International education systems · Bhutan · 2009–2012

Building eLearning capacity at the Royal University of Bhutan

A two-stage partnership that moved beyond installing software: UCSC and Theekshana first helped establish the University’s Virtual Learning Environment, then returned to strengthen the instructional-design capability required to produce effective and sustainable online learning.

2009

Establishing the Virtual Learning Environment

The first phase introduced a Moodle-based Learning Management System at the Royal University of Bhutan. The objective was to create a university-level Virtual Learning Environment through which lecturers and students could manage course material, communication and learning activities online.

The project transferred practical experience developed within the University of Colombo School of Computing and Theekshana into another South Asian higher-education system. It required more than server installation: the platform had to be organised so that university staff could operate it as an institutional service.

2012

From platform deployment to instructional design

The second phase addressed the human and academic dimension. Under a World Bank-funded project, UCSC and Theekshana conducted instructional-design training for Royal University staff.

The training helped participants move from simply placing documents online to planning learning objectives, structuring course content, designing activities and assessments, and using the LMS as an educational environment rather than a file repository.

Harsha’s contribution

Connecting technology, institutional workflow and teaching practice

As the operational and technical leader of Theekshana and Head of the UCSC Software Development Unit, Harsha’s work connected platform implementation with the institutional arrangements needed to sustain eLearning. The Bhutan project drew upon his wider experience in learning-management systems, workflow systems, localisation, training and international education projects.

His contribution was grounded in a systems view of education: reliable infrastructure, usable software, trained administrators, capable academic staff and well-designed learning material had to work together. This same approach linked the Bhutan engagement with the later Telecentre.org Academy work and other education systems implemented through UCSC and Theekshana.

Project significance

Why the Bhutan engagement matters

Regional knowledge transfer

Sri Lankan university expertise was adapted to the needs of Bhutan’s national university system.

Sustainable capacity

The follow-up instructional-design programme strengthened staff capability instead of leaving the University dependent only on an installed platform.

Education as a complete system

The project joined technology, course design, staff development and institutional ownership into one continuing programme.

Documented project record

Institution: Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) · Delivery: University of Colombo School of Computing and Theekshana · Recorded phases: Introduction of LMS/VLE, 2009; Instructional Design Training, 2012 · Funding recorded for the projects: World Bank.

Theekshana project portfolio →   2012 instructional-design record →