Deakin Week in Colombo sees sports development expert in Sri Lanka

Thursday, 17 July 2014 01:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dr. Adam Karg, lecturer in the sport management program at Deakin University, last week visited Colombo as part of Deakin Week – a range of activities aligned with the university. Hosted at the Cinnamon Grand, the high point of his visit was an industry workshop for sport managers, sports administrators, members of various sports federations and associations, and Government officials working in the sport sector.

The workshop comprised of sessions spanning organisation, management, marketing and the role of the education within the sports industry was attended by over 40 participants and was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) in Sri Lanka. It was designed to involve participants and integrate leading Australian and global cases, sharing and reflecting on approaches to develop and support system at professional and grass roots sport levels. In addition to the workshop, Dr. Karg had a very productive meeting with Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Ministry of Sports Secretary Anura Jayawickrama, Department of Sports Development Director General Ranjani Jayakody, Institute of Sports Medicine Director General Dr. Upali Banagala, National Sports Science Director Shantha Weerasinghe, Department of Sports Development Asst. Director R.B. Wickramasinghe, Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union General Secretary Akhry Ameer, Coordinating Secretary to Minister of Sports Air Vice Marshal (Rtd) Elmo Perera and officials the Ministry of Sports. Deakin University International Manager Carl Jones and Australian Trade Commission Business Development Manager David Samuel were also present. The meeting canvassed possibilities of short term intensively taught programs in sport management, development and exercise science both in Sri Lanka and in Melbourne, Australia. Deakin University is globally ranked as the number three postgraduate teaching institution in the Sports Management field behind the European-based FIFA Master Program and Ohio State University in the United States. As the leading program in the Asia-Pacific region, Deakin University is looking carefully at professional development programs and pathway options for sport managers in Sri Lanka.