BCIS - pioneer teacher of International Relations

Correspondent

T he Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) is a leading educational institution in Sri Lanka teaching International Relations and languages to students representing diverse and important professions in the country. It was the first institute in Sri Lanka to initiate the teaching of International Relations as a study programme in 1975 and can pride itself for having former students who occupy well-regarded careers in the country.

Having evaluated the changing needs of students and professionals, the BCIS has expanded its services to offer learning opportunities with highly developed facilities and technology. The BCIS is the academic wing of the S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation, which has steadfastly supported various activities and initiatives spearheaded by it. The BCIS has always striven, with the assistance of the BNMF, and guided by Members of the Board of Studies comprising eminent Sri Lankans, to offer study programmes that adhere to excellence and constant improvement, thereby ensuring appropriateness and effectiveness.

Teamwork and cooperation

The activities of the BCIS are administered in an atmosphere of teamwork and cooperation between its various divisions, which include the International Relations Division, the Language and Cultural Studies Division, the Research Coordinating Division and the Regional Affairs Programme, skillfully supported by the IT and Public Relations Division.

The Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS)

The BCIS has built a significant reputation for its postgraduate, diploma and certificate courses in International Relations. The study programmes in International Relations embrace a range of globally crucial themes and incorporates changes through a constant process of evaluation. It has over the years made value additions to its courses by inviting local and foreign resource persons to speak on specific areas of interest pertaining to International Relations. In addition, former ambassadors of Sri Lanka and serving foreign ambassadors in Sri Lanka are invited as guest lecturers to the BCIS.

Foreign languages

The BCIS is also actively involved in teaching local and foreign languages through its Language and Cultural Studies Division. Constantly striving for improvement, the BCIS has been following internationally approved methods of language teaching and has successfully incorporated the cultural aspects of different speech communities into its language syllabi.

Over ten languages including Sinhala, Tamil and English and other foreign languages such as Chinese, German, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish, etc are being taught at the BCIS. In addition, a special Sinhala language course for foreigners' tailor-made to provide competency in the Sinhala language to non-native speakers is also available. The study courses at the BCIS have and are being taught by a group of instructors with years of experience and expertise and considered the best in their area of work. They have served in prominent positions in universities, the state and private sectors in the country and bring with them unsurpassed knowledge into the programme.

The Research Coordinating Division continues to provide specialist guidance to students submitting dissertations and research papers in international relations by assigning the best teachers and supervisors. In addition, the Research Coordinating Division organizes periodic workshops to help students from all academic backgrounds and institutions the opportunity to learn and be acquainted with progressive research techniques, which have become a much sought after programme.

Digital libraries

The Regional Affairs Programme actively engages with prominent Indian think tanks such as the Observer Research Foundation, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and many others to promote dialogue, research and other mutually beneficial activities that would assist BCIS students in their line of work.

The BCIS has well equipped reference, lending and digital libraries that contain rare collection of foreign and local books previously owned by eminent Sri Lankans such as Lalith Athulathmudali and H. L. de Silva.

Thus the BCIS has successfully produced students well-educated in international relations and languages, who have gone onto occupy eminent positions in government, the armed forces, the Foreign Service, and the private sector. As a leading and one of the oldest institutes, the BCIS embraces a far-reaching vision to develop as an education academy; it envisages bringing together the support and even the expertise of its past students to add value to its existing services so as to impart new knowledge and opportunities whereever possible.