The 91st Colloquium of the Building Economics and Management Research Unit (BEMRU) of the Department of Building Economics was successfully held on 20th August 2025 at the Department Board Room. The session featured an engaging presentation by Professor Srinath Perera, Chair Professor of Built Environment and Construction Management and Founding Director of the Centre for Smart Modern Construction (c4SMC) at Western Sydney University, Australia.
Professor Perera delivered a thought-provoking talk titled “Translating Research into Impact: Strategies for Academia-Industry Collaborations”. His address highlighted the importance of forging strong partnerships between universities and industry to ensure that academic research leads to meaningful, real-world outcomes. He emphasized the role of universities in driving collaboration, particularly in aligning research with industry needs to advance knowledge and innovation in the built environment sector. The discussion that followed the talk provided valuable perspectives on how academics can position their research to create greater impact, while also benefiting from industry engagement.
Ahead of the colloquium, BEMRU organized a brainstorming session on 25th July 2025 to develop its annual activity plan. This session, coordinated by Ch. QS Dr. Chandanie Hadiwattege (BEMRU Coordinator) and Ms. Saambavi Sivanraj (Assistant BEMRU Coordinator), brought together academic staff of the Department for an interactive dialogue on the future direction of the research unit. Participants explored potential initiatives to strengthen the Unit’s research profile and enhance opportunities for knowledge dissemination, capacity building, and collaboration. The exchange of ideas during the brainstorming session emphasized the Department’s commitment to nurturing a dynamic research culture. By identifying priority areas and activities for the upcoming year, the session set the foundation for sustained growth and innovation within BEMRU.
