"The knowledge and the understanding of the Humanities and the Social Sciences disciplines are considered to be instrumental and vital in creating peace and harmony, national integrity, prosperity and advancement in any human society", Director of PGIHS Dr.Ananda Jayawickrama said.
"At this historic occasion of the ceremonial opening of the PGIHS, a national Institute destined to provide postgraduate education in the Humanities and the Social Sciences in Sri Lanka, I believe that the Institute will bring the lost glory to the University in terms of postgraduate education in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Oriental Studies and contribute largely to the development of whole nation" he added.
The Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS) is a National Institute established by the Ministry of Higher Education in 2014, by an Ordinance made by the University Grants Commission under Section 24A of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 and published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1843/45 of 3rd January 2014 for the purpose of providing, promoting and developing higher education in the Humanities and the Social Sciences. The PGIHS is the heir to the postgraduate programmes offered by the Faculty of Arts of the University of Peradeniya.
The PGIHS offers postgraduate degree and diploma programmes and other short-term training programmes with an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary orientation. At present, the PGIHS caters to approximately 2000-2500 students annually following courses leading to postgraduate diplomas, masters and doctoral degrees in 26 different disciplines under five Boards of Study. About 700 students complete postgraduate diploma, masters and doctoral degrees annually at the PGIHS.
The disciplines that the PGIHS provided training include: Arabic, Accounting, Archaeology, Buddhist Studies, Comparative Religion, Economics, Education, English, Fine Arts, Geography, Greek and Roman Studies (formerly known as Western Classical Culture), Hindu Civilization, History, International Relations, Islamic Civilization, Law, Management, Pali, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sanskrit, Sinhala, Sociology, Statistics and Tamil.
With a nature-rich environment, high quality human resources and experience and pride of the University of Peradeniya in providing higher education and training in Sri Lanka, the PGIHS provides an ample opportunity for local and foreign students to explore, engender and exchange knowledge, understanding and experience. I warmly welcome all those who join hands with the PGIHS with an intellectual mind to create a better world.
