The Department of Civil Engineering of University of Peradeniya in partnership with the Tokyo Cement Group, concluded its flagship event ‘Industry–University Collaboration Day 2025’ with remarkable success, fostering dynamic engagement between academia and industry stakeholders.
Held at the Centre of Excellence for Water and Sanitation (CEWAS) Auditorium in Ratmalana, the event was graced by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished guests included Prof. Terrance Madhujith, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Prof. Kushan Wijesundara, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Peradeniya, senior faculty members, renowned industry professionals, and both past and present postgraduate and undergraduate students.
Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in her keynote address, emphasized the importance of curriculum reform to promote STEM education aligned with global standards, the role of university research in advancing industry to meet contemporary development needs, and the importance of establishing equal educational opportunities to transform the nation’s future. The Prime Minister also commended the University’s efforts to produce industry-ready graduates through collaborative work, that nurture practical thinkers equipped with real-world problem-solving skills.
This annual event of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Peradeniya showcases research output by undergraduate and postgraduate students with the potential to transform the civil engineering sector. It is a platform to share ideas addressing current engineering challenges through novel thinking and innovation. It brings together stakeholders from the government, state authorities, research institutes, public and private firms, academia, and engineering students, to facilitate stronger industry-academia collaboration.
Spanning the full spectrum of civil engineering: Structural, Geotechnical, Transportation, Water Resources, and Environmental Engineering, the event featured poster exhibitions, oral presentations, and case studies from successful academia-industry partnerships. A standout feature of the program was the Shotgun Presentations, where students delivered concise, two-minute pitches of their research projects. The rapid-fire presentations emphasized practical engineering solutions, offering students the opportunity to highlight the department’s cutting-edge research capabilities aligned with real-world needs. Furthermore, faculty members of the Department of Civil Engineering presented potential collaboration opportunities for deeper industry engagement, paving the way for meaningful dialogue among students, academics, industry professionals, and policymakers.
Building on its longstanding partnership with the Department of Civil Engineering, Tokyo Cement Group, as the sole sponsor of ‘Industry-University Collaboration Day 2025,’ exemplified the crucial role of industry leaders in nurturing future engineers and advancing applied research. The event allowed Tokyo Cement’s state-of-the-art R&D hub, the Construction Research Centre (CRC) to showcase innovations in cement and concrete technology, demonstrating its leadership in advanced, sustainable construction solutions. The presentation emphasized CRC’s capabilities in re-engineering products, its role in quality assurance, and specialized concrete testing services with a comprehensive Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) laboratory. The event enhanced the far-reaching affiliation between the University of Peradeniya, the pre-eminent academic institution in the country and the Tokyo Cement Group, Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturer of cement, concrete, and cement-based value-added products, reiterating the Group’s commitment to promote world-class knowledge sharing to inspire and uplift the local construction industry.
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