Changes Needed for Higher Education in the Indo-Pacific

Greetings from Colombo, where I gave a plenary presentation for the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) National IT Conference (NITC 2018). I suggested Sri Lanka, Australia and other countries of the Indo-Pacific region could jointly educate their IT professionals to teach using mobile devices.

I suggested "Colombo Plan 2.0", which would see a genuine partnership between the countries. Computer professionals who teach at universities would be trained using mobile learning to apply mobile learning for their students. These professionals would be recognized as having specialist teasing skill within their discipline of computing. These, and other students, could learn in online groups with people from around the region.

Teaching students in multi-national online groups, I suggest, will also help where students later travel internationally to continue their studies.

China has a Belt and Road Education Plan as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (also known as the "Maritime Silk Road"). This is for Chinese universities and joint ventures with student exchanges, and joint programs. However, the emphasis is on face-to-face education. An m-learning initiative could complement, rather than necessarily competing with this.


ps: Next stop is Singapore, to talk on energy use and flexible classrooms at EduBuild Asia 2018.

Carey Furze at NITC 2018

Greetings from the fist day of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) National IT Conference (NITC 2018) in Colombo. Carey Furze founder of Bookform, is speaking on emotional intelligence.

NITC 2018 in Colombo: Day 1

Professor Michael Johnson
at NITC 2018

Greetings from the fist day of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) National IT Conference (NITC 2018) in Colombo. Last night it was announced that CSSL has become a provisional member of the Seoul Accord.  Professor Michael Johnson of the Australasian Computer Society explained the way the Accord provides mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the global IT industry.  On the second day of the conference I am speaking on how mobile devices, micro-credentials and blockchain could be used to make qualifications more flexible.

NITC 2018 Colombo Program

From 2 to 4 October I will be at the Computer Society of Sri Lanka's National IT Conference (NITC 2018). I am speaking  9 am 3 October on  "Computer Professionals Providing Mobile Learning for the Digital Economy".  Also on the program:

3rd October-Day 1 : Main Conference

8.30am- 9.00am	Registration
Common Session
	Session Chair: Mr. Niranjan De Silva
9.00am-9.40am	Mr.Damith Hettihewa
9.40am-10.20am	Mr.Sandalal Edirisinghe
10.20am-10.30am	Q&A
10.30am-11.00am	Morning Tea
	Session Chair: Mr. Chandana Weerasinghe
11.00am-11.25am	Prof. Michael Johnson
11.25am-11.50am	Mr.Channa De Silva-FinTech disruptions and the future of banking
11.50am-12.15pm	Prof.Gihan Dias
12.15pm-12.25pm	Q&A
12.25pm-1.40pm	Lunch
Parallel Sessions
	Social Implications of AI Session Chair: Mr Mahesh Perera (TBD)	ICT and Sustainability Session Chair: Prof KP Hewagamage	Paper Presentation Session
1.40pm-2.05pm	Dr.Moinul Zaber : Social Implications of AI Privacy, Data Protection and Automation	Mr.Charitha Ratwatte	Academic Paper Presentations
2.05pm-2.30pm	Mr.Jeremiah Palmerston-Next Generation Human Computer Interfaces: Constructing intelligent feedback loops	Dr Prasanna Lokuge
2.30pm-2.55pm	TBD	Dr.Pallab Saha-Realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals with Government Enterprise Architecture
2.55pm-3.05pm	Q&A	Q&A	Q&A
3.05pm- 3.20pm	Afternoon Tea
	Our digital lives Session Chair: Ms Nayeni Fernando	Security in the information society:vision and perspectives Session Chair: Mr Chrisantha Silva	Paper Presentation Session
3.20pm-3.45pm	Ms.Carey Furze	Prof. Boris Delibasic-Data Changes Everything	Academic Paper Presentations
3.45pm-4.10pm	Mr.Peeyush Arya-Future of work: Impact of Digitalization on our working lives	Prof. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera –
4.10pm-4.35pm	Mr.Oshada Senanayake	Mr.Harjith Prabhakaran
4.35pm-4.45pm	Q&A	Q&A	Q&A
4.45.pm- 5.00pm	Raffle Draw

3rd October – Day 1 : NITC Paper Presentation
1.30 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.	Registration
	Session Chair 1: Dr.Kosala Yapa Bandara
	#	TITLE	AUTHOR(S)
2.10 p.m. – 2.25 p.m.	2	DNS Cache Poisoning: A Review on Its Technique and Countermeasures	Isuru Madhawa Munasinghe Dissanayake
2.25 p.m. – 2.40 p.m.	3	USAGE OF RC4 CIPHER IN SSL CONFIGURATIONS IN WEB PORTALS OF SRI LANKAN BANKING/NON-BANKING FINANCIAL INSTITUTES AND AWARENESS LEVELS OF RELEVANT STAFF ABOUT IT	Tharindu Weerasinghe and Chamara Disanayake
2.40 p.m. – 2.55 p.m.	9	Artificial Neural Network Application in Classifying the Left Ventricular Function of the Human Heart Using Echocardiography	Thisumi Upendra, Chathura Ranaweera, Nipuna Samaradiwakara, Lakshman Jayaratne, Manjusri Wickramasinghe and Aruna Munasinghe
2.55 p.m. – 3.10 p.m.	34	Smartphone VPN App usage and User Awareness among Facebook Users	Asela Jayatilleke and Parakum Pathirana
3.10 p.m. – 3.25 p.m.	38	Redundant Node Management in Wireless Sensor Networks with Multiple Sensor Types	M.W.P Maduranga, H.M.N Dilum Bandara and Poompat Saengudomlert
3.25 p.m. – 3.40 p.m.	42	A Trust Evaluation Model for Online Social Networks	Hansi Mayadunna and Lakmal Rupasinghe
3.40 p.m. – 3.55 p.m.	4	Opticle Braille Recognition Software Prototype for Sinhala	Shanmuganathan Vasanthapriyan and Malith De Silva

3rd October – Day 1 : NITC Paper Presentation
1.30 p.m. – 2.00 p.m.	Registration
	Session Chair 1: Dr.Kosala Yapa Bandara
	#	TITLE	AUTHOR(S)
2.10 p.m. – 2.25 p.m.	2	DNS Cache Poisoning: A Review on Its Technique and Countermeasures	Isuru Madhawa Munasinghe Dissanayake
2.25 p.m. – 2.40 p.m.	3	USAGE OF RC4 CIPHER IN SSL CONFIGURATIONS IN WEB PORTALS OF SRI LANKAN BANKING/NON-BANKING FINANCIAL INSTITUTES AND AWARENESS LEVELS OF RELEVANT STAFF ABOUT IT	Tharindu Weerasinghe and Chamara Disanayake
2.40 p.m. – 2.55 p.m.	9	Artificial Neural Network Application in Classifying the Left Ventricular Function of the Human Heart Using Echocardiography	Thisumi Upendra, Chathura Ranaweera, Nipuna Samaradiwakara, Lakshman Jayaratne, Manjusri Wickramasinghe and Aruna Munasinghe
2.55 p.m. – 3.10 p.m.	34	Smartphone VPN App usage and User Awareness among Facebook Users	Asela Jayatilleke and Parakum Pathirana
3.10 p.m. – 3.25 p.m.	38	Redundant Node Management in Wireless Sensor Networks with Multiple Sensor Types	M.W.P Maduranga, H.M.N Dilum Bandara and Poompat Saengudomlert
3.25 p.m. – 3.40 p.m.	42	A Trust Evaluation Model for Online Social Networks	Hansi Mayadunna and Lakmal Rupasinghe
3.40 p.m. – 3.55 p.m.	4	Opticle Braille Recognition Software Prototype for Sinhala	Shanmuganathan Vasanthapriyan and Malith De Silva

4.00 p.m. – 4.15 p.m.	Evening Tea
	Session Chair 2: TBD
	#	TITLE	AUTHOR(S)
4.15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.	5	Knowledge Management in Agile Software Development- A Literature Review	Shanmuganathan Vasanthapriyan and Udeshika Indumini
4.30 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.	13	Business Process Optimization of Currency Management at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka	Chatura Gamage, Rusiru Boralugoda, Nandun Hewapathirana and Sachinda Karunarathna
4.45 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.	17	“Smart Assistant”: A Solution to Facilitate Disabled Vision Impaired Individual	G. D. Pavithra Sankalpani, W. P. Iresha D. Wijesinghe, K. D. Imodhya Jeewani, Raghavan Anooj, M.D.J.T. Hansika Mahaadikara and J. A. D. C. Anuradha Jayakody
5.00 p.m. – 5.15 p.m.	22	Donate.lk – Smart Donation Handling System	Pasan Lanerolle, Shalini Rathnayaka, Heshan Rupasinghe, Indika Madhushanka, Uthpala Samarakoon and Dharshana Kasthurirathne
5.15 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.	23	Lighthouse – Smart Virtual Learning Platform	Rajika Abeyrathne, Madushika Perera, Tharaka Hewavitharana, Isuru Sarathchandra and Malitha Wijesundara
5.30 p.m. – 5.45 p.m.	26	Information Technology Competency of Registered Nurse Undergraduates at the completion of IT Preparatory Course in BSc Nursing Degree at a selected private university in Sri Lanka.	Daminda Herath and Yasanthika Mathotaarachchi
5.45 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.	28	Preservation of Archeological Sites using 3D-Scanning Documentation Case Study: Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy	Ajantha Ratnayake, Max Rahrig and Rainer Drewello
6.00 p.m. – 6.15 p.m.	44	Reducing Emissions Through Digital Transformation	Zaneta Marcelline and Thushera Kawdawatta
6.15 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.	Certificate presentation for research article authors
	End of Session

04th October-Day 2 : Main Conference
8.30am- 9.00am	Registration
Common Session
	Session Chair: Mr. Yasas V Abeywickrama
9.00am-9.40am	Mr.Tom Worthington
9.40am-10.20am	Mr.Dulith Herath
10.20am-10.30am	Q&A
10.30am-11.00am	Morning Tea
	Session Chair:Mr. Luxaman Perera
11.00am-11.25am	Dr.Malitha Wijesundara
11.25am-11.50am	Mr.Saman Perera
11.50am-12.15pm	TBD
12.15pm- 12.25pm	Q&A
12.25pm-1.40pm	Lunch
Parallel Sessions
	This changed everything Session Chair: Prof. Sirimali Fernando	Privacy, data protection, and automation Session Chair: Mr Kanishka Sugathadasa	Paper Presantation Session
1.40pm-2.05pm	Mr. Dinuka Perera-JustPay. The exact topic and more details shall be sent to you in due course	Dr. Prathiba Mahanamahewa	Academic Paper Presentations
2.05pm-2.30pm	Mr. Manju Gunawardena	Mr.Wasantha Perera
2.30pm-2.55pm	Mr.Rajiva Witharana	Mr. Craig Horne-Best Practices of Resilient Organisations: Boardroom Changes for Information Security
2.55pm-3.05pm	Q&A	Q&A	Q&A
3.05pm- 3.20pm	Afternoon Tea
	ICT and an inclusive society Session Chair: Prof. Ajith De Alwis	CxO Forum Session Chair: Mr Conrad Dias	Paper Presantation Session
3.20pm-3.45pm	TBD	Mr.Bradley Emerson	Academic Paper Presentations
3.45pm-4.10pm	Mr.Nalaka Gunawardena	Mr.Thilak Piyadigama
4.10pm-4.35pm	Mr.Eranda Ginige	Mr.Sanjeeva Alwis
4.35pm-4.45pm	Q&A	Q&A	Q&A
4.45pm- 5.00pm	Raffle Draw

4th October – Day 2 : NITC Paper Presentation
1.30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.	Registration
	Session Chair 1: Dr.Kosala Yapa Bandara
	#	TITLE	AUTHOR(S)
1:55 p.m. – 2.10 p.m.	47	Determine the Most Appropriate Public Transportation Modes to Travel at the Given Time by Considering the Time Schedules and Live Traffic	Anosh Aponso and Anjalie Gamage
2.10 p.m. – 2.25 p.m.	50	Smart Driving Assistance System to Elevate the Driving Experience in Sri Lanka	Aaquiff Rauf, Munsif Musthafa, Saranki Magenthirarajah, Kiruthiga Balendran, Nuwan Kodagoda and Disni Sriyaratna
2.25 p.m. – 2.40 p.m.	51	Transforming Sri Lankan Education with  Interactive Multimedia Technology:  The Journey to E-Lankapura	Kaushalya Yatigammana and Namali Suraweera
2.40 p.m. – 2.55 p.m.	21	The Influence of Community Interactions on User Affinity in Social Networks: A Facebook Case Study	Malith Senaweera, Ruwanmalee Dissanayake, Nuwini Chamindi, Chamath Keppitiyagama, Kasun Gunawardana, Manjusri Wickramasinghe, Primal Wijesekera, Sameera Horawalavithana, Anupa Shyamlal and Charith Elvitigala
2.55 p.m. – 3.10 p.m.	11	Self Speech Evaluation with Speech Recognition and Gesture Analysis	Shangavi Subendrarajah, Jeyamaalmarukan Selventhiran, Jathevan Anandarajan and Umatharsini Murugesu
2.55 p.m. – 3.10 p.m.	20	MODELING PRE-AUCTION SAMPLE SELECTION THROUGH A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH FOR SRI LANKA TEA BOARD	Hiran Wijesinghe and Sameera Viswakula
3.15 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.	27	Point In Polygon Determination Algorithm for 2-D Vector Graphics Applications	Damith Kularathne and Lakshman Jayarathne
3.40 p.m. – 3.55 p.m.	29	Context Aware Stop-words for Sinhala Text Classification	Sachini Gunasekara and Prasanna Haddela

4.00 p.m. – 4.15 p.m.	Evening Tea
	Session Chair 2: TBD
	#	TITLE	AUTHOR(S)
4.15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.	31	A Reinforcement Learning Approach To Enhance The Trust Level of MANETs	Gihani Jinarajadasa, Lakmal Rupasinghe and Iain Murray
4.30 p.m. – 4.45 p.m.	33	Effective Right-Turn Bay of Signalized Intersections for Congested Hours	Yashodha Seneviratne and Anusha Jayasiri
4.45 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.	36	Order Book and Kelly Criterion based Decision Support Model for Traders	Piyumi Radeeshani, Mindika Premachandra, K.D Sandaruwan and C.I Keppitiyagama
5.00 p.m. – 5.15 p.m.	37	Si-Ta: Machine Translation of Sinhala and Tamil Official Documents	Surangika Ranathunga, Fathima Farhath, Uthayasanker Thayasivam, Sanath Jayasena and Gihan Dias
5.15 p.m. – 5.30 p.m.	39	Development of a Human Emotion Recognition Robot Eye for Service Robots by Using Haar Cascade Classifier	Bgd Achintha Madhusanka and E. J. G. S. Appuhamy
5.30 p.m. – 5.45 p.m.	40	Face and Upper-Body Emotion Recognition using Service Robot’s Eyes in a Domestic Environment	B.G.D. Achintha Madhusanka and T.M.W. Vithanawasam
5.45 p.m. – 6.00 pm.	41	Implicit Intention and Activity Recognition of a Human Using Neural Networks for a Service Robot Eye	B.G.D. Achintha Madhusanka and M.W.C.N. Moladande
6.00 p.m. – 6.15 p.m.	45	Sinhala Language Decoder	Anjana Junius Vidanaralage and Samantha Thelijjagoda
6.15 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.	Certificate presentation for research article authors
	End of Session

Computer Professionals Providing Mobile Learning for the Digital Economy

The theme of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka  National IT Conference (NITC 2018),  2 to 4 October, is "IT Changes Everything". Australian speakers include Craig Horne the Vice President of the Australian Computer Society, Michael Johnson the ACS Director of Professional Standards, entrepreneur Carey Furze and myself.

My topic is "Computer Professionals Providing Mobile Learning for the Digital Economy". I suggest that teaching is an under-recognized skill for computing academics, they can be trained using mobile learning, and use it for teaching. There is a short promotional video and here are some notes:

Computer Professionals Providing Mobile Learning for the Digital Economy

by Tom Worthington

for NITC 2018, October, Colombo

IT Professionals Change Everything

IT developments depend on trained computer professionals to make them happen.

 Example: Async-Sync Learning System being built at ANU.

Drive the Digital Economy Through Education

Education is an under-recognized specialist area for  computer professionals.

Example: Free open online ICT Sustainability Course, delivered via the open source Moodle Learning Management System, by ACS, ANU, and Athabasca University for the last ten years.

Changes Needed in Education

1. Qualify computer professionals as education specialists at higher education institutions.
2. Accelerate their training, using mobile learning.
3. Have these professionals design and deliver mobile learning.
4. Teach these techniques to educators in other disciplines and other education systems.

Key Metrics

What proportion of your computer educators are dual qualified in computing and education?

What proportion of your computer education courses are offered on-line via mobile devices?

Register Now

NITC 2018, Colombo
2 to 4 October 2018
http://www.nitc.lk/2018/

Conferences, in Sri Lanka, Malaysia or Singapore September/October?

I am scheduled to speak at the National IT Conference in Sri Lanka (NITC 2018), 2 to 4 October 2018, organized by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL). Are there any other computer, education or environmental events I could attend in in Sri Lanka, or in the week before, or after on the way through Malaysia or Singapore?

On a previous visit to Colombo I talked about "Mobiles and e-learning for PandemicFlu Response" to members of the Sahana Software Foundation, at Virtusa's Colombo Office. In 2015 I stopped off for the Second International Conference on Open and Flexible Education (ICOFE 2015) in Hong Kong on my way to the 10th International Conference on Computer Science & Education (ICCSE 2015) in Cambridge.