The aims of the course are to:

  • assist you, as a new member of the teaching staff in the University, to adapt and adjust to your new role as a teacher, and helping you and your students to develop 21st Century skills

  • support you in exploring and developing methods and techniques of teaching, learning and assessment that would be appropriate to the settings in which you find yourself

  • provide you with the opportunity to reflect on and develop your skills and abilities as a   teacher  in  a  process  and  a format in the  spirit  of  the  SEDA  Professional Development Framework, PDF (in the Learning, Teaching and Assessment development area)

The course is designed along similar lecturer development courses worldwide. You will find this one, tailored to the requirements of the universities in Sri Lanka, a stimulating and enjoyable experience. You will have plenty of opportunities to share your ideas, your successes and to learn from your disappointments, discovering new ways to turn disappointments into learning opportunities.

The course is designed along similar lecturer development courses worldwide. You will find this one, tailored to the requirements of the universities in Sri Lanka, a stimulating and enjoyable experience. You will have plenty of opportunities to share your ideas, your successes and to learn from your disappointments, discovering new ways to turn disappointments into learning opportunities.

The Staff Development Centre (SDC) is pleased to announce the commencement of the Making Teaching Effective (MaTE). This course will be conducted from October 2020 to January 2021. The course embodies best practices in teaching and learning currently practiced worldwide and is intended for temporary /contract academic staff of Sri Lankan universities. No prior experience is required to follow the course.During the course, nine half dayworkshops will be conducted at the University of Colombo or via a virtual platform and participants are requiredto design and implement new teaching and learning-related activities based on ChangeAgreements, undertake reflective self-development activities, and undertake somereading. Assessment of the course is based on a report and a presentation as well as an attendance requirement.

The Staff Development Centre (SDC) is pleased to announce the commencement of its twenty-fourth Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (CTHE) course. This internationally accredited CTHE course will be conducted from March to December 2021. The course embodies best practices in teaching and learning currently practiced worldwide and is intended for newly recruited permanent academic staff of Sri Lankan universities. This CTHE course is recognised by the UGC as an induction programme satisfying the mandatory requirements to be fulfilled by probationary academics. During the past, many senior academics have also followed the course because of its benefits to them personally, and to the university system. The course has received an excellent feedback rating from participants as well as from overseas expert reviewers. The course is the only such internationally benchmarked course in Sri Lanka and its accreditation aligns with values and outcomes of the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) of UK. SEDA, at each review of the course by its international accreditors from UK, as part of the procedure for reviewing / renewing its accreditation, has commented very highly on the standards and attainments of the course

The SDC is pleased to welcome you to this Making Teaching Effective course (acronym: MaTE). Courses of the Staff Development Centre (SDC), University of Colombo are designed to sustain you throughout your career, so even though you are at a temporary level, it is hoped that this course will empower you and put you on a path of lifelong learning.

Over the next few months, you will be;

  • Attending ‘workshop’ sessions

  • Studying independently, and in pairs or groups, to complete course assignments

  • Making use of this handbook and textbooks


The course is designed along similar lecturer development courses worldwide. You will find this one, tailored to the requirements of the universities in Sri Lanka, a stimulating and enjoyable experience. You will have plenty of opportunities to share your ideas, your successes and to learn from your disappointments, discovering new ways to turn disappointments into learning opportunities.