WP 3 ACTIVITIES, OUTCOMES AND PROGRESS

In order to fulfil task 3.1 of WP 3, the Department of Agricultural Engineering was selected as the ideal place for the establishment of a Smart Agroecosystem based Resilience Centre (SAR Centre) and an initial floor plan for the establishment of SAR centre has been developed. The equipment purchasing procedure for the SAR centre under seven categories, is in progress. The virtual education center with a web-based system has been developed to provide teaching materials, learning materials, evaluation procedures, assignments and other required materials to complete the courses.

Formation of an interface platform with stakeholders and Universities through SARC, under 3.2 of WP 03, has been initiated by developing an inventory from identified industries (build industry-university partnerships). MOUs have been developed with 45 industries to have partnerships for researches and innovations.

Orientation programs have been conducted for the teaching staff of PC universities and representatives from associations to fulfill task 3.3 of WP 03.

These activities enable the building of appropriate e-education infrastructure in partner countries. Workshop I, under task 3.4 of WP 03 has been conducted by experienced researchers, administrators and technicians from program country institutions, but in close consultation with the partner countries institutions. Different interpersonal, intrapersonal and institutional skills were addressed through these workshops. Teaching staff and Stakeholders who engage with Agroecosystem participated at this workshop.

Stakeholders from the Agricultural ministry, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry Department, University Grants Commission, all relevant industries, and the Disaster Management Center were invited. Workshop II has been conducted to explain the legal aspects of handling foreign funded projects in Sri Lanka and, the financial and administrative procedures of EU funded projects under the Erasmus+ program.

As an initiative to accomplish task 3.6 of WP 03, a University- Industry model for the  Sri Lankan context has been developed on Agroecosystem resilience through SARC.