A team of 13 academia from the SUCCESSFUL project representing Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka and Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka participated in a comprehensive learning visit to Wageningen University and Research (WUR) in The Netherlands from June 3 to June 7, 2024 and University of Helsinki & University of Turku from June 10 to June 14, 2024.
Wageningen University and Research (WUR)
The SUCCESSFUL team embarked on a week-long visit to WUR, commencing on Monday, June 3, 2024. The first day featured a welcome meeting, where team members from SUCCESSFUL and ACCESS projects were introduced, fostering networking and a clear understanding of the visit’s objectives. The highlight was a keynote speech by Arnold Bregt, Dean of Education, who illuminated the governance structure at WUR, offering valuable insights into effective educational management. Following this, Nynke Uiterweer and Tosca Veerbeek presented on Society-based Education, showcasing how WUR integrates societal challenges into its curriculum for practical and impactful learning. The day concluded with a sustainability tour, demonstrating WUR’s commitment to sustainability and inspiring participants to adopt similar practices in their institutions.
On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the team visited WUR’s advanced agricultural facilities at Unifarm, gaining insights into innovative agricultural research and sustainable farming practices. This was followed by the WUR Energy Alliance Meeting, which highlighted initiatives in promoting sustainable energy solutions. Julia Diederen and Tijmen Kerstens then discussed the role of Artificial Intelligence in education, showcasing cutting-edge technological integration. The day ended with collaborative discussions with relevant partners and researchers, fostering potential research partnerships and knowledge exchange.
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, began with a tour of the Wander Lab, where the team explored innovative research and technological advancements. A guided tour of the WUR campus familiarized participants with the university’s facilities, deepening their connection to the institution. Bernadette and Heleen then provided insights into WUR’s student assessment methods, enhancing the team’s understanding of evaluation strategies. The day culminated with a tour of Wageningen city center and a working dinner, encouraging cultural exchange and informal networking.
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, the team got an opportunity to observe teaching practice during a course conducted by Omid Noroozi, offering practical insights into WUR’s teaching methods and classroom dynamics. Mieke Latijnhouwers then detailed WUR’s assessment policies, contributing to improved evaluation frameworks for participants. The day ended with a team reflection session, facilitating the sharing of experiences and planning for future initiatives.
The final day, Friday, June 7, 2024, focused on continued collaborative discussions with partners and researchers, solidifying research partnerships and outlining future collaboration plans. The week-long learning visit at WUR concluded with a discussion and reflection session, summarizing the outcomes of the visit, defining next steps, and developing an action plan for continued collaboration, ensuring the success of the partnerships formed during this fruitful week.
University of Helsinki and University of Turku, Finland
The first day of the learning visit at Finland, Monday, June 10, 2024, commenced with a welcome at the Finland Futures Research Center (FFRC) Helsinki Office, where participants from SUCCESSFUL, ACCESS & LETSEMA engaged in discussions about virtual learning challenges and solutions. This session provided an excellent opportunity for multicultural interaction and networking, setting a positive tone for the visit. Following this, the groups visited the University Partnership for International Development at University Helsinki. The day concluded with a visit to the University of Helsinki Research Farm, showcasing advanced research facilities in dairy farming.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 began with an insightful session at the Sustainable Global Technologies (SGT) studio, Global Impact, and Energy Labs at Aalto University. These sessions emphasized innovation in sustainability and global technological impact. Participants then visited the Aalto Design Factory, where they explored interdisciplinary design and prototyping. The SUCESSFUL group visited the Suomenlinna Castle and the city center, providing a blend of cultural immersion and informal networking opportunities.
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, participants proceeded to the University of Helsinki to explore Climate University and innovative learning spaces, offering insights into cutting-edge educational environments. It was followed by a meeting at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, where discussions focused on Finland’s role in international education and development.
Day 4 and 5 of the week was dedicated to the Futures of Natural Resources Conference held at the University of Turku, Finland. Participants attended different sessions on sustainable resource management, gaining valuable insights into future sustainability challenges and solutions. On Friday, June 14, 2024, the Track on “Climate Change Challenges to Farming and Climate Change Mitigation Strategies” was chaired by P.E. Kaliyadasa from Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka. In this session, findings from five climate change-related research projects were presented by Osku Haapasaari, Rohitha Rosairo, Asha Karunaratne, Sulochana Senevirathne and Saman Herath, representing the SUCCESSFUL team. In addition, Nisansala Withanage and Achini de Silva presented their research findings in the track on “Regenerative Futures – Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Watershed Management”. The visit concluded with a dinner hosted by Dr. Juha Kaskinen, Director of FFRC, offering a formal yet relaxed setting for participants to reflect on their experiences and solidify connections made during the visit.
The two-week learning visit provided a valuable platform for sharing knowledge on sustainability, innovative education, and international development, fostering collaborations, and exploring innovative educational and research practices. Participants gained valuable insights from leading institutions in the Netherlands and Finland, which will be instrumental in enhancing their own institutions and projects. This visit underscored the importance of global partnerships in addressing educational and environmental challenges.