Welcome to National Institute of Social Development
Welcome to the pioneer in social work education in Sri Lanka. Our mission is to enhance human resources for social development through the preparation of competent manpower in social work at all levels generate and disseminate new knowledge and technologies for social work practice, provide specialized services for social welfare and social development.
The National Institute of Social Development (NISD) a statutory body engaged in social work education, functions under the purview of the Ministry of Social Services. The NISD operates under the provisions of the National Institute of Social Development ACT No.41 of 1992. According to the Act, the main objectives of this institute shall be to promote social work and social development education and in particular conduct undergraduate and postgraduate courses in social work and social development, initiate and promote innovative practices in social work and social development education system including adaptation of technology, and provide for the development of professional and managerial competence of personnel in the social welfare system.
The humble beginnings of this pioneer institution in social work education commenced in 1952 which was subsequently re-named as the Sri Lanka School of Social Work. This School was upgraded in 1992 and re-named as the National Institute of Social Development by an Act of Parliament namely: the National Institute of Social Development Act no.41 of 1992.
In 2005, the Government of the Democratic, Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, declared the National Institute of Social Development as a degree awarding institution and the Bachelor’s degree programme in Social Work was begun. Subsequently the Master's Degree programme in Social Work was also approved and gazetted in 2008.