Janaka Ruwanpura reappointed vice-provost (international)

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura has been reappointed vice-provost (international), through to June 30, 2023.

Earlier this year, Dr. Ruwanpura indicated his willingness for reappointment. An Advisory Review Committee was established and the committee recommended renewal. The advisory review committee invited and reviewed commentary from those within University of Calgary and from the external community. They also reviewed a submission from Dr. Ruwanpura highlighting major accomplishments attained in his first term to date as vice-provost and a proposed vision for a second term. Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide input. The committee also interviewed Dr. Ruwanpura. Following the process, the committee recommended renewal, and President Elizabeth Cannon was pleased to accept the recommendation.

During his time as vice-provost, Dr. Ruwanpura has led and managed the implementation of the university’s International Strategy and advanced UCalgary’s efforts in international academic programming, research, staff and student mobility, partnerships, service, and development. As a result of the efforts to ensure that internationalization is an institutional priority, a number of faculties have developed or are now developing specific international strategies.

Under his leadership, the university launched the Global Research Initiatives and sites in China and Mexico with more than $57 million in external funding, secured funding for international development grants, delivered international development projects, created collaborative degree models and training programs and increased funding commitments to enhance international learning experiences for students, faculty and staff. Additionally, the University of Calgary was the recipient of the 2017 Institutional Award for Global Learning, Research and Engagement. The award, presented by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), recognizes institutions at the leading edge of inclusive and comprehensive efforts to internationalize their campuses. The University of Calgary is the first Canadian institution to be recognized by APLU for one of their institutional awards. University of Calgary also received the Board of Directors’ Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from the Canadian Bureau for International Education and the bronze award for Excellence in Education from the Canada China Business Council in 2016.

The University of Calgary is being recognized as a global intellectual hub thanks in part to Dr. Ruwanpura’s leadership, and internationalization efforts across the campus.

Dr. Ruwanpura, a professional engineer and a professional quantity surveyor, holds a BSc (honours) from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka, MSc from Arizona State University, and a PhD from the University of Alberta. He has extensive peer-reviewed publications and scholarly presentations to his credit. Before joining the International team, he was a full professor and Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Project Management Systems (2007-13) in the Schulich School of Engineering. He is the founding director of the Centre for Project Management Excellence at the University of Calgary and has been the director of project management since 2005.

I would like to thank all members of the Advisory Decanal Review Committee for their time and commitment to this important process.  Committee members include: Bill Ghali (vice-president research designate), Kent Donlevy (TUCFA representative), Kevin McQuillan (provost team representative), Lesley Rigg (decanal representative), Andrea Morrow (MaPS representative), Erik Henningsmoen (AUPE representative), Hilary Jahelka (SU representative), Brit Paris (GSA representative), Colleen Kawalilak and Jennifer Hatfield (GFC representatives).

Please join me in congratulating Janaka Ruwanpura on his reappointment. 

Dru Marshall
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)