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ACTA UNIVERSITATIS UPSALIENSIS Skrifter rörande Uppsala universitet C. ORGANISATION ocH HISTORIA 110 Editor: Ulf Göranson The International Science Programme in Sri Lanka and Thailand Three decades of research cooperation Rebecca Andersson & Marta Zdravkovic 2017 Abstract Developing capacity for research and higher education takes time, especially in resource scarce environments. Equipping laboratories, building human capacity, and establishing research cultures at teaching oriented universities are complex and slow processes. This book focuses on the long-term coopera- tion with chemistry and physics research groups at universities in Sri Lanka and Thailand, provided by the International Science Programme (ISP) at Upp- sala University, Sweden. It traces and gathers experiences from graduated stu- dents and other collaborating partners from supported groups. It addresses questions of if, and how, capacity for research and higher education has de- veloped over the decades of ISP support, and the possible effects, efficiency, sustainability and improvements of it. © AUU and the authors 2017 Layout: Graphic Services, Uppsala Unversity Cover photo: Professor Eric Karunanayake (left) together with Professor Ulf Pettersson (right) at the Biomedical Center, Uppsala University. Photo courtesy: IBMBB. Printed in Sweden by DanagårdLiTHO AB 2017 Distribution: Uppsala University Library Box 510, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden www.ub.uu.se [email protected] ISSN 0502-7454 ISBN 978-91-554-9938-9 Acknowledgements We would like to thank and acknowledge all the Sri Lankan and Thai partners for the warm reception and for dedicating time to answer questionnaires and meet for interviews. We are grateful for the opportunity to document your valuable experiences from the past and the present. Together they cover more than three decades of research cooperation and comprise the foundation of this book. We would also like to thank former ISP Program Directors, Professors Len- nart Hasselgren, Malin Åkerblom and Rune Liminga, for your valuable input and comments. Thanks also to ISP staff member, Associate Professor Olle Te- renius, for proofreading and commenting. Finally, yet importantly, we would like to acknowledge the current Head of ISP, Associate Professor Peter Sundin, for initiating this review, and for your encouragement and thorough feedback throughout the process. Preface I was given the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka and its oldest university in Colombo for the first time in the beginning of the 1980s, as the supervisor of a young physicists. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with many friendly people. The architecture of University of Colombo resembled Stanford with long ar- cades, where students and staff walk between lecture halls and offices. What separated this university from other universities in the world I knew well at that time, was the lack of well-equipped laboratories and ongoing research. It is here ISP come in, working to strengthen the capacity to carry out research and higher education, with limited resources at hand. For the uninitiated, this could be seen as a hopelessly overwhelming and demanding task, considering all necessary details of the work, and how long-term the support needs to be. Throughout the years, I had the possibility to discuss with many research col- leagues and Vice Chancellors around the world regarding how well ISP have succeeded with these challenges. A central component and prerequisite for success is the ownership of the process by the supported research group, fac- ulty and university in the collaborating country. Further, it requires engaged and enthusiastic supervisors and scientific hosts in Sweden and elsewhere. I believe that this engagement is one important explanation of why ISP’s col- laboration support model is so efficient. A new project starting in ISP’s spirit is like a delicate plant. It needs close monitoring, nutrition, compassion, and fertilization to gain momentum. There, the support by ISP and its adminis- tration, and by the host supervisors and their research groups, are central for success. In this report, more than three decades of ISP’s collaboration with Sri Lanka and Thailand is professionally reviewed. It is mainly built on interviews with former partners and students, and discusses the experiences and outcomes of the supported projects. It is satisfying to read about positive results and experiences. It is a bit wistful that our Swedish aid has stopped supporting the training of researchers in Sri Lanka and Thailand. It would still most likely be money well spent to continue supporting research and higher education, for the future, and for a better world. Bo Sundqvist Former Vice Chancellor Uppsala University Former Member of the ISP Board Former Supervisor of Sri Lankan students in ISP supported projects Uppsala, March 2017 Contents Table and Figure Index ............................................................................................ 11 Abbreviations and Acronyms .............................................................................. 15 Executive Summary .................................................................................................. 17 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 25 1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................ 26 1.2 Methodology ................................................................................................ 27 1.2.1 Tracer studies ..................................................................................... 28 1.2.2 Follow-up studies ............................................................................. 30 1.3 Limitations .................................................................................................... 32 1.4 Background .................................................................................................... 33 1.4.1 Research and higher education in Asia ................................... 33 1.4.2 Research and higher education in Sri Lanka ........................ 36 1.4.3 Research and higher education in Thailand ......................... 40 1.4.4 ISP over time ....................................................................................... 44 2. ISP in Sri Lanka – By Rebecca Andersson .................................................. 51 2.1 Supported Sri Lankan research groups ............................................. 52 2.1.1 Overview .............................................................................................. 52 2.2 Tracer Study Sri Lanka ............................................................................ 79 2.2.1 Characteristics of former students ........................................... 80 2.2.2 The period of research training ................................................. 84 2.2.3 Career development and mobility ............................................ 94 2.2.4 Research results and collaboration ......................................... 101 2.3 Follow-up study Sri Lanka .................................................................... 111 2.3.1 Training and publication outcomes ......................................... 111 2.3.2 Societal impact ................................................................................ 130 2.3.3 Funding overview .......................................................................... 136 2.3.4 Sustainability .................................................................................... 141 2.4 Conclusions Sri Lanka ............................................................................ 145 3. ISP in Thailand – By Rebecca Andersson & Marta Zdravkovic ...... 151 3.1 Supported Thai research groups ....................................................... 152 3.1.1 Overview ............................................................................................ 152 3.2 Tracer Study Thailand ........................................................................... 167 3.2.1 Characteristics of former students ......................................... 168 3.2.2 The period of research training ............................................... 172 3.2.3 Career development and mobility .......................................... 179 3.2.4 Research results and collaboration ......................................... 184 3.3 Follow-up study Thailand .................................................................... 195 3.3.1 Training and publication outcomes ........................................ 195 3.3.2 Societal impact ................................................................................ 211 3.3.3 Funding overview ........................................................................... 217 3.3.4 Sustainability .................................................................................... 221 3.4 Conclusions Thailand ............................................................................. 226 4. The way forward ............................................................................................... 231 References ................................................................................................................... 235 Appendix Appendix 1. Questionnaires former students ...................................... 245 Appendix 2. Interview guides former students .................................. 278 Appendix 3. Questionnaires host supervisors ....................................

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