The Department of Sports Science of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) will hold its inaugural annual research symposium themed ‘Sports for Excellence’ on November 29, 30 and December 1.
The objective is to provide a platform for the undergraduates of 2014/15 and 2015/16 batches of the BSc Honours in Sports Science and Management (SSM) degree programme to publish their research work. The Department of Sports Science will be the host of the first international conference organised in the area of sports science and management disciplines in Sri Lankan universities. The symposium aims to encourage and facilitate the undergraduates’ research engagements in the sports science and management domain.
Researching
Researching is an integral part of knowledge creation in any field of study. Researching sports science and management is important to the development of sport in Sri Lanka. It can identify issues related to sports performance, sports management, knowledge levels of athletes and coaches, and suggest solutions.
Moreover, by disseminating knowledge through such conferences, it is expected to increase the much-needed awareness of these issues for the benefit of sports professionals, sports governing bodies, and all sports lovers, and ensure the development of all areas related to sports in Sri Lanka.
Online events
Parallel to the annual research symposium, a series of online events will also be held with the collaboration of foreign scholars from Edith Cowan University, Australia; Simon Fraser University, Canada and Jigawa State College of Education, Nigeria.
The event also includes an online annual industrial forum and a career/educational fair for SSM undergraduates, graduands, and graduates. Further, a webinar series is also organised with the participation of the sports profession from Nigeria, under the topic “Promoting Health and Well-being through Sports”.
The keynote speaker is Professor Rob Newton Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Research Fellow, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Exercise Medicine Research Institute, ECU, Western Australia. The speech would be online. The invited speaker of the conference is Sri Lankan Cricket legend Mahela Jayewardena who will participate online.
Refereed papers
All research papers presented at the symposium are refereed papers.
The panel of reviewers consists of experienced professionals in the area of sports and management, representing the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, School of Medical and Health Sciences – ECU, Western Australia, School of Business and Law – ECU, Western Australia, Simon Fraser University, Canada, Institute of Sports Medicine, Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency.