SUSTAINABILITY AT PERADENIYA
Goal 08: Decent Work & Economic Growth
Decent Work & Economic Growth
Sustainable Development Goal 8, "Decent Work and Economic Growth," is a pivotal goal within the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive and sustainable economic growth that provides decent employment opportunities for all. This goal acknowledges that economic development should not come at the expense of human well-being or environmental degradation. SDG 8 seeks to promote job creation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development while ensuring fair labor practices, equal pay, and safe working conditions. By fostering a conducive environment for economic growth that is both socially and environmentally responsible, this goal aims to reduce poverty, inequality, and unemployment, ultimately improving the quality of life and well-being of individuals and communities while laying the foundation for a more equitable and sustainable future.
Compliance with national and international agreements, laws, etc.,
National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, No. 3 of 2016
Trade Unions Ordinance
University Act
Education
Undergraduate and postgraduate prgrams and courses
The University of Peradeniya offers numerous degree programs, at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, which are broadly related to the promotion of the main elements of SDG 08.
For example,
The Faculty of Management offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree, and courses on Ethics in Human Resource Management (HRM 2105), Business Law (MGS 3101), Employment Law (HRM 3101), Career Management (HRM 3102), Gender Issues in Organizations (HRM 3104), Employee Health and Safety (HRM 3105), Development Economies (MGS 4201), Conflict Management (HRM 3204), Employee Counseling (HRM 4104), Undergraduate Internship.
Professional skills and bioethics course units in undergraduate program of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences are directly contributing to create a decent work environment for all. B.Sc. Hons Medical Laboratory Science degree programme produced graduates with 100% employability. They get local and foreign job opportunities and contribute to sustainable economic growth of the country.
The department of Sociology of the Faculty of Arts offer undergraduate courses such as Industrial Sociology, Sociology of Family, Contemporary Social Issues and research methods (SOC 3008 and SOC 3002) which we can encourage or train students to conduct collaborative research on decent work and also the department of Economics of the Faculty of Arts offer courses such as ECN4061 Economics of Labour Markets to promote SDG 08.
The Faculty of Agriculture offers courses on Business Psychology, Development Economics, Advanced Development Economics which promotes SDG 08.
Regular short courses, diploma, training programs
The Staff Development Centre (SDC) of the University provides regular, Continuous Professional Development Programs to all categories of staff.
A programme, Certificate course in General and Financial administration for Assistant Registrars and Assistant Bursars was designed as a five days’ workshop to improve knowledge and skills to enhance institutional progress.
The Advanced level of the SITSEP programme targets the employees of the University of Peradeniya, whose work involves or whose quality of work has the potential to be enhanced using IT-based data visualization and analysis.
The Career Guidance Unit (CGU) organizes unique training programs which are designed to help undergraduates to proactively plan for their future careers and set career goals and objectives in promoting both horizontal and vertical growth in their career soon after they start studying at the University. CGU provide training throughout a full academic lifecycle, where students are guided appropriately in relevant stages of their academic, career, and personal life. Following programmes are conducted annually.
Improve Decision making & Time Management Skills, CV & Cover Letter Writing, Interview Skills, CV Clinic, Mock Interviews, Leadership & Professionalism, Vision Building and Personality Development, Highly Impact Professional Skills How Emotionally Smart. How to Start an Online Business, Importance of the professional skills for undergraduates –Behavioral Skills Development, “Project Proposal Writing, IT skills development, Online workshop series for career development, Employability Skills Development, Get to Know Foreign Internship Opportunities, etc.
CGU conducts Career coaching. Career coaching is the provision CGU help students on an individual basis. Students can meet a Career Advisors with an appointment and discuss their career related issues. Whether a freshman is looking for career planning or a graduate looking for a job, working with a career advisor can help them understand the planning and decision-making process.
The CGU offer a Certificate course on Career Development for the 1st and 2nd year students of the University. The course was to develop undergraduates' employability skills. At the successful completion of this course, undergraduate will be able to adapt to the University life successfully, plan the career & identify opportunities within and outside the University to develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes required for the real world of work.
Accounting and Finance Industry Forum (AccFIN2) organized aims to develop the link between the academia and the industry, and to discuss important issues in the economy/business with the participation of the academia and the industry experts.
Diploma in Information Technology (DITUP).
The Information Technology Center (ITC) conducted short term training program on Basic ICT Skills for external students and the University staff.
The “Robarosiya” certificate awarding ceremony of personality development training programme.
An awareness session for “Business Career Advancement - Graduates Entrepreneurship Programme” for the undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya.
A training workshop on collegial processes to enhance the quality of the learning process titled “Enhancing the Quality of Teaching: How Can Peer- Review Help?” was organized by the Medical Education Unit of the Faculty of Medicine.
A one-day workshop on 'Trends in Teaching Learning and Assessment' was organized and conducted by the Medical Education Unit.
“Diploma in Management and Development” course conducted by Faculty of Management.
A webinar series on soft skills development organized by the Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Management.
University of Peradeniya Science Alumni Association (UPSAA) successfully conducted a fireside chat on “How to succeed in Professional Life” with Mr. Indrajith Boyagoda.
The Certificate Course in Psychology and Counselling and the Advanced Certificate in Psychology and Counselling are both geared towards better trained professionals for the job market. Such courses ensure that students have additional qualifications for the job market that will make them more competitive.
Implemented the following TOT programmes: English for Professional Communication; SAGE 300; and Developing Academic Writing Skills of Early Career Academics; Career Planning and Counselling by Faculty of Management.
Outreach Activities
The University especially through the Departments in the University, conducts outreach activities on topics relating to SDG 08. For example:
A Residential Workshop on Leadership, Teamwork, and Citizenship Development.
The annual Career Fair of Faculty of Engineering.
Professor Basil Alexander, Department of Farm Animal Production and Health at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, distributed ten high producing heifer calves among needy farmers.
The Career Guidance Unit (CGU), University of Peradeniya, in collaboration with the Talent Development and Co- creation Lab, International Relations Office, University of Peradeniya, organized an Introductory Webinar on Social Entrepreneurship.
CGU conduct number of entrepreneur skills development programmes to motivate and guide students at University of Peradeniya to groom themselves as successful entrepreneurs by improving their entrepreneur skills. Example: National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) launch special program for motivating university graduates to develop them as successful entrepreneurs by improving their capabilities and directing towards opportunities in the business world and provide financial grants (Rs. 250,000.00 for one graduate – two-stage). About 160 business plans have been submitted to the NEDA for grants from 2015-2022.
CGU organize the annual Cree Fair at University.
Awareness programs
The University of Peradeniya conducts numerous awareness programs in the form of public lectures/seminars and workshops on topics relating to SDG 08. Such as:
The Department of Agricultural Economics and Business Management organizes “The Global Trends in Economics Education: Lessons for Sri Lankan Universities, Current Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka” to the members of the Sri Lanka Forum of University Economists.
The Faculty of Dental Sciences organizes Capacity Buildings Program for School Dental Therapists.
The Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering organizes a training session on Radar Basics for Radar designers.
University of Peradeniya & Uva Wellassa University organized the Social Enterprise Summit 2022.
Teacher Training Programme conducted for G.C.E. (O/L) Science Teachers of Teldeniya Zone of Education by Science Education Unit.
Faculty of Dental Sciences initiated in-service training for dental surgeons in the region to update their knowledge.
The Engineering Design Centre (EDC), the commercial arm of the Faculty of Engineering, continues its work with the industry.
Human Resource Development Unit was established with the aim of all-round development of both academic and non-academic staff. The Unit was formally established under the administration of a Deputy Registrar.
The Science Education Unit, Faculty of Science of the University of Peradeniya, organized two Teacher Training Workshops for 70 G.C.E. (A/L) physics teachers of the Uva Province and 120 biology, chemistry, and physics teachers of Central Province.
Productivity Enhancement Training; annual field farmer training conducted by the final year extension majoring students in the Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture was successfully held in the Madulla village of the Nuwaraeliya District.
The Science Education Unit, Faculty of Science together with the Department of Education, Central Province, organized a 5-day Teacher Training Workshop for 40 G.C.E. (A/L) Science for Technology teachers of the Central Province.
The Career Guidance Unit (CGU), in collaboration with the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), conducted an entrepreneurship development program for undergraduates and recently passed out graduates of the University.
University to Community (U2C) is the University Social responsibility (USR) programme of the CGU which delivers intending to make a positive difference in the social, educational and mental wellbeing of our communities through public events and activities. Connecting, sharing, and involving the public with our knowledge and resources allows us to make a difference in communities, nationally and internationally.
The Agriculture Education Unit of the Faculty of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Department of Crop Science, has successfully conducted a two-day training programme on "SPSS and SAS" for 15 Assistant Directors from the Department of Export Agriculture.
The Agribusiness Centre of the Faculty of Agriculture conducted a training session for the members of the Central Province Women’s' Chamber of Small Industries and Commerce on "Market Linking for Potential Floriculture Growers".
External Partnerships
The University has entered into a number of MOUs with numerous local and foreign institutions (ranging from private actors to higher educational institutions) and has partnered with other institutions in promoting the key elements of SDG 08. For examples:
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between University of Peradeniya and Incheon National University, Republic of Korea in order to develop and expand academic collaborations and exchange in fields of shared interest and expertise.
MoU with Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. The objective is the renewal of the student and staff mobility agreement under the ERASMUS+ programme and to consider entering into a general MoU between the two universities in order to expand current collaborations.
The University of Peradeniya entered into a MoU with Association of Human Resource Professionals.
A MoU between the University of Peradeniya and Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Society.
The Colombo Chapter of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya together with Dialog Axiata PLC came forward to fund the ongoing Working Students Assistantship Program (WSAP), the Program introduced for the students to earn while learning. The WSAP initiated by the University a few months ago provides an opportunity for students to work up to a maximum of 10 hours per month while studying. This is an opportunity for them to gain some work experience and some money.