Monash Business School researchers have been awarded more than $950,000 in grants by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the Australia Awards Fellowships (AAF) 2017.
Led by researchers from the Department of Management, the three projects aim to strengthen relationships with leaders and policy makers in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh through the exchange of expertise, skills and knowledge. The grants will also assist in increasing the capacity of these countries to advance priority foreign affairs and development issues of shared interest.
- Associate Professor Ramanie Samaratunge and Dr Lakmal Abeysekera
“Private sector engagement for sustainable development in Sri-Lanka: Evidence-based policy and practice” – $426,208 - Associate Professor Ramanie Samaratunge and Dr Nilupama Wijewardena
“University-Industry linkages for business development through innovative knowledge creation (Sri Lanka)” – $198,607 - Associate Professor Quamrul Alam and Professor Julie Wolfram Cox
“Capacity Building for Coal and LNG Infrastructure Development in Bangladesh” – $339,897
Monash Business School Deputy Dean Professor Gary Magee said the grants exemplified the high calibre of research being produced and the School’s global reach.
“This is an excellent result and is testament to the impact of Monash Business School’s research on a global scale,” he said.
“Spearheaded by our academics, these programs demonstrate our commitment to strengthening ties with these countries and building on the vision of the Australia Awards, which is to support partner countries progress their development goals and have positive relationships with Australia that advance mutual interests.”
Associate Professor Ramanie Samaratunge was awarded two grants for two separate programs. The first program was in collaboration with Dr Lakmal Abeysekera, which will help build informed policy development capabilities of strategic-level government officers at the central, provincial and divisional levels. The program aims to promote a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, capable of successfully engaging the private sector for sustainable development of Sri Lanka.
The objective of Associate Professor Samaratunge’s second program with Dr Nilupama Wijewardena was to build the research capacity of the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka to carry out research in collaboration with the industry and produce innovative knowledge useful to the industry.
The Fellowship supports the Government’s economic development strategy by strengthening industries to gain entry into the global value chain and regional markets that would gradually contribute to eradicating poverty.
Associate Professor Quamrul Alam and Professor Julie Wolfram Cox’s program focuses on the capacity building for coal and LNG infrastructure development in Bangladesh. The findings of this applied research will assist the research team to develop a comprehensive evidence-based plan for the Bangladesh power and energy sectors. The research findings will also provide policy input to the policymakers to design strategy for sustainable skilled manpower development for the sector.
