WP1 will initially recognize the baseline capacity and comprehensive knowledge gaps in research and innovative capacities in Sri Lanka for the improvement of agroecosystem based ecological resilience. The proposed activities in the WP-1 will emphasize on the assessment of the existing state of agro based ecological resilience education in program countries and European universities, their educational requirements and stakeholder needs, and on the estimation of the capacities of the project partners to provide necessary infrastructure, context and resource base for education and research.

Comprehensive survey will be undertaken to assess the knowledge gap, resources, capacities of current Agro-ecosystem based resilience for the joint curriculum development with multi-stakeholder participation. A comprehensive assessment report will be prepared and best practices will be identified with partner country institutions for the development of joint curriculum on Agroecosystem based resilience. The BRITAE framework will be formulated to connect all partners in the consortium ensuring the proper development and implementation of the joint curriculum. In addition, specifications and certification rules for the quality assurance of the Joint master programs will be developed and necessary approvals from the relevant authorities will be obtained.

Following activities will be completed under the WP-2: development of a collective framework for BRITAE curricula based on a common philosophical and pedagogical understanding between partner HEIs; development of a common approach to learner-centered and real problem-based teaching and learning activities between participating institutions to ensure maximum teaching module compatibility; training of teachers at workshops with consultation of EU experts; development of the curricula module content, specifications (objectives, learning outcomes, assessment criteria, subject content, literature resources, mode of delivery, etc.) and teaching (learning) materials (prospectus, lecture plans) suitable for innovative delivery mechanisms (as proposed in the WP3). All the developed new teaching modules will be reviewed by internal peer-review processes as well as externally by European specialists. After review and improvements, new teaching modules will be officially recognized in the PC universities and implemented by the 15th month at the beginning of the 3rd year of the project.

Through the establishment of smart agro-eco system-based resilience center at the leading Institution, it is expected to form interface platform with stakeholders and partner and program Universities for creating center of excellence for agro eco system-based teaching, learning, research and dissemination. The capacity building of teaching staff will be undertaken in order to support strengthening the course modules. Professional development workshops for academic staff and stakeholders (Industries) in Resilience Building in Tropical Agro-Ecosystems will also be initiated. This will build a pool of resource persons who can then teach the material to other researchers at the partner HEIs. In addition, professional development workshops on teaching techniques and practical arrangements will be conducted to strengthen the course structure. The educational, research and outreach activities of this centre will be embedded to the curricula in order to provide real life experience to the postgraduate students to enhance their competencies in the area of agroecosystem-based resilience

Progress:Training sessions and demonstrations for the website development of the SAR Centre were conducted by academics of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) including Prof Artūras Kaklauskas, Dr. Arūnė Binkytė-Vėlienė, Dr. Ieva Ubarte, Prof. Justas Čerkauskas to develop an Adaptive Biometrics Examination System, an Adaptive Examination System, Big Data Mining, an Affective Tutoring System, Computer learning systems, Adaptive MOOCs and to improve the awareness on obtaining access to e-sources. Prof. Champa Navaratne, Prof. Guttila Jayasinghe, Dr. Prabath Priyankara, Prof. Nandasiri Weerasihghe, Ms. Anjala Dissanayake, Ms.Ileeka Rodrigo, Ms. Dinushka Hettiarachchi, Mr. Chamila Priyankara and Mr. Ravindu Hashan from University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka and Mrs. Piumali Jayatissa and Dr. Rumesh Liyanage from University of Sri Jayewardenepura actively participated in these training sessions. 

These training sessions were conducted on 30^th June 2020, 22^nd October 2020, 2^nd November 2020, 10^th November 2020 and 21^st January 2021 respectively.

During WP-4 online student service platform as a resource tool (Providing learning materials, Registration exams and etc.) will be developed and student recruitment strategies and marketing of the MSc. / Encourage student enrolment will be undertaken. Potential stakeholders will be consulted in order to give maximum publicity to the new Masters program enabling potential candidates to enroll.

WP-5 will ensure the systematic monitoring, evaluation and performance improvement of all the project’s processes, events and outputs. The quality assurance strategy comprises three complimentary components: 1) quality planning (quality plan will be developed); 2) internal monitoring and evaluation will take place throughout the project (3) external monitoring and evaluation at appropriate time periods will be undertaken. Interim and final reports documenting internal and external monitoring will be produced. An independent external evaluator from the field will be appointed to evaluate and getting feedback for all WPs.

WP-6 will disseminate project results to the target groups and also will ensure appropriate exploitation of developed project website and professional training Centre during and after the project. Dissemination strategy and exploitation plan will be developed through branch organizations, project booklets, conference promotions, printed dissemination materials and events foreseen. Sustainability plan for ensuring outcomes durability after the project will be prepared.

The activities related to project management and coordination (WP7) will start at the beginning of the project and will continue until its end.  The kick-off meeting and number of coordination meetings are planned to review project progress and coordinate future activities.