46 UWU Undergraduates entered the Global Alumni of Active Citizens!!
Strengthening Capacity for Youth and Civic Leadership Education in Universities (UNICYCLE) project – Going Global Partnerships
Globally connected – Locally engaged
On September 26, 2022, Uva Wellassa University marked the successful completion of Going Global Partnerships UNICYCLE project by adding 46 undergraduates to the Active Citizens Global Alumni. This is as a result of the collaboration between the British Council Sri Lanka and the two local partner universities and the Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. Having secured a competitive grant, this project was commenced in January 2022 by the Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture of Uva Wellassa University.
The future leaders and scholars are essentially expected to interact with the adjacent communities to understand the creeping issues. The awareness has been put in place more than any other time before which has triggered the attention of scholars. The most accustomed traditional way of understanding issues, the scientific approach therefore upgraded with the infusion of local knowledge to outweigh the detriments. The UNICYCLE Going Global Project has been working on the aforementioned motto where it believes novice in academia is the best segment of bringing the torch. The Active Citizen Programme – 2022 has completed several significant social action research and social action projects with promising outcomes.
UWU Active Citizens have developed 6 project initiatives (3 social action projects and 3 social action research) in identified communities of different areas related to the themes of Livelihood Development and Environmental Conservation. We are pleased to share that our Active Citizens successfully concluded some impactful work for the needy communities. The process inspired the students to become future leaders with a strong sense of social responsibility.
Our Active Citizens also had opportunities to network with the active citizens of the partner universities through project pitching and through collaborate and connect hosted by the Glasgow Caledonian University. The pitching seminar was followed by the pitching workshop where students were intended to identify social-related incidences which are involved with sustainable development goals. The pitching workshop was composed of three sessions which are titled “Healthy Lives, No Hunger”, “Equality” and “Sustainable Lives and Environment”. Finally, the networking was recapitulated with a “collaborate and connect” event to capacity development for youth and civic leadership education. Dr Dayani Gunathilaka co-chaired the session of “Enterprising Youth” in the “collaborate and connect “event. UWU undergraduates participated in the final networking event where they engaged in the other two sessions which are “international learning and engagement” and “the value of practice-based and co-curricular learning with student reflections”.
The certificate awarding event of the Going Global Partnerships UNICYCLE project was held ceremonially with the participation of Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, Vice Chancellor, Uva Wellassa University, Prof. H.M.S.K. Herath, Dean, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture and, other academic and non-academic staff members, at the Senate Board Room of Uva Wellassa University on September 26, 2022, marking the successful completion of the project. The event was organized by the Coordinator- Dr. Dayani Gunathilaka and the facilitator team: Dr. Prasad Mahindarathna, Dr. Prasad Neelawala, Dr. Kushalya Wijayasekara, Ms. Chathurika Banagala and Mr. Chathura Gunarathna of GGP UNICYCLE Project.
With the excitement and the motivation gained in the project, the UWU Active Citizens are prepared to internalise the Active Citizens approach establishing an Active Citizens Club in the university. In the near future, UWU Active Citizens will be more active and proactive in contributing to the well-being of society and the environment.
