Description

The Internet for All – Smart Classroom Establishment was a landmark community–technology outreach project organized with the leadership of the IEEE Communication Society (ComSoc) of the IEEE Student Branch, University of Ruhuna, in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering. The initiative aimed to empower rural education through advanced digital infrastructure and global connectivity. The event celebrated a major milestone in the 25th Anniversary of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, marking a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide in Sri Lanka. Event Objectives and Goals • Enhance digital learning opportunities for rural schoolchildren. • Establish a fully functional Smart Classroom with modern teaching tools. • Provide high-speed satellite internet connectivity through Starlink. • Support the national vision of equal access to education for all students. • Inspire the next generation by integrating technology-driven learning. • Promote community service, sustainability, and global technology outreach. Process Summary The event was held on 06th August 2025 at Dellawa Maha Vidyalaya, marking the successful completion, deployment, and ceremonial handover of the Smart Classroom and Starlink Internet facility an initiative that stands as one of the most impactful community-technology outreach projects carried out by the University of Ruhuna. This global-impact project was made possible through a highly competitive grant awarded jointly by: • IEEE Communication Society (ComSoc) • IEEE Tech4Good (T4G) The project was conceptualized and led academically by: • Dr. Chatura Seneviratne – Team Lead • Dr. Geeth Priyankara • Dr. Thilina Weerasinghe On the student side, the project was coordinated and led by Maleesha Dissanayaka – Chairperson, IEEE Communication Society, University of Ruhuna, with the active participation of a dedicated team of ComSoc volunteers who supported the project from its initiation to its completion. The Communication Society played a central and collaborative role in transforming the project from concept to reality. The successful execution of this initiative was the result of a combined effort by academic staff, technical staff, student volunteers, and support workers. Lecturers provided continuous guidance and oversight, ensuring that each stage aligned with technical, educational, and safety standards. Technical staff and workers contributed significantly to the on-ground implementation, assisting with equipment handling, electrical work, physical setup, and infrastructure arrangements. Together, this multi-disciplinary team comprising academic supervisors, lecturers, technical officers, workers, and the ComSoc student volunteers worked collectively across all stages of the project, including procurement, logistics, installation, training, testing, and community engagement. Procurement & Logistics Coordination A core team of student volunteers, guided by ComSoc leadership, travelled to Colombo to collect and transport all Smart Classroom equipment, Starlink components, mounting tools, computing accessories, and electrical installations required for the project.This ensured that the complete setup was delivered safely and prepared for on-site deployment. 2. Smart Classroom Implementation Under the technical guidance of project supervisors and lecturers, and with assistance from university technical officers and support workers, the ComSoc student team completed the full Smart Classroom setup. Activities included: • Setting up multimedia teaching tools • Installing interactive displays and computing devices • Organizing and optimizing the classroom layout for digital learning • Electrical and peripheral configuration with the help of technical staff • Cable routing, stability checks, and safety optimization The entire Smart Classroom environment was fully assembled, configured, and tested by the collaborative team to meet modern educational standards. 3. Starlink Satellite Internet Deployment The Starlink unit was installed and configured with the following tasks handled by the student volunteers: • Mounting and aligning the satellite dish • Establishing power and network distribution • Testing latency, bandwidth, and connectivity stability • Ensuring secure and efficient Wi-Fi access for school use This allowed the school to gain seamless access to global educational resources. 4. System Integration, Testing & Validation Following installation, the extended project team—students, lecturers, and technical staff conducted a comprehensive performance test of the entire system: • Device connectivity and integration checks • Smart Classroom system synchronization • Speed, reliability, and stability tests • Final adjustments and configuration tuning This thorough validation process ensured that the digital classroom and Starlink system were fully ready for daily educational use. Impact and Significance This initiative stands as a strong example of what can be achieved through collaborative effort across academia, professional organizations, and student communities.By engaging directly in every stage from procurement to installation, training, testing, and outreach the IEEE Communication Society of the University of Ruhuna, under the leadership of Maleesha Dissanayaka (Chairperson), ensured that the project delivered: • Sustainable digital learning opportunities for rural students • Reliable high-speed internet connectivity enabling global access • Exposure to modern engineering and technology • Interactive learning through workshops and demonstrations The project truly uplifts Dellawa Maha Vidyalaya into the digital era, ensuring equal educational opportunities and empowering the next generation of innovators and leaders.