New Faculty of Nursing opens at Colombo University with Korean Govt. support

For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, a faculty of nursing was opened at the University of Colombo, with assistance from the government of the Republic of Korea and the Inje University of Korea.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Korean delegation from the Ministry of Education and Inje University. About 350 Sri Lankans including Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health; Lakshman Dissanayake, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo; Devaka Weerakoon, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing; and Athula Kahandaliyanage, Chairman of the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital attended the event.
Addressing the opening ceremony, the president of Inje University, In-Joon Cha said: “We have been providing strong support for the development of Sri Lankan 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.”
Minister Rajitha Senaratne said: “I would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for supporting the development of Sri Lankan nursing education capacity through this ODA project. In particular, I appreciate the continuous enthusiasm and efforts since 2013, when the 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 the Inje University, we have improved the quality of the nursing education system. I also became interested in the education of the nursing faculty which nurse nurses.”
Following the inauguration, from January 15 to 23, Inje University held the Faculty Development Workshop for newly appointed faculty members at the Faculty of Nursing in Colombo University and gave special lectures for new students. The Faculty Development Workshop consisted of lectures and practices on nursing theory, nursing philosophy, nursing research methodology and development of four-year baccalaureate nursing curriculum. New Faculty members wrote their own nursing research plan, set the educational goals of the graduation competencies of the students, and the program outcomes of the Faculty of Nursing, during the workshop.
On January 12, the president of Inje University, In-Joon Cha visited the Ministry of Higher Education and later met the Minister of Health Rajitha Senaratne to find ways to develop Sri Lankan nursing education capacity and signed a MOU. At this meeting, the Rajitha Senaratne presented a plaque of appreciation to the President of Inje University.
During President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to Korea last November, the President expressed his gratitude to the Korean government for the strengthening of Sri Lankan nursing capacity at the Cheongwade (the Blue House).