Academy
ConferenceThe University of Oslo and HISP Sri Lanka invite you to attend the DHIS2 for Education Conference and Academy 2024, to learn about how DHIS2 can be used to support education data management and data use for sector planning, monitoring, and resource allocation.
Join us for a five-day Academy and Conference, led by experts from HISP Sri Lanka and the HISP Centre – University of Oslo. This Academy is designed to bring together DHIS2 professionals and stakeholders from across the region or around the world for presentations, discussions, networking, and strengthening connections between the DHIS2 core team, the HISP network, and the global DHIS2 community.
This event will allow stakeholders to discover ways to visualize and disseminate national, district, and school level education data, and learn how ministries are locally customizing EMIS tools that fit their needs while building in-country capacity to mold and scale EMIS tools and procedures over time.
By attending the event you will:
This event will include a two-day conference and three days of hands-on practical sessions on DHIS2 for Education.
Join us in Colombo to learn how DHIS2 can be used to support education data management and improved availability and use of data for sector planning, monitoring and resource allocation.
DHIS2 conferences are a place for members of the DHIS2 community to meet and share experiences about DHIS2, learn about the latest developments and innovations, and make connections that can lead to new partnerships and collaborations. These conferences are organized and hosted on a periodic basis by regional HISP hubs in the HISP network.
By attending this Conference and Academy in Colombo, you will:
Through presentations, exercises and real life data use cases, you will be equipped with an understanding of various analytic tools and develop skills in utilization of a variety of methods to promote data use in a timely manner.
The official DHIS2 for Education Conference and Academy agenda is now available here
Facilitators and participants will work together on strengthening principles and skills to analyze and visualize education data, identifying tools for data dissemination, and allowing solution sharing among countries to promote networking and collaboration among DHIS2 implementers across the globe. This Academy will be conducted by DHIS2 experts from the HISP Centre – University of Oslo and Regional HISP groups including HISP Sri Lanka, HISP West and Central Africa, HISP Uganda, and HISP Saudigitus.
Pamod is the Lead and a Senior Implementer from HISP Sri Lanka. He has been engaged in implementing DHIS2 in several countries of South-East Asia during the last decade. He has years of experience in facilitating several DHIS2 regional and global academies. He supports the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka in their EMIS implementation and also serves as an expert supporting the global EMIS work coordinated by the University of Oslo.
Alfredo Muchanga is a software engineer with experience in the development and implementation of information systems. He holds a Master’s degree in information systems and serves as the head of the Systems Development unit at Saudigitus. One of his key responsibilities is driving the development of innovative solutions to support the implementation of DHIS2-based systems. In addition to his implementation work, he also participates in the development of DHIS2 for Education modules.
Kirti Thakur is a DHIS2 trainer and implementation expert attached to the University of Oslo, and she works in support of country implementation in Asia. She has a background in medical science and health informatics, which has been instrumental in her project engagements, including information system design and development.
Jerry Aziawa is Director of Implementations at HISP WCA. In addition to implementing DHIS2 in the West and Central Africa region, he has experience facilitating DHIS2 Academies and specialized training. Jerry has spent over a decade in health information systems, supporting primarily Francophone countries. He was the customization lead on DHIS2 for EMIS in the Gambia and has helped support data integration between DHIS2 and StatEduc in Togo.
Sophia Kousiakis is a senior advisor and EMIS project manager at the HISP Centre – University of Oslo. She holds a Master’s degree in international and comparative education and has many years of experience working in education in both the development and humanitarian sectors. In addition to her work with DHIS2, Sophia has experience as a global education advisor and global youth specialist for the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Knut Staring is a Product Manager at the HISP Centre – University of Oslo, working with DHIS2 for Education. He has followed the evolution of the DHIS2 platform since its inception, and has supported the implementation of health information systems in a range of countries in Africa and Asia for nearly two decades. Knut has worked for the World Health Organization in Geneva, and has recently focused on the use of DHIS2 beyond the health sector.
Hazly Mohammed is an experienced PHP full-stack developer, a DHIS2-based custom Web App and Android developer with a mixed experience over 5 years, and is currently attached to HISP Sri Lanka in the capacity of Senior Software Developer. He works closely with HISP Mozambique (Saudigitus) and is also actively managing and supporting DHIS2-based Web and Android apps for the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka.
Albert is a Software Engineer working with HISP Uganda. He has 6 years of experience in DHIS2 implementation and DHIS2 Application development where he has supported several national DHIS2 implementations and facilitated DHIS2 Trainings. He has vast experience in planning, designing, customization, implementation, monitoring, testing, and maintenance of DHIS2 systems. He is passionate about ensuring that data from the systems is used for decision-making. He is currently involved in the implementation of DHIS2 for Education in Uganda and Eswatini and doing a lot of work around data visualization in various countries.
The following registration fees are available for this event:
All registration fees include:
This Academy will be hosted at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For attendees who wish to reserve rooms at this venue, we have arranged a discounted rate.
Airport and Airlines:Â The largest airport in Sri Lanka is Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Sri Lankan Airlines is the national flagship carrier operating to and from Colombo-Bandaranayake International Airport. The airlines that fly to Colombo are listed here. With increased air service to Sri Lanka from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, there are many competitive airfares available.
Invitation letters:Â The event organisers will issue support letters, if required, only to those delegates who have registered for the Academy.
Immigration and visa:Â Visitors to Sri Lanka from many countries can obtain visa on arrival after obtaining electronic travel authorization at srilankaevisa.lk where the applications are approved usually within 24 hours.
Airport Pickups:Â If you are staying at the venue, you will be able to book your airport transfer by contacting the hotel.
Time zone:Â UTC +05:030
Climate: The climate is tropical and warm. Mean temperatures range from 17 °C (62.6 °F) in the central highlands, where frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a maximum of 33 °C (91.4 °F) in other low-altitude areas. Check the lastest weather forecast in Colombo on AccuWeather
Currency:Â Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) – exchange rate as of January 2024: 1 USD = 322LKR
Banking and ATM:Â ATMs are located in many places (especially at bank branches) in the cities and suburbs, less so in the countryside. You can withdraw from debit cards too (Cirrus, Maestro, Visa Electron etc.) where the logos are displayed. There are coins for 1 rupee, 2 rupees, 5 rupees and 10 rupees. Banknotes ranging from LKR 20 – 5000.
Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted. JCB and American Express are also accepted in some outlets. Many hotels, commercial centers, shops and restaurants accept credit cards. Check with the cashier before making any purchases. Bear in mind that some places apply a surcharge for credit card purchases. Check the percentage charged before you pay.
Official language:Â Sinhala and Tamil languages are both official and national languages in Sri Lanka, while English is widely used.
Electricity:Â 230 – 240 volts, 50Hz AC. Power sockets are of type D and G.
Attractions & Leisure:Â Colombo, the vibrant capital city of Sri Lanka, is a treasure trove of attractions and leisure activities. Explore the historic charm of the city with visits to landmarks such as the stunning Gangaramaya Temple and the Old Dutch Hospital, which has been transformed into a lively shopping and dining precinct. Stroll along the iconic Galle Face Green, a waterfront promenade perfect for leisurely walks, and take in the stunning sunsets over the Indian Ocean.
Practicalities: Participants are expected to bring their own funtional laptops and compatible extensions.
Should you have additional questions about the DHIS2 Academy in Colombo, please contact the DHIS2 Academy team at education2024@dhis2.org
Please review our Terms & Conditions, which apply to every person registering as a participant for a DHIS2 Academy.
