International Forum for Teachers (IFT) 2019 at BMICH

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 20-21 September.  

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 past IFT conventions, 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 competencies 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?

Speakers at IFT 2019 

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

International teacher trainer, education consultant and coach David Kaye  

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

University of Nottingham Malaysia School of Education Assistant Professor and Master of Education Program Coordinator Dr. Alberto Luis August 

Music director, composer and performer Rukshan Perera

Panellists at IFT 2019 

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

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

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

Kapruka.com founder and Chairman, Grasshoppers co-founder and Eisenhower Fellow Dulith Herath

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Ganakumaran Subramaniam - Head of the School of Education, the University of Nottingham Malaysia Further details can be obtained by calling Rushika, Imeshi or Thilina on 0772256356, 0777060157, 0112695103 and 0112695107 or by writing to [email protected]