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Professor of Civil Engineering and Project Management (Former Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International) 2013-24)
Janaka Yasantha Ruwanpura is a Professor of Project Management at the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary.[2] In 2022, he was a winner of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards selected by the Canadian Immigrant.[3][4] He is also the founding President of the Canadian Network of Sri Lankan Academics, which was launched in February 2024.[5][6]
He served as the Vice Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International) of the University of Calgary, Canada (equivalent to Pro-Vice Chancellor in English system) from September 1, 2020, until March 29, 2024. Prior to this role, he was the Vice-Provost International from 2013 to 2020.
Early life and education
Janaka Yasantha Ruwanpura, a Buddhist, was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka and was the only son of Dr. R.P. Sirisena, a Medical Superintendent, and Nanda Sirisena. Ruwanpura studied at Nalanda College Colombo and held numerous leadership positions during this time.[7]
Ruwanpura graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantity Surveying with honors in 1992 from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. He was the "Batch Top" (top student of the year) for all four years and obtained two convocation awards in 1992: the Professor H.P.S. Caldera Memorial Award for best final-year student, and the Institute of Quantity Surveyors Award for the best graduate of the program [8]
Ruwanpura worked as a lecturer in Quantity Surveying at the University of Moratuwa from 1992 to 1995. He was also an active quantity surveying consultant for several clients and companies in Sri Lanka and served as the founding Manager – Projects for QServe, a Quantity Surveying firm in Sri Lanka.[8]
In 1994, Ruwanpura received both the U.S. Fulbright Scholarship and the President's Scholarship of Sri Lanka.[8] In 1995, he chose the U.S. Fulbright to pursue a Master of Science in Construction Management at Arizona State University and graduated in 1997. Ruwanpura completed his PhD at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, and worked with Professor Simaan AbouRizk. Ruwanpura received an F.S. Chia PhD scholarship and obtained a PhD in Construction Engineering and management in 2001. He won 7 awards and scholarships during his PhD studies.[9]
Career
In 2001, Ruwanpura was recruited by the University of Calgary (UCalgary) as an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering, specializing in project management. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2006. The current President of UCalgary, Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, then Dean of Engineering, nominated Janaka (to the Federal Government of Canada) as a Canada Research Chair in Project Management Systems in 2007,[10] which was renewed in 2012 for another 5 years.[11]
Ruwanpura became a full professor in 2011. He was the Director of the Project Management Specialization since 2005 and became the founding director of the Centre for Project Management Excellence in the Schulich School of Engineering in 2011.[12]
In 2013, Ruwanpura was appointed as the Vice-Provost International of the University of Calgary for a 5-year term.[13] After a comprehensive search, the University of Calgary chose Janaka to lead the university's international strategy. Janaka resigned from the Canada Research Chair to accept this position.[7] The University of Calgary re-appointed him for a second term of 5 years as Vice-Provost International until June 2023.[14] The University of Calgary extended his responsibilities in 2020 by appointing to be both the Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President Research (International).[15]
Ruwanpura is a licensed professional engineer in Alberta and a professional quantity surveyor in Canada. He is also a Chartered Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, UK (MRICS) and a Fellow of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors in Sri Lanka. He was inducted as a fellow of three professional organizations and a fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada.[16][17][18][19] Ruwanpura was also a founding member and later a convenor of the International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction.[20]
Ruwanpura has also been elected as the new executive chair of the Commission on International Initiatives Executive Committee. Ruwanpura is the first Canadian member to chair the executive committee of one of APLU’s commissions and councils.[21] He is also a member of the Board of the Canadian Bureau for International Education.[22]
Vice Provost International at the University of Calgary
As Vice Provost International (VPI) at the University of Calgary, Ruwanpura leads international strategy at the University of Calgary.[23] Since 2013, Ruwanpura's leadership as VPI led to the establishment of various new initiatives and projects at UCalgary. As VPI, Ruwanpura drove the University of Calgary’s global strategy, launched IPARI, steered dual-degree programs internationally, secured major funding, and procured grants for international study.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]
Awards and recognition
Ruwnapura developed a tool, i-Booth, which is now commercialized.[36] He has published over 180 technical articles.[citation needed] He has delivered 15 keynote speeches and over 200 presentations and workshops.[9] Ruwanpura has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, many from the University of Calgary.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][7][46][47][48][49][50][51]
Personal Life
Janaka lives in Calgary with his wife Senani and only son Seniru.[52][53] Janaka's son, Seniru Ruwanpura, graduated with a software engineering degree[54] at the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary.
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