Gateway Graduate School, Pearson Edexcel and University of London to host the International Forum for Teachers (IFT) 2019

Gateway Graduate School, Pearson Edexcel and the University of London in collaboration with the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Macquarie University and RMIT University will host the fourth consecutive International Forum for Teachers (IFT) at BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka. As with the previous year, due to popular demand, the conference themed ‘Reach, Teach, Guide: Teachers Make the Difference’, will be repeated over two days on the 20th and 21st of September 2019.  

The IFT conference is the first of its kind and is open to all teachers of the state, private and international schools of Sri Lanka and regional countries. IFT’s mission is to assist in developing world-class teachers through global partnerships, collaboration and dialogue. The annual conference of the IFT offers delegates the opportunities to network, exchange best practices and gain an in-depth understanding of the rapidly changing environments of school education from a global perspective.  

The Theme – ‘Reach, Teach, Guide: Teachers Make the Difference’

Keeping in line with the past conventions of IFT, this year’s event too will include presentations from eminent international and local speakers with wide global exposure, panel discussions and networking opportunities. The 2019 conference specifically considers the imperative role that teachers play in counselling and supporting learners to make decisions and solve problems related to personal, communal, national and global matters. This topical theme was developed by the conference organisers due to the increasing expectations on educators to go beyond their subject-matter expertise to help students realise that conventional notions of knowledge, skills and competences are being redefined continuously.

The International Forum for Teachers 2019, will focus on addressing the following broad enquiries:

• How can teachers develop sensitivities and abilities to create positive learning environments and relationships to support their students deal with educational, personal and social challenges?  

• How can all educators acquire the calling and skills to guide their students successfully to the next level of their lives–university and career–through counselling and mentoring?

• How can counselling be the responsibility of all educators and not be limited to a designated member of staff?

• How can teachers proactively resource information and knowledge to help students gain better self-awareness, set positive aspirations and be self-directed as well as resilient lifelong learners?

Moderator of the IFT 2019 Conference

Prof. Dr Ganakumaran Subramaniam – Head of the School of Education, the University of Nottingham Malaysia

Speakers at the IFT 2019 Conference

Snr. Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige – Dean – Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Senior Professor and the Chair of Agribusiness Management, and Director – Staff Development Centre, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

Mr David Kaye – International Teacher Trainer, Education Consultant and Coach

Datin Dr Cynthia Yolanda Doss – Associate Professor of the School of Education, the University of Nottingham Malaysia and Director of Training at the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA)

Dr Alberto Luis August – Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Master of Education Programme of the School of Education, the University of Nottingham Malaysia

Mr Rukshan Perera – Music Director, Composer and Performer

Panellists at the IFT 2019 Conference

Ms Kim Insley – Programme Director, PGCE: Teacher Development, the University of London and Lecturer, University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (IOE)

Emeritus Prof. Colin N. Peiris – Director – Academic Development and Quality Assurance, SLIIT, Professor Emeritus – University of Peradeniya and Council Member – Asia Pacific Quality Register

Kalashuri Dr Channa Wijewardene – Founder and Dance Director – Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation

Mr Dulith Herath – Founder & Chairman of Kapruka.com, Co-Founder of Grasshoppers and Eisenhower Fellow