Exploring Soft Skills and Diversity in the Third Transnational Training Programme under the ENACT Project

The third international Training of Trainers (TOT) programme of the Capacity Building in Higher Education project, focused on "Enhancing Governance, Management, and Reforms in Sri Lankan Universities through Non-Academic Staff Training (ENACT)," was successfully concluded. The program took place from 13 – 17 November 2023 at the Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Portugal. The ENACT project has been funded with support from the European Commission and is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

All European University partners and Sri Lankan partners of this project participated in this training program, which was hosted by the University of Lisbo, Portugal. This included 30 members from Sri Lankan universities and 4 members from European universities.

The key topics during the sessions were training assessment tools, communication skills, diversity and inclusion, time management skills, leadership, and change management. The SLTC participants were Kosambika Devendra (Registrar), Hasitha Koralage (Librarian), Nuwan Sanjeewa (Premises Manager), Gihan Madushanka (Creative Manager), Ashan Suriya Bandara (Assistant Accountant), and were tasked with conducting training at their home university in the next few months.

The objective of the partnership program is to enhance knowledge and skills. The ENACT project focuses on non-academic staff members, aiming to develop their knowledge, skills, and expertise to support organizational performance and contribute to achieving the objectives of higher education. Simultaneously, it seeks to improve their job satisfaction, motivation, and career prospects.