ENACT KICK OFF MEETING
The ENACT project’s kick-off meeting was held on 4th and 5th March 2021 at boardroom Eastern University, Sri Lanka. This meeting was host by Eastern University, Sri Lanka (Coordinating Institution), with the University of Peradeniya, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Technological Campus, University of Ruhuna, the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, which are five Sri Lankan Universities and Varna University of Management, ULisboa – Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Portugal, George-August University of Goettingen, Germany, Masaryk University, Czech Republic and European Center for Quality Ltd. (ECQ) which are the five institutions from the EU countries.
The ENACT project’s inauguration was held on 4th March 2021 (The first day) at 2 p.m., which started with lighting the traditional oil lamp. The Vice-Chancellor of the Eastern University, Sri Lanka, addressed the gathering followed by Prof. Anoma Abhayaratne explain the ENACT project overview and its expected outcomes. Mr. Eugenio Delfino, Project Officer EACEA (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency), addressed the gathering with the view of donor’s expectations on the second day (5th March 2021) of the meeting.
This meeting’s primary purpose was to facilitate the Sri Lankan project partners to get together physically and make them familiar with project management, implementation, and quality control of the ENACT project, while EU partners virtually joined.
Further, Dr. J. Sutha (Eastern University, Sri Lanka), Prof. Anoma Abhayaratne (University of Peradeniya), Dr. Nanda Gunawardhana (Sri Lanka Technological Campus), Mr. M. M. Fareez (Eastern University, Sri Lanka), Mr. Saman Jayakody (University of Peradeniya), Dr. Gergana Dimitrova (European Center for Quality Ltd), and Ms. Ana Lucas (ULisboa – Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Portugal) shared their experience and knowledge in terms of the ENACT project design and outcomes, Basic guidelines of roles of partners, Partnership agreement, special rules and regulations apply for Sri Lankan Universities, Expected documents from each University for smooth operations, specific issues and problems, Communication, coordination and collaboration between partners during the project, dissemination and exploitation, Basic guidelines of the budget, supporting documents, Proof of expenditure, Commencing work on work package 1: Planning Stakeholder Buy-in Events in the Sri Lankan universities and Monitoring and Quality Plan of the project.
Further, the main discussion on Setting up the Staff Development Centre for Non-academic staff and Appointing Project Management Team at the consortium level was also discussed.
Following that, six Sri Lankan Partners’ representatives (Dr. Anton Arulrajah/EUSL, Mr. Hasitha Koralage/SLTC, Ms. Darshini Hulugalla/UOM, Mr. D.D. Upananda/RUSL, Ms. Thushari Amarasena/UOP, and Dr. Renuka Priyantha /UOR) had made their presentations on the overview of the current status quo regarding the skills and training needs of non-academic staff, including any current initiatives or plans for providing skills training for non-academic staff. The outcomes of those presentations were considered the preliminary assessment, which will facilitate the building block of the work package 01, that is, Joint development of the preliminary training curriculum. At the same time, both the Sri Lankan and EU partner organization joined together and developed the joint framework and action plan for the work package 01 (stakeholder buy-in-event and curriculum development for the training for non-academic staff skill, knowledge, and attitude enhancement).
The ENACT kick-off meeting was a success - well planned and organized. The material shared was informative and it was a great opportunity for networking with local partners in a different surrounding. It could have added more value if we had the opportunity in interacting a bit more with foreign partners too.
Ms. Darshinie Hulugalla
ENACT PROJECT COORDINATOR/UOM
The kick-off meting which was held on 4th - 5th of march was very fruitful, and the same event was paved a way to introduce each partner Universities and then to draw an action plan for the future activities and well informed about all the aspects of the project very transparent manner.
Mr. M. Ravi
ENACT Team member/ EUSL
The ENACT KoM was a very well-organized event, especially considering the time different between Sri Lanka and Europe, and the fact that was held on-line. The meeting meet its goals and the Project was properly revised, with a clear indication of responsibilities distribution, dead-lines and priorities. As a suggestion, it would be important to have more discussion forums, in order to promote ideas exchange.
Ms. Ana Lucas
ENACT Project Coordinator/IST
ENACT project Kick-off meeting was very well organized and delivered its objectives as expected. It was a great start and we look forward to the next activities of this collaborative endeavor. We are thankful to the EUSL for the initiation in making this event a success and also for their excellent hospitality and delicious food!
Dr. Nanda Gunawardhana
ENACT Project Coordinator/SLTC
It was great pleasure, the event Kick -off meeting of ENACT project which was well planned and organized in the COVID environment. Morning sessions were very important for local partners to well aware of the project. The meeting went with high participants and ensured core deadlines of work packages with good start. It was fabulous. I would be highly appreciated the EUSL for organizing an excellent full two days event.
Mr. Nissanka Arampath
ENACT Team Member/UOP
The meeting was a promising first collaborative effort. It was positive that all partners were represented and actively contributed to planning the next steps in the project. The participation of the EACEA Project Officer was definitely an added value. I hope Sri Lanka partners will retain their demonstrated commitment to achieving the project objectives. The meeting set a good example of promoting ownership of the project among the key beneficiaries - the participating Sri Lanka universities.
Dr. Gergana Cisarova-Dimitrova
ENACT Project Coordinator/ECQ
The kick-off meeting of the ENACT Project was an impressive start for the operationalization of its activities. As we expected even prior to the meeting, a comprehensive understanding of the entire project was given during the two-day meeting. The organization of the meeting was amazing, and the hybrid nature of the discussion platform gave a nuance experience. We are grateful to the EUSL for everything.
Dr. Renuka Priyantha
ENACT Coordinator/UOR
It was very well organized and the EUSL accepted the challenge of holding a such a milestone event of a 3-year project while the COVID-19 pandemic is existing in Sri Lanka. As a new member joining with an Erasmus project, I was very well educated through the Kick off meeting on the fore coming activities of the project and on the importance of the role of each partner to make the project a success and sustainable even after completion of its 3-year period.
Ms.Chamaree Munasinghe
ENACT Team Member/UOM
The kick-off meeting of the project was very productive. Though only virtually, we managed to meet together and to successfully kick-start the project activities. The goals, expected deliverables, and QA measures were presented in a very professional way. All partners were involved in the discussions, and the task and deadlines were set clearly.
Ms. Violeta Osouchova
ENACT Project Coordinator/ MU