• Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in English Literature, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (2014)
• Master of Arts in Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

• Associate Member/International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL), (1.7.2022 – to date) 
• Member/American Association for Applied Linguistics, (29.6.2022 -to date)
• TESOL International, (2019-2022)
• Africa ELTA, (2020 – to date) 

   

   

• Applied Linguistics
• Diasporic Literature
• African Literature

• Resource Person/Certificate Course in English for Creative Communication, Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies), (2022 – to date)
• Member/Institutional Review Sub-committee (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies), (2021 – to date)
• Editorial Board Member (Sornaali Newsletter/ Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies), (2021 – to date) 
• Member/Gender Equity & Equality Cell, (2021- to date)
• Student Counselor (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies), 2019, 2020
• Academic Subwarden (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies), 2021
• First Examiner/English Examinations (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies), (2019 – to date)
• Member, Curriculum Revision Committee, Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. (Feb 2018-August 2018)
• Student Counselor for the Academic Year 2016/2017, SVIAS, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
• Served as a resource person in the workshop conducted by Spectra Skills for O/L students, 2015
• Resource person in the workshop conducted by Jaffna Zonal Education Office for the students who offer English Literature, 2014

   

Research papers

Abstracts

• Mahendra, Thulasivanthana. (2015, November 5-6). Forced Homelessness and its Consequences in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath and Aaliyan’s Maranangal Malintha Boomi. [Conference presentation abstract] Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, November 2015.
• Udhayashankar, T (2023, January 3-4). A Study on the Integration of Environmental Contents in English Language Textbooks. [Conference presentation abstract] International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research. Eastern University & Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, January 2023.

Full papers

• Udhayashankar, T. (2021). The Art of Teaching Language through Integrating Bilingual and Multilingual Practices. In Proceedings of the International  Conference on Contribution of Literature in Arts. Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Jain College for Women, T. Nagar, India.
• Udhayashankar, T. (2021). Translating Drama Script: A Study based on Kannadi Vaarpugal. In Proceedings of the 5th Tamilology International Research Conference, Department of Tamil, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
• Udhayashankar, Thulasivanthana. (2019). Reframing the meaning of perfect life: A critical study of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Meeting Mrinal and Sumathy Ruban’s Penkal Naan Kanikiren. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Tamil Creations of Tamil Writers, Ayya Nadar Janaki Amman College, Sivakasi, India.
• Udhayashankar, Thulasivanthana. (2018). Podian – The Scapegoat’s Slaughter and Myriad of Meanings. Paper presented at the 8th International Symposium. South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
• Mahendra, Thulasivanthana. (2015). Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart as a Torch Bearer: A Counter-Discursive Fictional Agenda which inaugurated A New Historical Epoch in Modern African Novelistic Tradition. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Contemporary Management, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Journals

• Udhayashankar, Thulasivanthana. (2019). Decoding Learners’ Silence in English Language Class. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 5 (3). p 37-40. doi: https://multidisciplinaryjournal.globalacademicresearchinstitute.com/main/volume_05_issue_03
• Udhayshankar, T. (2020). Learning Online in the wake of COVID-19. GARI International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. 6(2), 15-21.
• Udhayashankar, T. (2020). Incorporating Visual Arts into English Language Teaching.
  Shanlax International Journal of English. 8(4).
  https://doi.org/10.34293/english.v8i4.3320
• Udhayashankar, T. (2022). Using Kahoot! in English Language Classroom. In Proceedings of the 2nd Edition of the International Conference on Knowledge
  Management in Higher Education Institutions. Central Library Manipal University Jaipur jointly with the Central Library University of Dubai.
• Udhayashankar, T. (2022). Diasporic Dilemmas and Intergenerational Conflict in Channa Wickremesekera’s Distant Warriors. Emperor Journal of Classical Tamil Studies 1(1), 409-414. http://dx.doi.org/10.35338/EJCTS.2019.1205
• Udhayashankar, T (2022). Adapting to the Adaptation Process with a special reference to Remember Caser and Marathi Mannan. Emperor Journal of Classical Tamil Studies 1(2), 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.35338/EJCTS.2019.1205

Short story

• Mahendra, Thulasivanthana. (2017). Clenched Souls, A Collection of Selected Trilingual Short Stories created from the Unbound Creative Writing Project, Compiled by British Council, Sarasavi Publishers.

Book publication

• Mandy, Lionel T. (2018). Traditional  Healers in Sri Lanka: Interviews and Inspirations. (T, Udhayashankar, Trans). Lionel Mandy. (Original work published 2018)

Conference presentations

• Udhayashankar, T. (2018, December 17-18). Podian – The Scapegoat’s Slaughter and Myriad of Meanings [Paper presentation]. 8th International Symposium: Innovative Multidisciplinary Research for Green Development, South Eastern University, Sri Lanka.

Magazine

• Udhayashankar, T. (2022, July-September). Protecting the lesser-known (minority) languages in Sri Lanka. Isai aaram, 4. 23-28.

Short Story

• Mahendra, T. (2017). Clenched Souls, A Collection of Selected Trilingual Short Stories created from the Unbound Creative Writing Project (pp11-17), Compiled by British Council, Sarasavi Publishers.

Unpublished Dissertation

• Mahendra, T. (2014). Dissecting Diasporic Literature: The Portrayal of Diaspora in The Namesake and Walls. [Unpublished dissertation]. University of Jaffna.
• Udhayashankar, T. (2022). The Impact of Online Learning on Academic Performance: A Study based on the Second-year English Language Learners of Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies. [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. University of Kelaniya. 

Virtual conferences/ Symposiums

• Research into Practice: Evidence-based decision-making in international education (Cambridge Assessment English)
• TESOL 2021 International Convention & English Language Expo (TESOL International Association)
• Re-Evolution, a virtual conference for English teachers (Regional English Language Office, U.S. Embassy Lima)
• 3rd National Symposium on English Language Assessment “Improving English Language Assessment: The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” (The British Council Indonesia Foundation and the Association for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia)
• 3rd National Symposium on English Language Assessment “Practical Solutions for
  Online Assessment” (The British Council Indonesia Foundation and the Association for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia)
• International E-Conference: Survive & Thrive During a Crisis (Lincoln University of Business & Management)
• Learner Autonomy SIG symposium ‘Supporting teacher and learner agency’ (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)
• 5th Annual Qatar University International (Virtual) Conference on English Language Teaching and 21st Century Skills – Communicate, Collaborate, Create (Qatar University)
• NELTA Online Conference (Regional English Language Officer Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives)
• 12th English for Specific Academic Purposes eSymposium (Sunway University)
• 8th Biennial CLIL Symposium (Universidad de La Sabana, Pearson, Universidad del Norte)
• 11th Annual International Symposium of Foreign Language Teaching (SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Language)
• GFTE International Symposium Embracing Global Educational Practices (The Global Forum for Teacher Educators)
• IATEFL Young Learners and Teenagers SIG web conference (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)

Workshops

• Local Knowledge for Global Problems: A Transcultural Approach (Heidelberg University)
• English as a Lingua Franca and multilingualism: challenges and pedagogical implications from the ENRICH transnational project (ENRICH Project)
• Technology in Teaching (ITAR Group)
• Referencing Style in Academic Research (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies)
• Using Google Products and Webtools in the Academic Environment (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies)
• The Pathway of ILOs and Improving Assessment in University (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies)
• Learning Management System (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies)
• Academic and Administration Regulations (Swamy Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies)

Seminars

• Teaching Content in English: Discussing More, Lecturing Less (TESOL InternationalAssociation)
• Online Learning Strategies for Teaching English Language Learners (TESOL International Association)
• Digital Literacy Skills for Adult English Language Learners (TESOL International Association)
• National Geographic Learning Virtually Anywhere – Online Summer Seminar (National Geographic Learning)
• Blending Technology with Post-Method Pedagogy for Teaching EFL (STIT Muhammadiyah Tanjung Redeb)

Webinars/ Virtual Talk Series

• Poetry: Exploring the Depths of Humanity, Religiosity and Nationalism (State Islamic Institute of IAIN Kediri)
• Being a Critical Reviewer in Writing Research Articles for International Publications (English Student Association of UNTIRTA)
• Distance learning and teaching (The Oxford University Press)
• Many Ways to Create a Classroom of Success for Young Learners (The Oxford University Press)
• Revisiting English Language & Literature in the Digital Era (Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts & Science)
• National Webinar Series on World Literature (Sri Sri University)
• Let’s Conserve the Cultural Heritages through Language Teaching (Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyagarta)
• The Art and Craft of the Short Story (English Language Teachers’ Association of India)
• Role of Fine Arts & Design in Post-Covid Era (Ubon Ratchatani Univerity)
• Enhancement mentoring for teacher-research: A hopeful response to Covid-19 (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language)

• Bronze Medal for Choral Speaking in Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance & Speech(International Institute of Music, Speech & Drama)
• Late.Muthaiah Iyathurai Memorial Prize for the best performance in English Literature (J/Vembadi Girls’ High School)
• University Prize for the best performance in English Literature in the second examination in Arts (University of Jaffna)
• University Prize for the best performance in English Literature in the third examination in Arts (University of Jaffna)
• Vinasithamby Kanakasingam Prize for the best student in English Literature at the final special degree examination in Arts (University of Jaffna)
• English Language Scholarship (John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation and Gateway Language Centre)
• Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship (Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka)
• TESOL 2021 International Convention & English Language Expo Scholarship (Regional English Language Office, The U.S. Embassy)
• TESOL 2021 Elevate Conference Scholarship (Regional English Language Office, The U.S. Embassy)
• The online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program Scholarship (Regional English Language Office, The U.S. Embassy)
• VirtualTELL 2022 Conference Scholarship (New York State Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• Best Paper Award: Udhayashankar, T. (2022, April 11-12). Using Kahoot! in English Language Classroom. [Paper presentation]. 2nd Edition of the International Conference on Knowledge Management in Higher Education Institutions. Manipal University & University of Dubai, Online.