It was held under the patronage of the Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo and the Key note speaker on the Occasion was Prof. L. Ratnayake, Director HETC project .
Prof. Marie Perera, Dean of the Faculty of Education welcomed the gathering which comprised of Deans of other Faculties, Former Deans and Heads of Departments of the Faculty, all Academic staff and Full time Postgraduate students of the Faculty .
While introducing the Keynote speaker Professor Perera explained the rationale for inviting a Senior Professor of Civil Engineering as the Key note speaker to the Research Symposium of the Faculty of Education. She said that thinking today is not just “out of the box thinking” but “dismantling the box and creating the box afresh”. Hence, she wanted the Faculty of Education to move out of the narrow confines of Education and look at Education from a new perspective. The Dean also explained the role played by the Faculty of Education in catering to Full time postgraduate degree students who are mainly teachers from the state education sector.
The Vice Chancellor acknowledged that the Faculty of Education is a Post Graduate Faculty and that it plays a valuable service to the younger generation. She also congratulated the MPhil students who presented their research in progress through a poster presentation.
Prof. L. Ratnayke in his talk highlighted the inadequacy of public investment in Education and its impact on low student achievement at secondary level. He also identified the changing composition of skills needed in Economies in the21st century. Thus, Prof. Ratnayake’s talk was very useful for the Postgraduate research students as well as academic staff to identify the challenges the teachers would be facing in the 21 st century as well as to identify areas for future research.
The highlight of the symposium this year was the poster presentation by the MPhil students of the Faculty.

Key Note Address by Prof: L.Ratnayake