Visit of Professor Phani Tej Adidam (US Fulbright Specialist)

Visit of Professor Phani Tej Adidam (US Fulbright Specialist)
Faculty of Commerce and Management, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
07th January to 15th January, 2025

The Faculty of Commerce and Management at Eastern University, Sri Lanka, had the distinct honor of hosting Professor Phani Tej Adidam, US Fulbright Specialist and esteemed academic from the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA. His visit aimed to enhance curriculum and faculty development under the Fulbright Specialist Program. The week-long engagement encompassed a series of strategic meetings, interactive sessions, curriculum reviews, and faculty development initiatives that aligned with the core objectives of academic advancement and international collaboration.

All scheduled programs were successfully completed as planned. The visit greatly contributed to shaping a progressive academic framework within the faculty and fostered valuable insights for both staff and students.

 

Summary of Activities

Day 1 – 07 January 2025 (Tuesday)

As part of the visit by Professor Phani Tej Adidam, several key introductory sessions were successfully conducted on the first day. These included:

• An introductory meeting with the Dean, during which Professor Adidam was briefed on the structure and functions of the university and the Faculty of Commerce and Management.
• A meeting with Department Heads to finalize the agenda and align the planned activities with faculty objectives.
• An introductory session with FCM staff, where Professor Adidam provided an overview of the Fulbright Specialist Program, highlighting its significance and opportunities.
• A focused discussion with the Commerce Department staff on innovative strategies to enhance student enrolment in the Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Enterprise Development program.

 

Day 2 – 08 January 2025 (Wednesday)

On the second day of Professor Phani Tej Adidam’s visit, the following key academic development sessions were successfully conducted:

• A comprehensive curriculum review workshop with the FCM staff, focusing on the enhancement of all undergraduate degree programs. This included detailed discussions on revising the Bachelor of Commerce programs (Enterprise Development, Accounting & Finance, Business Economics, Marketing Management) and the Bachelor of Business Administration programs (General and Human Resource Management) to align with current global business trends.
• An afternoon session dedicated to innovative teaching methodologies, where strategies to enhance student engagement and optimize the overall learning experience were explored and discussed.

 

Day 3 – 09 January 2025 (Thursday)

On the third day of the visit, Professor Phani Tej Adidam led two impactful sessions aimed at advancing faculty capabilities:

• A faculty development session focused on building capacity in key areas such as accreditation readiness, enhancing teaching effectiveness, and improving curriculum development and research productivity.
• A research engagement session that provided valuable guidance on identifying suitable research topics, preparing manuscripts for publication in indexed journals, and fostering a culture of academic inquiry and scholarly collaboration within the faculty.

 

Day 4 – 10 January 2025 (Friday)

On the fourth day of the visit, Professor Phani Tej Adidam actively engaged with students and delivered insightful academic content:

• An interactive session with students was conducted to promote the Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Enterprise Development program. Through workshops and awareness initiatives, students were introduced to the program's unique opportunities, with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Guest lectures were delivered on Entrepreneurship and Latest Trends in Marketing, offering students valuable insights into current industry practices and inspiring them to think critically and creatively about their academic and career paths.

 

Day 5 – 11 January 2025 (Saturday)

On the fifth day of the visit, Workshop on Curriculum Enhancement Activities was held at Techno Park, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, where Professor Phani Tej Adidam collaborated with faculty members to:

• Evaluate existing curriculum structures across various programs and identify key areas for improvement.
• Propose updates to align academic content with contemporary business needs, ensuring greater relevance and employability for graduates.
• Emphasize the incorporation of practical learning methods, including case studies, simulations, and industry collaborations, to enrich the teaching and learning experience.

 

Day 6 – 12 January 2025 (Sunday)

On the sixth day of the visit, a Research Promotion Day was held at Techno Park, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, where Professor Phani Tej Adidam led a highly productive session with faculty members. The session focused on:

• Assisting in the identification of relevant research topics aligned with faculty expertise and current business trends.
• Providing guidance on selecting appropriate research methodologies and preparing manuscripts for publication in indexed journals.
• Encouraging internal and external research collaborations to strengthen scholarly output and foster a vibrant research culture within the faculty.

Day 7 & Day 8 – 13 & 14 January 2025 (Monday & Tuesday)

• Preparation and documentation by Professor Adidam based on the week’s interactions, findings, and feedback

 

Day 9 – 15 January 2025 (Wednesday)

On the concluding day of the visit, a final meeting was held with the faculty, during which Professor Phani Tej Adidam:

• Reviewed the outcomes of all sessions conducted throughout the visit.
• Finalized the revised curriculum materials and strategic approaches to effectively achieve the key objectives discussed, including curriculum development, faculty enhancement, research promotion, and student engagement.
• Following the meeting, Professor Adidam participated in the Senate Meeting of Eastern University, Sri Lanka, where he shared his insights and contributed to the academic discourse at the institutional level.