Towards the Development of a Regional Center of Excellence

1
Towards the Development of a Regional Center of
Excellence

• A Proposal By the
• Center for Environmental Studies
• University of Peradeniya
• for the
• Brainstorming Workshop on
• Regional Partnerships for Integrated Capacity
  Building for MEAs in South Asia
• Kandalama Hotel, Sri Lanka
• June 2004

2
Why a Regional Center of Excellence

• South Asian region faces a multitude of
  environmental problems
• Lack of expertise within a single country
• Available expertise scattered
• Need to pool resources

3
What Sri Lanka Could Offer Towards the
Development of a Regional Center of Excellence in
Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka, though small in size, possesses a
  diversity of environments
• Sri Lanka has developed a leading role in
  environmental management in the region.
• NEAP has specifically identified the need for a
  center of excellence. It had estimated US 1
  million for this purpose
• Easy accessibility, friendly relations and
  centrality within the region

4
A Regional Center of Excellence at the University
of Peradeniya?

• The Largest University with human resources and
  physical space
• The multi-disciplinarity in a multi-faculty
  environment
• Environmental education and research at both
  undergraduate and graduate level
• Internationally qualified faculty
• Institutional support and commitment, land and
  utilities and human resources
• Salubrious natural environment
• An MOU with UN University

5
Center for Environmental Studies (CES) at
Peradeniya can offer to take the Initiative

• CES was established in 1992
• Linked University resources with state sector for
  environmental analysis and mgmt
• Center of excellence in environmental training
• Center of excellence in EIA and IR training and
  consultancy
• Center of excellence in GIS