JICA PRECIDA – UOJ has organized a workshop for the academic and non-academic staff of the Faculty of Agriculture on 07th of December 2023, at the Research and Training Building of the Faculty of Agriculture in Ariviyal Nagar, Kilinochchi. The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the Faculty of Agriculture acted as the counterpart in planning and organizing this training program.
The project is planning to conduct a series of equipment trainings. This is the first workshop of the series, and the main objectives of the training were as follows.
- Maintain laboratory equipment effectively to achieve Education and Research goals set by the faculty.
- Be familiarized with the common apparatus and equipment.
- Identify the proper handling and the use of the apparatus and equipment.
This training was conducted by the resource persons from Avon Pharmo Chem (Pvt) Ltd, namely, Mr. Lakshika Jayasinghe, Mr. Chathuranga Heshan, Mr. Lahiru Lakshan, Mr. Amal Buddika and Mr. Jeyavithuyan.
To achieve the objectives, this one-day workshop was aimed at 1) enhancing the knowledge on proper handling of four equipment namely, microscope, micropipette, water bath and water distiller; 2) improving the longevity and eliminates the need for untimely replacement and 3) keeping equipment in good condition to achieve the highest quality results.
Resource persons delivered explanations and discussions about the principles, handling methods, cleaning, and maintenance procedures of the above equipment. Altogether 42 participants participated in the workshop. Participants were divided into 3 groups, and the first group, consisting of non-academic staff, had sessions conducted in English and Mr. Jeyavithuyan translated the content to Tamil for this group.
The workshop provided not only valuable insights into effective equipment management but also encouraged practical applications of the knowledge acquired. Interactive activities and demonstrations were incorporated, enhancing the engagement of participants, and understanding. In conclusion, the event was a success, fostering a collaborative learning environment and equipping the participants with essential skills for maintaining and utilizing laboratory equipment effectively. Prof. S. Vasantharuba, Dean/ Faculty of Agriculture and Dr. R. Eeswaran, Coordinator/ IQAC have initiated this workshop series following the university’s strategic plan on capacity enhancement of the staff to promote and sustain quality of teaching and learning with strong support from JICA’s PRECIDA – UOJ. The project is planning to conduct the next session of training at the beginning of 2024.
