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Head’s Office

Central leadership guiding academic strategy, student success, and operational excellence across the school.

Naren is a psychologist and higher education professional with over a decade of experience across academia, counseling, and educational leadership. Currently, he serves as an Assistant Professor and Head of the School of Psychology, contributing to two undergraduate psychology programs, a diploma program in Counseling and Psychotherapy, and the establishment of SLIIT’s first psychology lab for student-led experimental research. His research spans psychometrics, AI in education, public health, and socio-political psychology in Sri Lanka. He is the author of a textbook on R statistical computing for psychology undergraduates and has expertise in specialized statistical software such as SPSS, Jamovi, JASP, and R. He currently leads two research grants exploring generative AI in higher education and psychotherapy. Over the past 10 years, he has worked with prestigious universities, including University of Colombo, Liverpool John Moores University, Coventry University, the University of Northampton, and London Metropolitan University.

Dr. Naren Selvaratnam

    • Certificate in Higher Education Practice (SEDA-UK), SLIIT - 2025
    • PhD Management (Focus Area: Educational Leadership) - Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Malaysia - 2024
    • MS Educational Leadership (K-12) - Winona State University, MN, USA - 2018
    • MSc in Applied Psychology - Coventry University, UK - 2016
    • BA Psychology (Minor: Sociology) - Winona State University, MN, USA - 2013
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Message from the Head

Welcome to the School of Psychology

We believe that psychology education should extend beyond the classroom, equipping students with the knowledge, research skills, and practical competencies needed to understand human behavior in diverse contexts and contribute to the field.

The School offers two undergraduate pathways: a four-year BSc (Hons) Psychology degree, approved by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), and a three-year BSc (Hons) Psychology degree awarded by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), UK, delivered at our Malabe and Colombo campuses. Students have access to laboratory facilities at both campuses and can participate in research exploring emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and technology-assisted psychotherapeutic interventions.

We also place emphasis on developing skills that support our graduates beyond their degree. Through research projects, practical experiences, and engagement with contemporary developments in psychology, students are prepared for employment, postgraduate education, research, and further professional development. Our alumni continue to pursue diverse pathways in psychology and related fields, contributing to organisations, communities, and research.

The School of Psychology envisions developing a workforce capable of advancing research, innovation, and practice in psychology. Through our programmes, we aim to provide students with the foundation to participate meaningfully in the continued development of the discipline.

Connect with us to explore new possibilities for your future.