EEUK

As research shows, student centred and applied approaches to enterprise education are effective ways to achieve engagement with the issues therein. However, it is often a challenge to develop such approaches from a standing start. By using a blended, incremental approach within the project, with a gradual handover from experienced UK staff the approach was slowly introduced so students and staff could develop their understanding of the nature of enterprise education in a nurturing manner.

The project shows how enterprise education was successfully transferred from curriculum at a UK HEI into an international context and demonstrates the value of enterprise education in different cultures. The teaching and learning approach is very different to traditional Sri Lankan higher education but following a tentative start both staff and students whole heartedly engaged with the approach.

The students reactions to interactive activity were extremely positive. Moreover, the fact that the Sri Lankan institutions are already planning a national Flux competition in the country demonstrates how much they valued the experience this year and how they wish to develop the partnership in the future. The project gave Sri Lankan staff the chance to see a different approach to delivering higher education and gave them the confidence to embrace different approaches to teaching. By initially observing international colleagues and working in partnership, the Sri Lanka staff now have the confidence to try something different and innovative, something very much part of the philosophy of enterprise education.

It was evident that the students needed much encouragement to engage with technologies thus this should be addressed at the outset to enhance communication and discussion.

University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

British Council

For further details please contact

Dr Dulekha Kasturiratne