The SDC was established, a training programme was set up to develop teaching skills in lecturers for facilitating learning and skills development in university undergraduates. This course, the Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (CTHE), has been refined over the years with over 1500 lecturers having been trained from all universities across Sri Lanka. As practices for such a course was unknown in Sri Lanka, the SDC had it benchmarked internationally, accrediting it with the Staff and Educational Association of UK (SEDA), as well as having an experienced educational developer, a Professor of Higher Education from UK, functioning as its External Examiner.
The Staff Development Centre is actively involved in developing staff at the University of Colombo Training and Development is available to all staff, which is provided by a partnership of expert trainers.
The Staff Development Centre is providing personal, professional and career development advice and support for all staff, sharing and developing good practice and helping in the development of appropriate support systems.
If you would like to arrange Training and Development, please contact the Staff Development Centre to talk about your particular training requirements.

Mission

The Mission of the Staff Development Centre (SDC) is “to enhance the quality of academic work undertaken by staff and students within the system of higher education in Sri Lanka, in general, and within the University of Colombo, in particular. In order to achieve this objective, the SDC would try to make university teaching/learning more effective, more relevant, student-oriented and of the internationally high standard. It will try to develop skills and competencies necessary for more effective and efficient performance among all members of the staff of the University. It will also do whatever it can for career development of the staff” (University of Colombo Council Minutes 252/34 p.75). To achieve these, the Staff Development Centre was launched in 1997 as the first SDC in Sri Lanka, due to a need to commence and establish planned staff development in Sri Lankan universities.

Past Directors

Professor Panduka Karunanayake 22-11-2021 to 31-12-2022
Professor N Kamardeen (Acting) 14-06-2021 to 31-10-2021
Professor N Kamardeen 14-06-2018 to 13-06-2021
Professor N Kamardeen (Acting) 01-02-2018 to 13-06-2018
Dr IM LakshmavIn (Acting) 01-11-2017 to 30-01-2018
Dr YMSK Weerakoon 25-04-2016 to 31-10-2017
Dr YMSK Weerakoon (Acting) 23-02-2016 to 24-04-2016
Dr DAC Silva 26-02-2013 to 20-02-2016
Ms MDM Abeyratne (Acting) 22-11-2011 to 20-02-2013
Dr SWP Mahanamahewa (Acting) 17-10-2011 to 31-10-2011
Dr YMSK Weerakoon (Acting) 26-10-2010 to 16-10-2011
Professor SA Nobert (Acting) 04-10-2010 to 25-10-2010
Dr YMSK Weerakoon (Acting) 15-03-2010 to 03-10-2010
Dr Pavithra Kailasapathy (Acting) 30-12-2009 to 14-03-2010
Professor SA Nobert (Acting) 14-12-2009 to 29-12-2009
Dr Pavithra Kailasapathy (Acting) 16-11-2009 to 13-12-2009
Professor MES Perera 15-09-2008 to 14-11-2009
Dr YMSK Weerakoon (Acting) 18-02-2008 to 14-09-2008
Professor SUK Ekaratne 02-08-2004 to 14-02-2008
Professor Rohini Seneviratne 01-07-2003 to 30-07-2004
Professor SUK Ekaratne 09-07-1997 to 30-06-2003