University of Wisconsin-Superior professor Judy Dwyer will help implement Sri Lanka's first university-based social work program this year.

According to the UW-Superior Sociology Department, Dwyer is currently in Colombo, Sri Lanka, developing the program in cooperation with faculty at the University of Kelaniya.

Need for professional social work in Sri Lanka increased due to an ongoing civil war and the aftermath of the 2005 tsunami, according to a UW-Superior statement.

While abroad, Dwyer was unavailable for comment.

University of Wisconsin-Madison sociology professor Joseph Elder said the benefits of having professors like Dwyer in Sri Lanka would be great.

"Although social work is not currently viewed as a profession, a community service program [called] Sarrodaya has been in place for 30-40 years," Elder said. "It involves local people in village uplift projects including building schools and roads."

Elder said he assumes workers from the Sarrodaya association will be called into the university to share their experiences with the new department. The implementation of the social work program correlates with the emphasis of continuing education for both sexes, he added.

In a university release, Dwyer said she is connected to the University of Kelaniya through a UW-Superior alumnus from Sri Lanka.

"It's important to me to do this because we at UW-Superior have become so connected with Sri Lanka through the large number of students who have enrolled here and taught us about their homeland," Dwyer said in the statement. "They're active on campus and contribute to our community, so I think it's important we give back to that country for what it has given to us in Superior."

UW System spokesperson David Giroux applauded Dwyer's efforts in the Southeast Asian nation.

"I think it's fantastic — most people wouldn't think of something like this happening at a small school like UW-Superior, but it's par for the course in the UW System," he said. "There are so many international students and study abroad opportunities. It fits with the world view and diverse experience we want our students to have."

Dwyer will be back at UW-Superior to assume her professorship next fall.