What is the Student Conference?
It is an assembly of students that provides an opportunity for them to cultivate and express various perspectives, ideas and awareness of the global dimension concepts. Furthermore, it enhances their team work, organizational and leadership skills.
Why are we having a Student Conference?
To provide an opportunity for ideas and thought building among the participants on various global development issues ranging from ones household to the international community. It educates the students on how global issues impact on their lives and other diverse cultures around the world
As this conference is organised twice a year it provides an opportunity for the 20 most outstanding students at the previous conference to actively take part in organising the coming up conference. It .It offers them a chance to practice the knowledge gained at the previous event.
Furthermore through the experience gained as an organiser they become proficient in planning and conducting their own mini student’s conferences involving their fellow students and neighbouring schools.
The Main aim of the Student Conference is to:
create awareness on the global dimension topics among students
Who participated?
Students between the ages of 13 -15 years from local schools that have a learning partnership with a UK school
When and where
We have had three conferences
Conference 1. from 13 to 15 January 2006: at Nation Builders Kundasale Kandy. Fifty Five: students participated from 11 Sri Lankan schools
Comments of participants:
‘I understood everything about conflict, about management of conflict, positive peace, negative peace’ - D. Soniya,Tamil Central College, Nuwara Eliya
‘It was better to know about the international trade, UN and about the Security Council’ - Tharindu Doratiyawa, Maliyadewa College, Kurunegala
Conference 2. from 1 to 3 September 2006: at Kabul Lanka International Training Centre,Thulhiriya. Sixty students participated from 12 local schools participated.
Comments of participants
'Unexpectedly we were divided to different teams, when I consider the conference as a whole, it taught me how to work with different people, cope with diversity and how to resolve conflicts' – Thameena Zarani, Bishop’s College, Colombo
'I was searching for how to resolve conflicts without war. By attending the ‘conflict resolution’ workshop at the student conference it gave me a new solution for a world without conflicts' – Pasindu, Nalanda College, Colombo
Conference 3. from 1 to 4 December 2006: at Kabul Lanka International Training Centre,Thulhiriya. Fifty Five students participated from Sri Lankan Schools and 11 students from two UK schools
Comments of the participants
'I feel lucky that I got this once in a lifetime opportunity to come to Sri Lanka. Everything is so different here. The culture, food, climate, people and methods of study are so different. I learnt so much and made so many new friends. I cant wait to go back and tell of my experience!' - UK student participant
'The workshops and activities were a great way of learning and making new friends. I think its great to have competitions and games in the lessons as it makes each lesson memorable. Learning has never been this much fun' - Sri Lankan student participant
'I’m glad I was able to join the students for this conference. Even us teachers learnt so much. We were planning on organizing something similar for the Galle schools so that a larger number of students can participate. The students also enjoyed making friends with UK students' - Sri Lankan teacher
Benefit for the participants and their school
The participants become more conscious of the global issues. They would have a better ability to assist teachers and would rise with their own project ideas related to the curriculum while enhancing their team work, communication and leadership skills
Both the students and the teachers accompanying the students would establish contact with others from various parts of Sri Lanka which undoubtedly leads to the sharing of good practises amongst them.
It is the hope of the British Council, School Partnership team to develop a network of students who at district and national level will share their experiences, effective ways of organising projects and more importantly will work towards the future growth and sustainability of school partnerships. Hence the student conference is an ideal breeding ground for such students.
How to get involved
If you are a Sri Lankan school that has established a learning partnership with a secondary school in the UK and your students are directly involved with collaborative and curriculum based projects with the partner school then we could invite you for the next student conference.
Please contact the Head of Schools Project for more information.
The United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland)
Our privacy and copyright statements.
Our commitment to freedom of information. Double-click for pop-up dictionary.
Open the original version of this page.
Usablenet Assistive is a UsableNet product. Usablenet Assistive Main Page.