The Brandix Group has come forward to support the University of Moratuwa with a research grant, becoming the first corporate entity to contribute to an intensified drive by the University to establish a research-oriented culture as a key to achieving world class academic excellence.
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| From left - Chief People Officer (CPO) of the Brandix Group - Ishan Dantanarayana (4th from left) presents the sponsorship cheque to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa - Professor Malik Ranasinghe (5th from left) in the presence of CEO of Brandix Hangers - K. P. Thayakaran (3rd from left), Head - Group HR Operations of Brandix Lanka - Ashanthi Fernando (2nd from left), Professor N. D. Gunawardena - Deputy Vice Chancellor (2nd from right) and Professor U. G. A. Puswewala - Dean, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Moratuwa (3rd from right) and other representatives of the two organisations. |
Valued at Rs. 5 million, the grant presented recently to the University by Brandix will supplement the Senate Research Fund of the University, which finances PhD related research. It will be directed to the University’s Faculty of Engineering, the company said.
The research grant will be used to conduct research on chosen areas of significance to the country’s top apparel exporter, with focus on aspects such as improvement of productivity and efficiency and minimisation of waste in production processes.
Ishan Dantanarayana, Chief People Officer (CPO) of the Brandix Group presented the sponsorship cheque to Professor Malik Ranasinghe, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa.
“Lack of funds for research especially with respect to PhDs in Sri Lanka has led to the brain drain, with many graduates leaving the country for foreign universities for post-graduate studies,” Professor Malik Ranasinghe said. “Graduates of the University of Moratuwa are comparable with those produced by the best universities in the world, but they are constrained by lack of funds to conduct research. Therefore this contribution by Brandix is both timely and vital.”
“Establishing a research-oriented and research-conducive culture is essential to bringing our universities to the forefront globally,” he said. “This cannot be achieved through high academic standards alone.”
Professor N. D. Gunawardena - Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor U. G. A. Puswewala - Dean Faculty of Engineering, Mr. E. M. R. L. Munaweera - Bursar of the University of Moratuwa, Ms. Ashanthi Fernando, Head - Group HR Operations of Brandix Lanka and Mr.K. P. Thayakaran, Chief Executive Officer of Brandix Hangers Ltd. were the other dignitaries present at the presentation of the sponsorship cheque.
The grant by Brandix covers expenses related to hiring technical support. A key academic appointed by the University will head the research accompanied by a PhD student from the University. Research is expected to commence within three months. Similar research projects undertaken by the University of Moratuwa have delivered significant results.
In another recent initiative to support academic excellence, Brandix entered into an agreement to annually award a Gold Medal to the best student in the BSc. Operations and Technology Management (Special) degree programme of the Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce (FMSC) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. |
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