marking a significant milestone in professional development within higher education. The ceremony was graced by the Chief Guest, Senior Professor (Chair) H D Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor of the University. Distinguished guests included the Registrar, Mrs K C Sanjeevani Perera, and the Bursar, Ms J T L Dharmasena. The leadership of HRDC was well-represented, with Senior Professor S P Premaratna, Director of HRDC, providing invaluable insights into the significance of the CTHE programme in enhancing academic excellence.
Key figures of HRDC, including Senior Lecturer Dr S Rajadurai, CTHE Coordinator, Senior Lecturer Mr Joseph Francis, Short Course Coordinator, and Mr P M K Subaweera, Senior Assistant Registrar of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) and Project Manager of HRDC, were also in attendance, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the participants.
A total of approximately 40 academic staff members completed the CTHE programme and received their certificates, along with SEDA accreditation, in recognition of their commitment to continuous professional development and excellence in teaching. The best performer of the CTHE 26^th batch was Dr U R S R K Senarathne, a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine. Her outstanding performance was celebrated as a testament to dedication and academic excellence. Along with the awards ceremony, certificates were also presented to participants who completed various workshops and training programs. These included:

A six-day Qualitative Research Workshop, completed by 85 participants.
A Training Program for Academic Sub-wardens of the University of Colombo, attended by 10 participants.
The English for Management Assistants Workshop Series – Stage I, completed by 40 participants.

These certificate presentations were held on 14^th February 2025 at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, further emphasizing the University of Colombo’s dedication to continuous professional development across various academic and administrative sectors. The CTHE programme remains a cornerstone in equipping university lecturers with the necessary pedagogical skills, fostering innovative teaching methodologies, and upholding international standards in higher education. With its accreditation by SEDA and the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka, the programme continues to elevate the quality of teaching at the University of Colombo and beyond.