The International Research Conference on Smart Computing and Systems Engineering organized by the Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya provides a distinguished platform for academia to present their research within their respective fields of interest.

The inauguration ceremony of the 7^th International Research Conference on Smart Computing and Systems Engineering - 2024 organized by the Department of Industrial Management was held on 4^th April 2024. It was graced with the presence of Keynote Speakers - Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, Senior Professor Sudath Kalingamudali, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Sachith Meththananda, Chairman of the Research Council, Professor Janaka Wijayanayake, Head of the Department of Industrial Management, Professor Roshan Ragel, Professor Antonija Mitrovic, Dr. Chathura Rajapakse, Conference Chair, and Mr. Dinesh Asanka, Technical Program Chair.

The inauguration ceremony commenced with a warm welcome address by Dr. Chathura Rajapakse, the Conference Chair, setting the stage for insightful speeches from distinguished figures including Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Senior Professor Sudath Kalingamudali, and Professor Sachith Meththananda.

The event’s highlight was the insightful speeches delivered by two iconic personalities, Professor Antonija Mitrovic and Professor Roshan Ragel, who graced the occasion as keynote speakers, further adding to the significance of the conference inauguration.

The first keynote speaker Professor Antonija Mitrovic, Full Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand virtually shared her valuable insights on The Effectiveness of AI-Based Support for Engagement, during Video-Based Learning.

The second keynote speaker Professor Roshan Ragel, Head of the Department and Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka addressed the audience on AI and IoT: Emerging Trends and Future Directions in the Industry 5.0 Era offering valuable perspectives on the technological landscape of tomorrow.

SCSE 2024 was supported by esteemed technical sponsors including IEEE, IEEE Sri Lanka Section, and IEEE Computer Society, alongside the platinum sponsor Huawei Technologies Lanka Company Pvt Ltd. Their generous contributions paved the way for an enriching experience for all attendees.

SCSE 2024 received an overwhelming response, with 248 full paper submissions from researchers representing Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, etc. The paper selection process was highly competitive, resulting in an acceptance rate of 31%. All seventy-six accepted full papers will be indexed in SCOPUS and added to IEEE Xplore. There were twelve technical sessions after the inaugural ceremony to present papers in seven technical tracks: Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Supply Chain and Logistics Systems, Industrial Engineering and Management, Smart Systems Engineering, IT and Education, and Systematic Reviews. These papers were aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations.

Overall, we are delighted to share that SCSE 2024 witnessed participation from esteemed research scholars, authors, academia, and industry experts from around the world, contributing to the success of the conference.

In conjunction with SCSE 2024, the Department of Industrial Management, Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya, conducted three pre-conference workshops and an academic forum between 1^st and 3^rd April 2024. The academics at the University of Kelaniya joined the academic forum titled “Shaping the Future of Academia with GenAI: Insights and Considerations” which focused on leveraging AI for innovative and design education.

Dr. Chathura Rajapakse conducted the “Teaching Artificial Intelligence” workshop for school teachers. Mr. Dinesh Asanka conducted a workshop on “Natural Language Processing with Transformers,” and Dr. Amila Withanaarachchi & Dr. Thilini Mahanama conducted a workshop on “PLS-SEM Analysis using SmartPLS and SeminR.” These workshops witnessed active participation from university academics, data analysts, corporate executives, graduates, and undergraduates, providing valuable insights into the respective topics.