UBL programme holds national event

The University Business Linkage (UBL) programme held its fourth national event at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies in Colombo 7 recently.
The UBL programme was implemented under the Deutsche Geschellshaft fur International Zuzamanarbiet (GIZ)-SME development project in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC). 
The theme of the national event was ‘How to promote UBL in Sri Lanka — Practical solutions and future challenges’.
The UBL programme was implemented in the universities of Uva Wellassa, South Eastern, Eastern and Jaffna.
The project is funded by the German government and implemented through the Deutsche GIZ.  The Sri Lankan partners of the project are the UGC. 
The GOPA consultants of Bad Homberg Germany are the lead consultants in the project implementation while the technical output is provided from the Conscope, the consultancy arm of the Leipzig University, Germany.
The Multi Tech Solutions Ltd is the local consultant who was responsible for coordination of the programme and provision of local consultants. The work commenced in August 2015 and is scheduled to be concluded by this month.
Under this programme, the consultants from the Leipzig University guided the academic staff of the four universities sharing their international experiences in forming and operation of UBL units within the universities.
Workshops were held with the SMEs in each region and joint operation procedures were developed.
Each university appointed a UBL coordinator and nominated senior academics to work as the UBL team members. This programme has paved the way for a common platform for the SME sector and the universities to work.
Many researches done by undergraduates were confined to academic purpose of fulfilling requirements for completing the degree or postgraduate 
level qualifications.
The UBL programme initiated a practice-oriented approach and promoted the students to carry out practice-oriented research.
The best students were selected under this scheme and they were awarded. Having recognized the need for formalizing the process, the UGC has recently issued a circular for establishment of UBL cells in universities.
The event was attended by the senior officials of the Higher Education Ministry, UGC and senior staff of the GIZ.
The vice chancellors of national universities, senior academics, UBL team members and students of the four universities were also present at the event.
The National Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, board members and CEOs of leading companies and the SME sector representatives also attended 
the event.