Ishini Saparamadu, an undergraduate student representing the University of Moratuwa, visited Manchester, UK last month to receive the esteemed Robin Jones Award 2023 under the category “Innovation and Sustainability”. This prestigious recognition, bestowed by the Chartered Institute of Civil Engineering Surveyors, celebrates exceptional innovations and contributions made by apprentices or research students worldwide in the field of civil engineering surveying. With this award, she received a cash prize and all paid accommodation at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.
The award ceremony took place on the 27th of September, 2023 at the elegant and historic Midland Hotel, a fitting venue to honour exceptional talent. The evening was a captivating blend of academic excellence, recognition, and celebration as Ishini received the Robin Jones Award, which is named in honour of the renowned civil engineering surveyor, Robin Jones.
In addition to the award ceremony, Ishini's visit to the UK was an enriching experience. During her stay, she had the opportunity to explore two prestigious universities, Durham and Huddersfield, known for their academic excellence in the field of engineering. She engaged with faculty at both institutions, exchanging knowledge and experiences.
The recipient's remarkable accomplishment stems from her exemplary work during her undergraduate internship. There she developed a groundbreaking software and web application for payment processes in construction. Furthermore, her project has been chosen for funding through the University Business Linkage Cell (UBLC) - University of Moratuwa. This short-term funding was received from the World Bank AHEAD project for commercialization of innovative projects. Furthermore, her work incorporating AI into construction contract management was recognised as top four innovation research projects under the “Innovation and Quality Scholarship” by the Chartered Institute of Building, UK.
