Nissanka Bandara Arampath & Saman Palitha Rajapaksha Vithanage from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, came to Grenoble INP institute of engineering Univ. Grenoble Alpes from December, 2016 to February 2017. Their visit was part of
AREAS (Academic Relations between Europe and ASia), an European project.
"Recently, the government of Sri Lanka has selected our University as one of the Universities to be upgraded to a world class University. In this line, we have initiated partnerships with many foreign universities and making necessary arrangements to open our University to foreign students in addition to enhancing teaching, research and education. In this connection, the University of Peradeniya is going to establish the office of the international relation to develop its international research and deal with international students.
Our main objectives were: to enhance students mobility to Sri Lanka, to develop teachers/researchers and administrators mobility, to improve international relations with foreign universities, to provide better services to the international students.
Though we are the Senior administrative officers at the University of Peradeniya, this opportunity has been the first experience for us with a foreign University. Such opportunity has gained the maximum benefit for us and the University of Peradeniya too.
During the mobility period of three months, we have obtained the vital knowledge and familiarize with how to run an international office under the supervision of the officers of the international relation at the Grenoble INP and its six schools as well as the international relation activities of the University of Grenoble Alps.
This programme helped us immensely to contribute to transform our University into an international University. There are several areas in which we have gained experience in the administrative related field of relations international: the specialized fields such as Organization Structures, International partnerships, agreements and exchange programme of the international students, selection procedures of the international students, the issuing the invitation Letters, Student Orientation Programmes, Student Evaluation systems and internship programmes, insurance scheme, Healthcare facilities, counselling and accommodation proceedings, the Course Disciplines for Masters and PhDs and double degree programmes, Alumina and Job centre, employment opportunities, Seminars and workshops for international students, Graduation Ceremony.
Furthermore, through this opportunity we have earned knowledge about mobilities (incoming and outgoing), grants and scholarships handling, recruitment and selection as well as work related to international students which benefited us to fulfill our desire of establishing an international relation office under the scheduled action plan with the developing strategies with corporate governance of the University of Peradeniya.
Moreover, we have gathered the knowledge of administration and financial works related to the international relations of Grenoble INP and learned about the functions of its different schools and sections of the Grenoble INP. This could helpe us to provide the support for the University's internationalization. Accordingly, a developing strategic alliances and managing institutional partnerships and collaborations of the Grenoble INP was an important factor."
Nissanka Bandara Arampath & Saman Palitha Rajapaksha Vithanage from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. AREAS+ Administrative Staff mobility 
Read the whole article here
