Goal 17: Partnerships For The Goals

Activities 👆

Research 👆

At the University of Kelaniya (UOK), Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) serves as the institutional foundation for driving global sustainability through cross-sectoral collaboration. Recognizing that complex socio-environmental challenges require collective action, UOK actively links academic research with corporate enterprises, civil society organizations, government agencies, and international partners to turn knowledge into scalable real-world impact.

At the core of this strategy, the Centre for Sustainability Solutions (CSS) collaborates with private sector partners, including Mabroc Teas, Dilmah, Norlanka, and Spa Ceylon, to co-fund urban reforestation, biodiversity conservation, and campus living-lab initiatives. These projects work alongside green tech partners like Sisili Hanaro Encare and Beira Enviro Solutions to advance advanced waste treatment and circular economy systems. Internationally, the Centre for International Affairs (CINTERACT) maintains over 50 bilateral university agreements and EU Erasmus+ mobility grants, while the Faculty of Commerce & Management Studies (FCMS) drives applied research on green supply chains and corporate ESG compliance for Sri Lanka's export industries.

Internal capacity and community engagement are driven by the Staff Development Centre (SDC), which conducts national training programs to embed SDG frameworks into higher education curricula. On the societal front, the Social Reconciliation Centre (SRC) collaborates with non-governmental organizations and peacebuilding trusts to foster social cohesion, ethnic harmony, and inclusive governance through public festivals and policy dialogues.

Underpinning this ecosystem is the UOK SDG Progress Tracker, a centralized digital platform that audits university-wide sustainability metrics across all 17 SDGs to ensure transparency and power UOK's standing in global benchmarks like the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings and UI GreenMetric. Through this matrix of corporate, academic, and civic alliances, UOK stands as a national flagship for collaborative sustainable development.

Centre for Sustainability Solutions (CSS)

The Centre for Sustainability Solutions (CSS) serves as the central operational engine and policy hub driving the University of Kelaniya’s sustainability agenda. Operating directly under the Vice-Chancellor's office, CSS designs, coordinates, and audits university-wide ecological policies, ensuring institutional alignment with global sustainability frameworks. In the context of SDG 17, CSS functions as the bridge connecting university researchers, private corporate entities, municipal councils, and international research bodies to fund and execute sustainability initiatives on and off campus.

Corporate CSR & Environmental Co-Financing: CSS establishes long-term MoUs with major private sector corporations to fund campus conservation. Key initiatives include the mini-forest development project co-funded with Mabroc Teas at Mee Aba Sewana, native species conservation co-sponsored by Dilmah Ceylon Tea Co., mangrove ecosystem restoration alongside Norlanka Manufacturing, and sanctuary protection co-managed with Spa Ceylon.
Living Laboratories & Eco-Innovation: CSS operates the university as a "living lab" to test green technology. It partners with waste-management firms such as Sisili Hanaro Encare (for biomedical waste treatment) and Beira Enviro Solutions.
Data Transparency & Global Reporting: CSS maintains the SDG Progress Tracker. The analytics team gathers, verifies, and publishes university-wide operational data across all 17 SDGs, feeding directly into global auditing platforms like the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings and the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings.
Circular Economy Commercialization: CSS converts campus waste into commercial resources, producing organic compost from yard and food waste and selling it back to local agricultural stakeholders to model circular revenue generation.

For More Details:- Centre for Sustainability Solutions (CSS)

UOK SDG Progress Tracker & Data

Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

Centre for International Affairs

The Centre for International Affairs (CINTERACT) is the university’s gateway for global engagement. It establishes, manages, and expands international partnerships across academic research, staff and student mobility, joint degree programs, and cross-border knowledge networks. CINTERACT ensures that UOK’s academic community remains integrated with international higher education frameworks, leveraging international grants, mobility schemes, and multilateral agreements to address sustainable development challenges.

Bilateral MoUs & Research Networks: CINTERACT manages formal bilateral partnerships with over 50 foreign higher education institutions. Active networks include Shri Ram College of Commerce (India) for commerce education, University of Siegen (Germany) for humanities and engineering, Szczecin University (Poland) for European studies, and the People's Friendship University (Russia).
Erasmus+ & International Student Mobility: The center administers European Union Erasmus+ mobility grants, facilitating fully funded semester-abroad programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as faculty exchange visits to partner European universities.
Diplomatic & Cultural Exchange Infrastructure: CINTERACT works with foreign embassies, high commissions, and international cultural institutes (e.g., Goethe-Institut, India-Sri Lanka Foundation) to bring international scholars, writers, and artists to UOK for collaborative workshops.
Global Alumni Ambassadors: The center coordinates international alumni networks, such as the University of Siegen Alumni Academy, to secure joint research grants, host visiting professorships, and organize cross-border virtual symposia.

For More Details:- Centre for International Affairs (CINTERACT)

German Days 2025 celebration

Visit of delegates from Moldova and Romania

Social Reconciliation Centre (SRC)

The Social Reconciliation Centre (SRC) addresses the societal dimensions of SDG 17 by building multi-stakeholder partnerships between academia, civil society organizations, community leaders, and grassroot movements. SRC promotes social cohesion, peacebuilding, ethnic harmony, and inclusive governance across Sri Lanka. It leverages cultural diplomacy, documentary filmmaking, community outreach, and policy dialogues to bridge divides between diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic groups.

Civil Society & Peacebuilding Collaborations: SRC partners with local non-governmental organizations, grassroot peacebuilding trusts (e.g., Butterfly Peace Garden), and community action groups to design and execute field-level social integration projects in post-conflict and multicultural regions.
Cultural Media & South Asian Film Platforms: The center uses art, cinema, and performance as mediums for social dialogue. Partnering with regional media organizations and independent filmmakers, SRC hosts documentary showcases addressing human rights, gender equity, and social justice.
Institutional Inclusive Leadership Training: SRC works internally with university administration and faculty deans to deliver specialized training programs on diversity, equity, and inclusive decision-making.
Community Field Research & Social Audits: SRC conducts field surveys and policy studies analyzing social cohesion, urban space access, and marginalized community needs, providing data-backed recommendations to regional administrative councils.

For More Details:- Social Reconciliation Centre (SRC)

Enhancing Social Reconciliation and Well-Being: A Full-Day Interactive Workshop

Promoting Diversity and Social Reconciliation: Outreach Programme at Colombo Clifton Balika School

Capacity Building

Staff Development Centre (SDC)

The Staff Development Centre (SDC) serves as UOK’s institutional engine for internal capacity building and human capital development. Established in 1998, the SDC provides continuous professional development, leadership training, and educational technology programs for academic and administrative staff across Sri Lankan higher education institutes. Under SDG 17, the SDC equips university leaders and educators with the skills, pedagogical tools, and administrative frameworks needed to embed sustainable development principles into university governance, curricula, and operations.

National Induction Programme for Probationary Lecturers: The SDC conducts the nation's premier Staff Development Programme for Probationary Lecturers (over 25 completed cycles). This flagship course trains newly recruited academics from higher education institutions across Sri Lanka in modern teaching methodologies, research ethics, digital technologies, and SDG-aligned curriculum development.
Cross-Faculty Unit (FSDU) Coordination: The SDC oversees and coordinates the Faculty Staff Development Units (FSDUs) established across all university faculties, standardizing training quality, English language proficiency programs, and e-learning integration.
National HEI Consulting & Capacity Building: SDC extends its training frameworks beyond UOK, providing advisory services, curriculum auditing, and administrative capacity-building workshops to external Sri Lankan universities and technical institutes.
Sustainability & Governance Masterclasses: Partnering with CSS and external sustainability experts, the SDC conducts short courses and workshops for university deans, heads of departments, and senior administrative personnel on green campus management, sustainable procurement, and university ranking systems.

For More Details:- Staff Development Centre (SDC)

Certificate Program in Management & Leadership Skill Development (MLSD) Commences for Newly Recruited Non-Academic Staff

Executive Development Workshop for Singer Finance PLC

Trade & Market Engagement

Faculty of Commerce & Management Studies (FCMS)

The Faculty of Commerce & Management Studies (FCMS) links higher education research with Sri Lanka’s corporate and export sectors. Through its specialized academic departments, including Commerce, Accountancy, Finance, Marketing, and Human Resource Management, FCMS engages in multi-sectoral partnerships with trade chambers, corporate enterprises, and regulatory bodies. Under SDG 17, FCMS conducts joint industry-academic research, advocates for corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance, and develops sustainable trade and green business practices.

Export Sector & Industry Synergies: FCMS collaborates directly with Sri Lanka’s major export conglomerates, particularly in apparel, tea manufacturing, and wellness products. These partnerships facilitate joint research on eco-labeling, international trade compliance, carbon footprint reduction in supply chains, and green supply chain management.
Green Marketing & Sustainable Consumer Behavior: The Department of Commerce and Financial Management (DCFM) conducts empirical studies and industry consultations on sustainable business models, eco-friendly product packaging, and green consumer practices in emerging Asian markets.
Corporate CSR Placement & Applied Case Studies: FCMS embeds undergraduates within corporate CSR divisions, allowing students to conduct direct field audits, evaluate community development investments, and develop strategic sustainability proposals for private sector firms.
Co-Hosting Commercial Eco-Ventures: FCMS works alongside the Centre for Sustainability Solutions to model campus-based entrepreneurship, analyzing the commercial feasibility and supply chain dynamics of eco-friendly university products (such as campus organic fertilizer sales).

For More Details:- Faculty of Commerce & Management Studies (FCMS)

Department of Marketing Management (DMM)