An innovative approach to addressing a shortage of specialist teaching staff in Sri Lanka

The University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka has found an innovative solution to a common problem in higher education: how to deliver comprehensive curriculum content when specialist teaching staff are in short supply. By integrating Physiopedia Plus (Plus) courses directly into their occupational therapy programme they’re giving students access to world-class resources whilst addressing critical gaps in their curriculum.

There are common challenges faced by teaching staff in universites across the world, one of which is how to deliver comprehensive curriculum content when you may not have access to all the specialist teaching staff you’d like to deliver it. Mr Pradeep Chandana Gunarathne knows this challenge well – as the only full-time occupational therapy lecturer at Kelaniya’s Faculty of Medicine in Sri Lanka he’s responsible for delivering content across multiple specialist areas, including the university’s occupational therapy programme now in its fourth year. During a mandatory curriculum revision, the occupational therapy students themselves highlighted that they needed more exposure to fundamental components like anatomy, biomechanics and advanced clinical skills; but these were areas where the limited teaching resources were being stretched.

Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis made the obvious solution of hiring additional faculty financially impossible. However, thanks to Mr Gunarathne’s open and collaborative approach to solving the problem, a solution was found through discussions with a Sri Lankan friend working in Qatar. They surmised that additional teaching staff was not the only way to support the students learning and came up with a plan to integrate online learning through Plus into their curriculum to fill the gaps they had been struggling to provide for. Thanks to the generosity of Mr Gunarathne’s friend – who offered to sponsor the department by providing subscription to Plus resources – all 88 students were given access to the high-quality, evidence-based online learning resources on Plus to supplement the existing curriculum.

But it didn’t stop there – the academic team at Kelaniya didn’t just hand out login details and hope for the best. They created a proper structure around Plus access, booking computer labs three mornings a week so that students had dedicated time and space for their online learning. They also made full use of Plus’s assignment features – assigning relevant courses to students in different year groups or with specific learning needs. It’s a balanced approach that gives students clear direction whilst allowing them to explore areas of particular interest.

“We assign courses to them, and they also have the option to complete any others they are interested in. Getting started was so easy, a few quick emails and we were all set up. We emailed and then we got the registration. I got the editable excel sheet to update our users”

The response has been fantastic. Students have thrown themselves into the anatomy programme especially, with most completing the full 30-hour curriculum. They’re clearly proud of their achievements too, as many are sharing their Plus certificates on LinkedIn. The timing couldn’t have been better. Fourth-year students were about to start clinical placements, and now they’re heading into practice with much stronger foundational knowledge. The comprehensive anatomy coverage, combined with enhanced understanding of biomechanics, should make their clinical learning far more effective.

The benefits extend beyond current students too. The university team plans to allocate their remaining Plus subscriptions to visiting lecturers, helping them develop better teaching materials and more engaging classroom content. They’ve also worked out a sustainable system where subscriptions transfer from graduating students to incoming third-years, ensuring continuous access whilst making the most of their investment.

This is a great example of a university identifying specific gaps, sourcing creative funding solutions, structuring access properly and planning for long-term sustainability. This all came from their understanding of both the educational needs and practical implementation, which clearly helped make everything work smoothly. The real test will come as these students progress through clinical practice. Early signs suggest they’re entering placements with stronger foundational knowledge and better digital literacy, both increasingly important in modern healthcare. For a programme working with limited resources during challenging economic conditions, that’s a remarkable achievement.

Does your institution face similar resource challenges? Discover how Physiopedia Plus can help bridge curriculum gaps and improve student outcomes whilst simplifying administrative processes for your academic staff.