Dr. Ruwini Dharmawardene, Director of the Centre for International Affairs, represented the University at the Regional Erasmus+ Cluster Meeting and Contact-Making Seminar 2025 for Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific. The seminar was held at the Grand Ballroom, GalleFace Hotel, Colombo, on 18–19 November 2025, as part of the Regional Erasmus+ Week organized by the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
The seminar was formally opened by Carmen Moreno of the European Union in Sri Lanka and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of SriLanka, setting the stage for discussions on international collaboration in education.
The theme of this year’s seminar was “The Role of Education in Green Transition”, emphasizing the critical role of education in promoting environmental sustainability and achieving climate goals. The key topics discussed included:
- Developing new skills and technologies to support the green transition
- Adapting learning content and teaching methods to achieve climate objectives
- Linking education and research toward sustainable solutions for the green transition
- Networking sessions to foster international collaboration and partnerships
The event brought together higher education and vocational education institutions from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific, alongside key stakeholders involved in Erasmus+ implementation, including Erasmus+ National Focal Points, National Agencies, EU Delegations, and representatives from the European Commission and EACEA.
The seminar provided a platform to showcase successful Erasmus+ mobility and cooperation projects, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across regions in line with Erasmus+ priorities. Dr. Dharmawardene actively participated in discussions and activities on both days, contributing to the University’s engagement with international education initiatives.