Theme:

Cultivating Excellence: Empowering Educators for a Sustainable Future

About the Symposium:

The Symposium on Educational Research in South Asia (SERSA 2024), organized by the South Asian Centre for Teacher Development (SACTD), is a landmark event that brings together policymakers, educators, researchers, and practitioners from across the region. This symposium is designed to serve as a dynamic platform for advancing educational research by fostering collaboration, sharing innovative practices, mentoring emerging leaders, and enhancing teacher development programs.

The event will take place on 17th January 2025 and will feature diverse research papers from countries including India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, showcasing innovative educational advancements and practices.

Aim:

To empower educators and researchers by promoting sustainable and collaborative practices in educational research, with a focus on fostering regional collaboration and academic excellence in South Asia.

Objectives:

1. Collaboration: Foster collaboration among teacher education leaders in the region.
2. Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate the exchange of insights and best practices.
3. Mentorship: Provide mentorship for emerging leaders in the field.
4. Research Collaboration: Explore collaborative research opportunities.
5. Capacity Building: Contribute to initiatives aimed at enhancing teacher development programs.

Keynote Address:

The symposium will feature a keynote address by Professor Sujeewa Sethunga, Pro Vice Chancellor of RMIT Australia, who will share insights to inspire and guide participants in advancing educational research and development.

“Publish or Perish” Workshop:

Date:

16th January 2025

Focus:

This one-day workshop, titled “Publish or Perish”, is dedicated to empowering researchers with practical insights into publishing their work in reputed journals. Led by Professor Lakshman Samaranayake, Emeritus Professor of the University of Hong Kong, the session will cover essential skills for academic publication. Participants will gain valuable knowledge on:

•  Strategies for effective academic writing.
•  Navigating the peer-review process.
•  Ensuring ethical practices in research publication.

This workshop represents an invaluable opportunity for researchers seeking to enhance their academic presence and contributions.

About SACTD:

The South Asian Centre for Teacher Development (SACTD) is a UNESCO Category 2 Center that is committed to promoting collaboration and capacity building among South Asian nations. By focusing on advancing teacher professionalism, enhancing teacher education, and fostering innovative pedagogical practices, SACTD strives to uplift the quality of education in the region.

Both the symposium and the workshop aim to benefit Sri Lankan teacher educators and emerging researchers while providing a platform for international expertise, cross-border exchange of ideas, and meaningful collaborations.

Invitation:

We warmly invite all stakeholders—policymakers, teacher educators, researchers, practitioners, and development partners—to join us in this effort to enhance the quality of teacher education. Let’s use this opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions, share best practices, and forge pathways for a brighter future in education.

Both SACTD and UNICEF expressed the desire to have further discussions, recognizing their shared goal of supporting educators in the South Asian region with a well-structured Monitoring and Evaluation Programme.