In Sri Lanka, there exists a notable lack of engagement between universities and government, which has created a separation between institutions that should otherwise exist in close synergy. Whilst cooperation and collaboration exist between universities and the state, the spheres of knowledge-production and policy-implementation still remain distinct in Sri Lanka. The National Peace Council of Sri Lanka’s (NPC) "Research for Reconciliation" symposium aimed to re-alter this paradigm, establishing a foundation from which new collaborative frameworks could emerge to bridge academia with governance and showcasing a model of university-state engagement that can fundamentally change how Sri Lanka approaches issues concerning reconciliation.
The Mobilizing University-State Engagement for Reconciliation (MUSTER) project, implemented by the NPC, has enacted a noteworthy initiative in the past two years: embedding academic research directly within local government decision-making processes at the district and divisional levels. The symposium was not just a presentation of research findings—it was a showcase of how real-time collaboration between universities and state institutions can be used to produce evidence-based solutions to some of Sri Lanka's social challenges.
Redefining Academic Purpose
What makes the MUSTER model different is its rejection of the traditional academic approach where researchers study problems from a distance and publish findings that may or may not influence policy years later. Instead, student researchers from the University of Ruhuna, University of Jaffna, Eastern University of Sri Lanka, and Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka have been working directly alongside district, divisional and other local government administrators throughout their research process.
This embedded approach means that research questions are shaped by the actual challenges facing government officials, data collection methods are designed to produce actionable insights, and findings are immediately available to inform ongoing policy decisions. The result is a form of applied research that bridges the gap between academia and governance in a way as to counter the underutilization of university research.
The symposium's structure itself reflected this effort for collaboration. Rather than simply presenting research papers to an academic audience, each university session included district secretaries and local officials as active participants, creating real-time dialogue between researchers and the government administrators who could implement their recommendations. This format ensured that academic insights were immediately tested against practical constraints and opportunities.
Data-Driven Local Governance
Perhaps the most significant outcome of the MUSTER project is its demonstration that local government decision-making can be fundamentally transformed to improve the delivery of public services through systematic integration of academic research. The twelve research projects undertaken by the MUSTER initiative weren't academic exercises—they were comprehensive analyses of specific challenges facing local communities, complete with evidence-based recommendations for actionable change.
For example, one of the research teams from Sabaragamuwa University's examined how bureaucratic processes inadvertently create barriers for minority communities. But rather than simply documenting these barriers, the research team worked with district officials to find solutions, discussing templates and protocols that government offices could adopt to streamline academic procedures. The result is administrative reform based on a rigorous empirical analysis.
Breaking Down Institutional Barriers
The symposium revealed how the MUSTER model has successfully overcome one of the most persistent obstacles to effective governance in post-conflict societies: the disconnect between policy intentions and ground-level realities. By embedding researchers within local communities and government operations, the project has created unprecedented transparency about implementation challenges while providing officials with analytical tools and information they previously lacked.
The University of Jaffna's research teams exemplified this approach. Working directly with local officials in the Jaffna District, the research teams analysed how post-conflict policies were actually being experienced by different communities. This real-time analysis allowed government administrators to adjust their approaches based on empirical evidence rather than relying on reports filtered through multiple bureaucratic layers.
The panel discussion featuring university coordinators alongside district secretaries demonstrated how this collaboration has created mutual learning opportunities. University researchers gained insights into the practical constraints facing local officials, while government administrators learned how to use academic research methods to analyse their own public service delivery. This knowledge transfer represents a fundamental shift toward evidence-based local governance.
Scaling Evidence-Based Decision Making
What emerged from the symposium was evidence that the MUSTER model has created a replicable framework for transforming local government decision-making across Sri Lanka. The research undertaken by the twelve research teams from the four universities involved have essentially served as pilot programs, demonstrating how academic institutions can become integral partners in local government operations rather than merely co-existing with minimal collaboration.
An Eastern University research team showed how this collaboration could work in practice. Rather than conducting as simple on religion and reconciliation, the research team worked with local officials in the Batticaloa District to analyse how religious institutions could be more effectively incorporated into local peace-building initiatives. The resulting recommendations weren't mere academic findings—they were policy recommendations that district officials could directly implement.
The launch of the "Research for Reconciliation" publication at the MUSTER symposium marked more than just the dissemination of the research findings. It represented the creation of a knowledge base that local governments across Sri Lanka can use to inform their own reconciliation efforts. More importantly, it demonstrated how universities can serve as ongoing research and analysis partners for government institutions that may lack the capacity to gain real empirical data for evidenced based policy implementation.
Transforming Government Capacity
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the MUSTER model is how it has enhanced the analytical capacity of local government institutions themselves. District secretaries and divisional officials who participated in the project haven't just received research reports—they've learned research methodologies that they can apply to other challenges. This capacity building is crucial in shifting towards evidence-based governance at the local level.
The symposium's emphasis on video documentaries and community voices alongside academic presentations reflected this commitment to making research accessible and actionable for government officials. Rather than dense academic papers that might sit unread on shelves, the MUSTER project has produced multimedia resources that local officials can use for staff training, community engagement, and policy development.
A Model for Post-Conflict Innovation
The partnership with the Strengthening Social Cohesion & Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) project, supported by the European Union and German Federal Foreign Office through GIZ, provided the international framework, expertise and resources necessary to pilot this innovative approach. However, the MUSTER symposium demonstrated that the model's success mainly stems from its adaptation to Sri Lankan institutional realities rather than adherence to external frameworks. This approach to collaborative research and policy implementation could be scaled beyond reconciliation programming to address other national challenges currently facing Sri Lanka.
Toward Systematic University-State Integration
The "Research for Reconciliation" symposium should mark not just the conclusion of a successful pilot project but hopefully the beginning of a new era in university-state collaboration in Sri Lanka. The twelve research projects showcased at the symposium provide a blueprint for how academic research can be designed from the outset to support government decision-making. The evidence presented demonstrates that when universities and government institutions work as genuine partners rather than separate entities, the result is more effective policy making and implementation, more rigorous decision-making processes, and more responsive public administration. Rather than hoping that research findings might eventually influence policy, the MUSTER model ensures that research directly informs ongoing administrative processes. This represents a fundamental shift toward evidence-based governance that has the potential to transform public service delivery in Sri Lanka.
What the implementation of the MUSTER model offers is a roadmap for systematic integration of academic expertise into the governance process. The symposium demonstrated that this integration isn't just possible—it must be essential for effective governance in complex, multi-ethnic societies seeking sustainable social harmony and cohesion.
The paradigm that the NPC’s MUSTER project envisions in university-state engagement promises to ensure that local government decisions are grounded in rigorous analysis, responsive to community needs, and adaptive to changing circumstances. This transformation of how knowledge informs governance may prove to be MUSTER's most lasting contribution to fostering reconciliation and social cohesion in Sri Lanka.
