“My job is lecturing plus producing and directing educational audio and video programs and currently I work as a senior program producer cum project leader for producing educational TV, radio and audio programs. I have produced numerous formal and non-formal additional supplementary learning materials in audio and video for general education in Sri Lanka,” said Dr Chamila Nishanthi Edward, an alumna of Management and Science University (MSU) PhD in Management/Business under the Graduate School of Management (GSM).
Dr Chamila started her career as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka soon after finishing her post-graduation. In her working record, she has been promoted twice as a lecturer and senior lecturer and was awarded the BHU Gold Medal from Banaras Hindu University of India in the academic year 2000 – 2002 for securing the highest marks and standing first in the Master of Music Examinations.
She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Electronic Dissemination at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Sri Lanka.
The significance of Dr Chamila’s career is the roles and responsibilities she plays at the NIE. Her relentless self-determination in her career after working in the education field for about 15 years has brought her thus far. She is multitalented and brings so much to the table. With an interest in transpiring the existing education system In Sri Lanka, her doctoral research topic is Instructional Design and Music Education
She is interested to share her knowledge and is passionate to develop teaching and learning materials in tandem with 21st-century pedagogy. She said, at the same time, she seeks opportunities to reach the unreachable through innovative and alternative approaches.
When speaking of challenges, of course, Dr Chamila has her own way of facing and solving her problems. She said, “As a developing country, the general education system faces drawbacks like lack of technology integration in classrooms. Teachers and students are lacking the knowledge to handle technological devices basically web 2.0 tools. These are the challenges I face in my career where my efforts go vain when implementing new teaching and learning tools to the system.”
Raising the bar high, Dr Chamila goes on to pass her knowledge to many others. Her accolades and achievements have set many men and women to join this career and her pantheon. She has transformed the lives of many students too. Metaphorically, Dr Chamila is a candle, not minding enduring challenges in order to brighten the lives of many young minds who are the torchbearers of the future. She is a good role model and a trainer as she has trained teachers in her field to write for media. She has guided many teachers and students in completing research that is relevant to the field of education.
With many years of experience up her sleeve, Dr Chamila has a wealth of knowledge in the field of education. She began planning for this career for a long time and that could be seen reflected in the topic she chose for her postgraduate pursuit.
“The country-based research study I conducted was designed basically to experiment how effective blended learning strategy is in the teaching and learning process, especially to teach an abstract subject like music. Results were highly significant and proved that blended learning is the best fitting instructional design to teach music for students at a senior secondary level of education in Sri Lanka,” she said.
Dr Chamila chose MSU due to being offered to study on a scholarship. She said, “MSU is a globally recognized institution that is registered under the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka and MSU is one of the world’s top-ranked universities mainly focused to develop human capital around the globe. So, I’m immensely proud to be an MSUrian.”
Dr Chamila also shared her experience studying at MSU, which she considered to be a life-long memory etched in her heart.
“I was a full-time doctoral student who spent almost good three years at MSU’s campus in Malaysia. With research topics of My supervisors and all the lecturers were so helpful, friendly, always supportive and guided me well to finish my PhD on time. The facilities at the university such as the accommodation were highly impressive. I had opportunities to participate in seminars, workshops, poster presentations, cultural activities, and entertainment during my study period,” she said.
When asked to give the younger generation of MSUrians some tips, Dr Chamila said, “Success will always come hand in hand with hard work and creativity. If anyone is able to commit, become loyal and accountable to what they do they could surely become successful.”
Management and Science University (MSU) houses the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies, the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, the International Medical School, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Education and Social Sciences, the School of Hospitality and Creative Arts, the School of Graduate Studies, the Graduate School of Management, and the Centre for Fundamental Studies.
In all, as an applied, enterprise, holistic and international university, MSU offers foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate and flexible programs through an entry system that facilitates admission of students from all walks of life, where it aims to TRANSFORM LIVES and ENRICHING FUTURES.
For a full range and information on the postgraduate programmes at MSU, please contact 03-5521 6868 or email us at gsm@msu.edu.my. Additional information can also be obtained by visiting here: www.msu.edu.my.
