CAPAGE

A European initiative for capacity building to promote academic and professional excellence in health care to meet the challenges of aging in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (SL) faces the unique challenge of being one of the fastest aging countries in South Asia due to an unprecedented economic crisis leading to a soaring poverty level. The prevalence of age-related non-communicable diseases and disabilities is rapidly increasing, posing a challenge to the healthcare system and escalating the healthcare burden of the country. This expanding number of age-related health disorders requires a qualified health care (HC) workforce. To meet this demand a consortium of 4 EU and 6 SL Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were brought together by the joint intent to develop sustainable innovation capacity for modernizing higher and professional HC education in Healthy Aging and Geriatrics (HA&G) in SL.

Under this programme, continuous professional development courses and undergraduate courses will be developed adhering to the standards and protocol of the University Grant Commission and Ministry of Higher education, SL.  Six conventional universities in Sri Lanka, including University of Ruhuna, University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya, Eastern University Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, and University of Jaffna, are jointly participating in the project as beneficiaries, representing the multinational ethnicities of the country. The main goal of the project is to enhance professional competencies of HC providers working with the elderly through a coordinated interdisciplinary approach, in line with EU standards, national health priorities and in collaboration with academics, HC professionals, students, clients, researchers and (non) governmental organizations.

 

  1. Inauguration of the CAPAGE project was conducted on 19th February 2023, at the Oak-ray hotel Peradeniya with participation of the international and local universities. Representing the beneficiary universities, Vice chancellors, Deans and Heads of the Departments were attended the event.
  2. The kick-off meetings of the CAPAGE project were conducted from 19th to 23rd February 2023 at the Oak-ray Hotel, Peradeniya. The University of Peradeniya hosted the workshops. FH Joanneum Gesellschaft MBH (FH JOANNEUM), Austria, participated as coordinating university. Team members from the local universities; University of Ruhuna, University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya, Eastern University Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, and University of Jaffna participated in the workshops. Additionally, international partners Provincia Portuguesa Franciscanas Missionarias Nossa Senhora (ESSSM), Portugal, Jyvaskylan Ammattikorkeakoulu OY (JAMK), Finland, and Universidade Da Coruna (UDC), Spain, joined the workshops both in person and virtually.