The 19th ICA Asia-Pacific Research Conference was held from 23–24 November 2025 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), Colombo, and organised in partnership with SANASA Federation and SANASA Campus. Guided by the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, this year’s conference brought together researchers, educators, practitioners, young scholars, and cooperative leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The event served as a vibrant platform to explore how cooperatives contribute to sustainability, digital transformation, community resilience, economic democracy, and social inclusion.

YES WORKSHOP – Empowering Young and Emerging Cooperative Researchers

The YES Workshop gathered 26 participants, including 17 young researchers, for an engaging programme featuring keynotes by Prof. Cynthia Giagnocavo and Prof. Yashavantha Dongre. Guided by Dr. Sidsel Grimstad and Dr. Ann Apps, participants shared 11 research pitches and built connections during the networking dinner.

Before the workshop, participants attended the networking dinner on 22 November, which provided an informal and friendly environment for young scholars to meet each other, interact with senior researchers, and begin building personal and professional rapport. This warm and collaborative beginning created a positive foundation for the full-day workshop that followed.

The Workshop held on 23 November opened with keynote messages from Professor Cynthia Giagnocavo, Chair of ICA Global CCR, and Professor Yashavantha Dongre, Chair of ICA-AP CCR. Both emphasised the importance of nurturing young scholars and helping them contribute meaningfully to cooperative research and practice across the region.

A major component of the workshop was the session on mastering the 3-minute cooperative research pitch, facilitated by Dr. Sidsel Grimstad and Dr. Ann Apps. Through demonstrations and interactive exercises, young scholars learned to express complex research ideas concisely and compellingly.

Eleven scholars presented their research pitches on topics such as sustainability, governance, technology adoption, youth engagement, and community-led development. Among them, Louis Camilo (Chile), Srishti Saxena (India), and Nilanka Madushani (Sri Lanka) received special appreciation for the originality and clarity of their presentations.

Inauguration & Thematic Presentations

The conference was formally inaugurated on the evening of 23 November in the presence of distinguished guests, senior academics, and cooperative leaders. The ceremony highlighted the central role of research in strengthening cooperative institutions and guiding evidence-based decision-making across Asia-Pacific. A cultural performance by SANASA Campus added a colourful and celebratory opening to the programme. The inauguration featured a series of significant addresses that provided intellectual depth and thematic framing for the conference.

The Thematic Address delivered by Professor Yashavantha Dongre, Chair of ICA-AP CCR, provided the academic roadmap for the two-day programme. He outlined emerging priorities in cooperative research across the region, including sustainability transitions, governance innovations, and the increasing involvement of youth.

The Chief Guest, Emeritus Professor Lakshman Dissanayake, delivered a powerful address underscoring the essential role of cooperatives in achieving sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered national development in Sri Lanka. Drawing on his extensive academic and policy experience, he emphasised how cooperative models can respond to demographic, economic, and social transformations.

This was followed by the Keynote Address by Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake, Director of SANASA Campus, who expanded on the conference theme by highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to resilience and community well-being. He connected the academic discussion with the lived realities of cooperative members, illustrating how research can strengthen practice.

Together, these three addresses set the intellectual direction for the conference and framed the discussions that followed.

Thematic Presentations

On 24 November, a full day of academic presentations took place. Forty-two scholars presented their work to an engaged audience of more than sixty participants. Their research covered a wide spectrum, including sustainability and climate action, cooperative-led environmental governance, member participation and accountability, digital innovation, cooperative education and youth engagement, financial cooperatives and crisis resilience, and the evolving role of care and social cooperatives.

These presentations reflected the depth and diversity of cooperative scholarship and highlighted the cooperative model’s adaptability in addressing contemporary challenges.

Young Researcher Awards 2025

The valedictory session celebrated the achievements of emerging scholars and highlighted their potential to contribute to cooperative strengthening across the Asia-Pacific.

The Dr. Mauritz Bonow Young Researcher Award recognised two outstanding contributions. First place was awarded to Ms. Sadurya G (India) for her paper “Consortium Blockchain in Textile Cooperatives,” which demonstrated how blockchain technologies can enhance transparency, traceability, and democratic governance. The second place award went to Ms. Rossalina Christanti (Indonesia) for her research on credit union resilience, which analysed how member-focused financial strategies sustain cooperative stability during crises.

In addition, Dr. K. Paul Thomas ESAF Cooperative Young Researcher Award was presented to Ms. Srishti Saxena (India) for her promising scholarship and commitment to cooperative development. The CLIMBS Cooperative Education Award was awarded to Ms. Nilanka Madushani (Sri Lanka), acknowledging her contributions in strengthening cooperative learning and educational engagement.

Together, these recognitions underscored the importance of supporting young researchers whose innovative ideas will guide the future of the cooperative movement.

Field Visit – Learning from SANASA Primary Societies

A field visit was organised on 25 November, with twenty-three scholars participating. The visit offered a unique on-the-ground learning opportunity. At the Eriyamadiththa SANASA Primary Society, participants observed community-led soil conservation and environmental initiatives. The visit to the Ahugoda SANASA Primary Society provided insights into cooperative entrepreneurship, livelihood programmes, and inclusive development in rural settings. Scholars also visited the SANASA Campus, where they interacted with faculty and students to understand how cooperative education is delivered in an institutional setting.

This field visit allowed participants to contextualise the research discussions within real cooperative environments and strengthened their appreciation for the practical dimensions of cooperative work in Sri Lanka.

The 19th ICA Asia-Pacific Research Conference, together with the YES Workshop and field visit, reaffirmed ICA-AP’s commitment to fostering a strong regional research ecosystem. Through academic exchange, youth engagement, recognition of excellence, and practical learning experiences, the conference contributed to building a more connected, informed, and inspired cooperative research community across Asia and the Pacific.