University of Peradeniya And RMIT University Strengthen the Joint PhD Collaboration

A meeting was held between the University of Peradeniya (UoP) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Australia on 15th of December 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, University of Peradeniya, to reflect on and discuss the future directions of the long-standing joint PhD programme. The meeting was attended by Prof. Mark Sanderson, Professor of Information Retrieval at RMIT University and Dean of Research, STEM College, and Prof. Terrance Madhujith , Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya. In the meeting, also present were Prof. Lilantha Samaranayake, Dean, Faculty of Engineering; Prof. Kushan Wijesundara, Head, Department of Civil Engineering; Dr. Panduka Neluwala, Department Coordinator for RMIT UoP joint PhD programme, Civil Engineering; and Dr. Damayanthi Herath, Postgraduate Programme Coordinator, Department of Computer Engineering. Prof. Hiran Yapa from the Department of Civil Engineering and Dr. Upul Jayasinghe, Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Engineering, also participated in the discussion. During the meeting, the success of the UoP- RMIT Joint PhD Programme was highlighted. It was reported that 12 PhD candidates have successfully completed their degrees to date since its inception in 2018, while 8 joint PhD candidates are currently conducting their studies within the Faculty of Engineering. The collaboration has also resulted in more than 40 Q1 journal publications, demonstrating the strong research impact of this partnership. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), originally initiated in 2018, is currently undergoing its second renewal, reflecting the sustained commitment of both institutions. Discussions focused on strategies to further enhance the programme, including strengthening joint supervision, expanding interdisciplinary research areas, and increasing global research visibility. Following the formal meeting, Prof. Sanderson engaged in a discussion with joint PhD programme candidates at the Faculty of Engineering, discussing opportunities and challenges, providing insights into research quality, international collaboration, and opportunities within the RMIT research ecosystem. The meeting reaffirmed the strong academic partnership between the University of Peradeniya and RMIT University and underscored their shared vision of advancing high-impact international research and doctoral training.