In our very first installment of the BALPP Eminence Lecture and Discussion Series, Dr Irvin Studin led an engaging and interactive discussion with BALPP students and academics, delving into pressing issues in education and public policy in Sri Lanka and globally. The conversation also focused on the profound impact of Covid-19 on education systems worldwide. Joining Dr. Studin were esteemed panelists Dr. Tara de Mel, Prof. Arjuna Parakrama, and Prof. Maneesha Pasqual, whose insights and expertise enriched the discussion, providing valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in these critical areas.

Dr. Studin was a professor and program director at the School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto from 2009 until 2014, Dr. Irvin Studin was a visiting professor at leading schools of public policy in North America, Europe and Asia. He was a member of the small team that wrote Canada’s first-ever National Security Policy in 2004. He is the founder, editor-in-chief, and publisher of Global Brief magazine, and president of The Institute for 21st Century Questions, a leading Canadian think tank. He is also the chair of the Worldwide Commission to Educate All Kids (Post-Pandemic), an international initiative to address the catastrophe of hundreds of millions of children ousted from all forms of schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.