Celebrating Young Leaders: Certificate Awarding Ceremony for a Course on Human-Centered Design with Young PeopleCelebrating Young Leaders: Certificate Awarding Ceremony for a Course on Human-Centered Design with Young PeopleCelebrating Young Leaders: Certificate Awarding Ceremony for a Course on Human-Centered Design with Young People

A certificate awarding ceremony recognizing 12 student leaders who successfully completed the Human-Centered Design with Young People course offered by the Open University of Sri Lanka was held on 23rd September 2026 at 10.00 a.m. at the Faculty Board Room of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The course was offered to a selected group of student leaders of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, providing them with knowledge and practical skills related to human-centered design and working effectively with young people.
The ceremony brought together the 12 young student leaders who successfully completed the course, the current presidents and secretaries of university societies headed by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Senior Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda, together with Professor Shantha Gamalath. Dr.Shantha Abeysinghe and the lecturers from the Open University of Sri Lanka who conducted the course were also present at the ceremony.
The event commenced with words of inspiration shared by Senior Prof. Shirantha Heenkenda, Prof. Shantha Gamalath, and Dr. Shantha Abeysinghe, followed by the highlight of the occasion; the presentation of certificates to the 12 student leaders in recognition of their successful completion of the course. The presentation marked the completion of a learning experience that provided practical insights into working with young people and understanding different perspectives in leadership.

A feedback session was then held with the 12 student leaders, allowing them to share their experiences and reflect on the impact of the program on their personal and professional development. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with several students explaining how the skills and knowledge gained through the course had helped them in their current internships and contributed to their development as confident leaders and effective team members.
The final part of the gathering provided an opportunity for interaction between the student leaders who had completed the course and other university society leaders, backed up by a brief presentation by the Open University introducing the programme. The exchange of experiences and ideas created a meaningful connection while encouraging other young leaders to explore opportunities for their own personal and leadership development.
The occasion concluded on a positive note, acknowledging the achievements of the 12 student leaders and recognizing the value of creating opportunities for young people to learn, lead, exchange experiences, and develop practical skills for their future academic and professional journeys.