UCalgary partners with two leading Sri Lankan universities

The University of Calgary has signed agreements with two of Sri Lanka’s top universities to collaborate on educational and research activities and exchanges of students, faculty and staff, with the planned step of exploring a joint PhD cotutelle program. 

Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura, UCalgary's vice-provost (international) travelled to Colombo, Sri Lanka to sign an agreement with University of Moratuwa Vice-Chancellor K.K.C.K. Perera, as well as an agreement with two representatives of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, above: Vice-Chancellor Sampath Amarathunge and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Hemanthi Ranasinghe.

“These agreements show our commitment to a unique collaboration that supports high-achieving students to conduct study and research at both partner universities,” says Ruwanpura. “It also demonstrates the University of Calgary’s long-term commitment to enable our students and scholars to internationalize their experience and strengthen their leadership and cross-cultural skills through diverse programs, including the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) program.”

Representatives from Sri Lanka’s ministry of higher education and government, the University Grants Commission, and distinguished Canadian alumni in Sri Lanka attended the signing ceremony.

• Above, from left: Saman Bandara, K. K. C. K. Perera, Janaka Ruwanpura, David McKinnon, Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sampath Amarathunge and Hemanthi Ranasinghe.

PhD cotutelle program offers cultural, scientific exposure

The PhD cotutelle program offers research students an unparalleled international experience, working alongside world-class researchers across two universities.

A PhD candidate is jointly supervised by academic staff members at each university and upon successful completion of the program, a candidate graduates from both universities with a Doctor of Philosophy. As an outcome, the PhD cotutelle graduates gain unique exposure to different cultural and scientific environments and increase their employability after graduation.

PhD cotutelle agreements also provide a unique opportunity for two faculty researchers to engage in collaborative research projects.

Sri Lankan and Canadian students benefit from partnership launched in 2015 

In 2015, the University of Calgary signed an agreement with the Universities of Moratuwa as part of the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) program. This agreement enabled four Canadian engineering students and two Sri Lankan students to participate in internships and internationalize their education and research.

“It was a great experience, a pleasure and an honour to be nominated as a scholar in the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program,” says Asiri Senasinghe, who completed his MSc degree in Civil Engineeting at the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. This scholarship helped him pursue a master’s degree and enter a PhD program at UCalgary.