The National Awareness Day (NAD) of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project titled “Developing Information, Research, and Digital Skills for Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NSIS)” was successfully held on 19 March 2026 at the University of Colombo.

The event was organised by the University of Kelaniya in collaboration with the other Sri Lankan project partners—the University of Peradeniya and the University of Ruhuna. It brought together over 160 onsite participants, including academics, policymakers, librarians, and professionals representing 20 organizations such as state and private universities, government institutions, and professional organizations e.g. Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Consumer Affairs Authority, National Science Foundation, and the National Chamber of Commerce, etc.

The programme was graced by Senior Professor K. L. Wasantha Kumara, Vice Chairman of the University Grants Commission, as the Chief Guest, and Professor I. M. Karunathilake, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, as the Guest of Honour.

Delivering the welcome address, Dr Tharanga Ranasinghe, Project Coordinator – University of Kelaniya highlighted the importance of strengthening digital, research, and information skills to support a knowledge-driven economy. Mr Padraig Kirby, Project Manager, Ireland, presented an overview of the NSIS project, outlining its objectives and key outcomes, including the development of a 10-module training curriculum, an online learning platform, and a ToT model to ensure sustainability.

The programme featured keynote addresses delivered by Professor Kaushalya Yatigammana from the University of Kelaniya and Dr Mihai Bârsan from MB Think Tank, Romania, who emphasized the role of digital skills, e-learning, and intellectual property in advancing research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

A panel discussion on “Empowering Innovation and Entrepreneurship through AI, Digital Transformation and Research Skills,” moderated by Mr T. Ramanan, University of Colombo, critically examined the role of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and research ecosystems in advancing higher education, featuring the speakers together with Dr Chathura Rajapaksha of the University of Kelaniya.

The NSIS project, implemented across seven countries in Europe and South Asia, aims to strengthen research capacity, promote innovation, and foster collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers.