In accordance with the vision of the Dean, Prof. Upul Subasinghe, the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura successfully conducted a hands-on workshop on Virtual Reality (VR) and Smart Technologies for Education on Friday, 27th June 2025, at the Blended Learning Centre. The session was conducted by Dr. Ravimal Bandara, Senior Lecturer from the department of Computer Science and the Director of the Centre for IT Services, and was organized under the guidance of Prof. Upul Subasinghe, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
The workshop was specially designed for Technical Officers across various study programs of the faculty, aiming to familiarize them with emerging technologies that can transform traditional academic delivery and collaboration.
Participants received both theoretical insights and practical exposure to a range of advanced educational tools available at the Blended Learning Centre. These included:
- Virtual Reality headsets and stereoscopic cameras for immersive learning experiences
- Automated conference tracking cameras for hybrid teaching and collaborative sessions
- Portable visualizers for real-time demonstration of physical materials
- Creative pen displays to support digital drawing, annotation, and interactive teaching
The workshop emphasized the strategic integration of smart technologies in classrooms, laboratories, and field environments to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning activities. Attendees were given the opportunity to experience the capabilities of these tools firsthand and were guided through best practices in operation, maintenance, and support.
Dr. Ravimal highlighted that technological adaptability among support staff is vital in enabling the academic community to deliver enriched, digitally enhanced learning experiences. “While these technologies are often associated with futuristic education models, they are now becoming standard components in modern universities. This workshop is a stepping stone toward ensuring our faculty remains ahead in educational innovation,” he stated.
The Dean, Prof. Subasinghe, reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to fostering a tech-enabled academic culture. “We aim to build a digitally empowered ecosystem that supports our staff and students in meaningful and practical ways,” he remarked. He also expressed his appreciation for facilitating this timely and impactful session.
The event marks a significant step in the university’s broader digital transformation initiative and sets the foundation for continuous capacity building and technology integration across faculties. Plans are underway to expand such training sessions to include academic staff and introduce pilot implementations of virtual fieldwork simulations and digitally interactive classrooms.
With an increasing global shift towards blended and hybrid education models, this initiative demonstrates the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s proactive approach in embracing the future of learning.
