Message from the Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine
The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, is the leading Ayurvedic Faculty in the country with an excellent history of 94 years. The institutional academic staff are fully qualified with PhD, MPhil, and MD, after their basic BAMS /BUMS degree. In addition, they have also earned their CTHE certification from the SDC, University of Colombo, while most of them achieved SEDA (UK) accreditation. This is an improvement in educational and professional development in higher education and is greatly promoted by the Professional Association for Staff and Educational Developers (SEDA) in the UK through innovation and good practice in higher education. With the motivation from the AMP-UCFM, FIM has also recognized academic mentoring as a good practice and a timely need in higher education offering a sound Framework for quality Professional Development by improving the strength and quality of newly recruited staff.
Faculty of Indigenous Medicine (FIM), University of Colombo is one of the most prestigious Faculty in Indigenous Systems of Medicine in Sri Lanka. The FIM has a dynamic, vibrant, and highly stimulating clinical-based teaching and research environment and it is achieved through highly qualified academic staff members who are committed to disseminating knowledge in all the areas of Ayurveda/Unani systems of Medicine. Our faculty is committed to providing evidence-based quality education of Indigenous Medicine and we are proud to integrate the use of advanced technology to uplift the quality and standards of the student life at the FIM.
Academic quality and standards are the most important parts of the field of higher education. As a Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, UOC, joined the Academic Mentoring program, at the Faculty of Medicine University of Colombo in 2019. The aim of the Academic Mentoring Programme (AMP) of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo is to develop the newly recruited academics with good standards in the long term to ensure quality teaching, research, and administration.
AMP is important to ensure that the junior academic staff is allowed to develop as individuals under the guidance of experienced senior academic staff members. They navigate the early stages of their academic career with the assistance of an assigned mentor to gain effective teaching methods and research skills and balance life in the academic environment. This mentorship addresses challenges while also promoting their professional development.
I extend my gratitude to the In-house coordinator of AMP FIM and all the academic mentors for their dedication towards academic mentees in FIM, UOC.
–
Prof. Pathirage Kamal Perera
Dean
Faculty of Indigenous Medicine
University of Colombo
Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
Message from the In-house Coordinator Academic Mentoring Programme
As the coordinator of In-house program of Academic mentoring programme of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, was re-established in 2022 with 17 mentors and 15 mentees group. During this program, Identified the mentors, recruitment of mentees, selection of mentors, and orientation sessions. identify mentees’ needs and profiles, workshop sessions, and many other activities were conducted.
Although I am the second coordinator of AMP-FIM, it was challenging and rewarding for me to establish this program because this was the first attempt to recruit mentees for AMP-FIM. The induction programme was held in December 2022. After the induction programme, mentees worked with their mentors during the last period.
I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Prof. Yamuna Siriwardana, Program Chairperson/Academic Mentoring, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo for her guidance and support towards the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine to develop our Academic Mentoring programme. Moreover, the Former Director. Senior Professor Priyani A Paranagama, Institute of Indigenous Medicine, UOC, and Professor Pathirage Kamal Perera, Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, UOC for providing their active guidance, encouragement, and support in establishing and continuing this program.
I am also thankful to Dr. Harshima Wijesinghe /Convenor – AMP – UOC and other in-house leaders for their positive thoughts and inputs, which helped me to develop our AMP in FIM. My special thanks go to the senior mentors and all the mentees of AMP-FIM.
Best wishes
Dr. W. A. S.S. Weerakoon
Inhouse Coordinator
Academic mentoring Programme
Faculty of Indigenous Medicine
University of Colombo.
About us
The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, Rajagiriya, is the leading Ayurvedic Faculty in the country with an excellent history of 94 years. The institutional academic staff are fully qualified with PhD, MPhil, and MD, after their basic BAMS /BUMS degree. In addition, they have also earned their CTHE certification from the SDC, University of Colombo, while most of them achieved SEDA (UK) accreditation. This is an improvement in educational and professional development in higher education and is greatly promoted by the Professional Association for Staff and Educational Developers (SEDA) in the UK through innovation and good practice in higher education. With the motivation from the AMP-UCFM, FIM has also recognized academic mentoring as a good practice and a timely need in higher education offering a sound Framework for quality Professional Development by improving the strength and quality of newly recruited staff.
Probationary academic staff members of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo (FIM-UOC). The program is also open to any other interested academic staff member of FIM-UOC.
All interested and volunteering academic staff members of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, and senior lecturer grade 1 and above can serve as a mentor.
All the probationary lecturers must follow the mentorship program for a minimum period of 3 years. The program is considered complete upon completion of the essential 3 years/confirmation of the mentee or they can continue as mentees as long as they wish to do so. All other academic staff members can join whenever they wish to do so.