Objectives – International Research Centre

The Objectives and Key Outcomes of International Research Centre’s (IRC)

Specific objectives

To promote applied and fundamental research in the field of cross-cutting multidisciplinary STEM+HEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics + Humanities, Economics, Management) within the university and improve students’ capabilities, competence and capacity including enhancement of resources to add knowledge, ability to understand and identify issues, assess risks, select priorities, appraise options, and provide sustainable solutions through bottom-up research and top-down reviews.
To form a think-tank for policy and technology innovation/development in various aspects for the sustainable change. And to provide students’ and community’s collective thinking capabilities, by stakeholder engagement, discussion, and develop competencies for problem solving and decision making related to Sustainable Development.
To develop linkages with the leading scientists, technologist, and management specialists and professionals academics, researchers, young graduates from local, national, and international universities policy/decision-makers, practitioners, trade and civil societies, NGOs, and Government Institution and the communities at local, regional, national land international level through dialogue and to form partnership/collaborative engagement.

To build a greater network among the staff, students within the University of Vavuniya and with the other universities research institutes, potential government/industry/business/community-citizen-charitable partner organizations and funding agencies nationally and internationally, strengthen the formal linkage through MOUs.
To provide solutions to regional and national community related issues through scientific applied and fundamental research, innovation, and incubation
To identify, disseminate information on the sources of funding and secure resources for research projects, knowledge transfer and think tank activities,
To conduct research conferences/symposiums/colloquiums, seminars, and exhibitions relating to the research and innovation.
To develop formal and non-formal/informal learning mobility and active participation of individuals and groups (students, staff, academics & research instaurations, public & private organization, and citizen/community groups (e.g., youth)
To develop excellence (innovation/creativity/quality/cooperation/inclusion/equality/equity) in policy, strategy, implementation, operation, and maintenance at the level from organization, local community, regional, national, to international level.
To develop personal and professional development related to Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development via work based, community based, online digital, game and sport-based training and development of related policies.

Thematic Objectives/FOUR Strategic Pathways & Tasks of IRC (to deliver IRC/UOV/SGD/COP objectives)

Objective 1: To Support Sustainable Socio-cultural Development for People and to remove all kinds of backwardness, e.g., Education, Health, and Housing, etc., in the society by 2030.

Task T1, T2 & T3

e.g., To develop and promote socio-culture and youth development, inclusion & diversity in education/training, community/youth, & health/sport

Objective 2: To Support Sustainable Etho(s)-economic Development for Prosperity and to promote happy-culture based economic policies, reduce poverty through decent work & innovation by 2030.

Task T4, T5 & T6

e.g., To develop and promote etho(s)-economics and digital development/transformation, readiness/resilience & capability/ capacity building.

Objective 3: To Support Sustainable Natural/Built environmental Development for the Plan.et and to provide utilities, reduce man-made environmental damage, climate change, and protect all lives by 2030.

Task T7, T8 & T9

e.g., To develop and promote natural (land/green & water/blue) and built (infrastructure/brown) environmental development & climate change.

Objective 4: To Support Sustainable Politico-legal Development for Peace and Partnership and to remove Inequalities, Racism by improving social liberal democracy and power devolution by 2030.

Task T10, T11 & T12

e.g., To develop and promote politico-legal and civic-value development considering common values, civic engagement, and participation.

The Key Outcomes of IRC activities

Outcomes for the People – Social Theme will support Sri Lanka to improve education, health, wellbeing, housing and built environment in urban cities/towns, rural villages/estates, and protect cultural and natural heritage, and ensure that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality and a healthy environment by 2030.
Outcomes for the Prosperity – Economics Theme will support Sri Lanka to end poverty and hunger in all their forms and dimensions; Improve and innovate agriculture, Fisheries, Industry, Commerce, and Infrastructure; and create Decent Work & Strong Economic Growth to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social, and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature by 2030.
Outcomes for the Province and Planet – Environmental Theme will support Sri Lanka to provide affordable water, sanitation, energy, and pollution prevention and protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources, Develop Policy and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations by 2030.
Outcomes for the Peace and Partnership – Politico-legal Theme will support Sri Lanka to foster Equality, Equity, peaceful, just, strong Institutions and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. “There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development” (UN SDG). It also supports mobilise the means required to implement this through a revitalised local, provincial, national, and global partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened solidarity, focussed priority in particularly on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all stakeholders and all people by 2030.
Outcomes for the Academic and Research Institutions – Overall all the themes would make universities and research organisation to change its focus from traditional to more appropriate approach to sustainable development; Preparing the researchers (staff/students) to face the scientific, technological, and managerial changes. Encourage Internationalisation of research with innovative Shared Services Model. Facilitate Academic and Research Institutes (University) – Industry – Community Linkages and foster Entrepreneurial and Social Enterprise University Models.
Overall outcome for the Sustainable Development and Resilience for Changes such as Climate
- Provide know-how and support the human security for sufficient pollution free air, water, food, housing, and sustainable socio-cultural, etho(s)-economic and natural/built-environmental development.
- Provide know-how and enhance the prevention, promotion, mitigation, adoption of natural and man-made risks, disasters, diseases, and deaths, due the socio-economic-environmental-climate changes.