19th ICA Asia-Pacific Research Conference

ICAAP Committee on Cooperative Research

November 23-24, 2025

Facilitator: Mr. Naveen Kumar Singh, Secretary, ICAAP CCR and Ms. Kashini Gimhani, Director, Centre for Quality Assurance, SANASA Campus

Title: Cooperatives Build a Better World

The 19th ICA Asia-Pacific Research Conference, hosted in the dynamic city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, is organized by the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) Committee on Cooperative Research, in collaboration with SANASA Federation and SANASA Campus (Sri Lanka’s Leading Higher Education Institution), a key pillar of the cooperative movement in Sri Lanka. Under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” the conference seeks to explore how cooperatives can respond to global challenges such as climate change, economic disparities, and social fragmentation through collective action and community-driven solutions.

The conference serves as a regional platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to reflect on the power of the cooperative model in promoting resilience, equity, and sustainable development. By fostering knowledge-sharing and collaboration, the conference aims to strengthen the cooperative movement’s ability to drive systemic change in a rapidly transforming world. 

The objectives will be to:

  • Strengthen applied research that informs cooperative development.
  • Document and share innovative practices contributing to sustainability and resilience.
  • Shape policies supporting cooperatives’ roles in the SDGs
  • Build stronger regional networks for collaborative research and practice.

 Program Schedule

Day 1

November 23, 2025

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Time and Venue

16:00 – 17:00, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), Colombo-7, Sri Lanka

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Tentative Agenda

Inauguration of the Conference

 

  • Welcome Address by Dr. P.A. Kiriwandeniya, SANASA Federation

  • Inaugural Address by Prof. Gamini Senanayake, Vice-Chancellor, SANASA Campus

  • Special Address by Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP

  • Thematic Address by Dr. Yashavantha Dongre, Chair ICA-AP CCR and Vice-Chancellor, Chanakya University, India

  • Address by Chief Guest: Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake, Emeritus Professor, University of Colombo

  • Keynote Address: Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake, Director, SANASA Campus

  • Cultural Performance by SANASA team

  • Vote of Thanks, SANASA Campus

Evening Snacks/Tea and Networking

Day 2

November 24, 2025

Time and Venue

07:00 – 18:00, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), Colombo-7, Sri Lanka

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07:00 – 08:30

Arrival and Registrations (in big room)

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08:30 – 09:00

Day’s Briefing by Organizing Committee

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09:00 – 10:30

Four parallel tracks presenting 4 research papers each = 16 papers (15 mins x 4)

Open discussion- 30 mins

 

Track A : Innovative Sustainability Practices within Cooperatives (Part 1)

Track B : Understanding Co-operatives’ Contribution to Sustainability and Resilience (Part 1)

Track C : Creating an Enabling Ecosystem for Co-operative Development through Policy-Making (Part 1)

Track D : Digitalization in Financial Co-operatives (Part 1)

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10:30 – 11:00

Tea Break

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11:00 – 12:30

Four parallel tracks presenting 4 research papers each = 16 papers (15 mins x 4)

Open discussion- 30 mins

 

Track A : Innovative Sustainability Practices within Cooperatives (Part 2)

Track B : Understanding Co-operatives’ Contribution to Sustainability and Resilience (Part 2)

Track C : Co-operative Education Ecosystem (Sub theme 5) and Youth Integration (Sub theme 10)

Track D : Community Development, Housing and Social Justice Initiatives (Part 1)

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12:30 to 13:30

Lunch Break

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13:30 – 15:00

Four parallel tracks presenting 3 research papers each = 16 papers (15 mins x 4) Open discussion- 30 mins

Track A : Understanding Co-operatives’ Contribution to Sustainability and Resilience (Part 3)

Track B : Community Development, Housing and Social Justice Initiatives (Part 2)

Track C : Democratic Participation and Co-operative Governance (Part 1)

Track D : Technological Integration in Producer, User and Worker Co-operatives (Part 1)

 

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15:00 – 15:30

Tea Break

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15:30 – 17:00

Four parallel tracks presenting 3 research papers each = 16 papers (15 mins x 4)

Open discussion- 30 mins

 

Track A : Understanding Co-operatives’ Contribution to Sustainability and Resilience (Part 4)

Track B : Democratic Participation and Co-operative Governance (Part 2)

Track C : Technological Integration in Producer, User and Worker Co-operatives (Part 2)

Track D : Co-operatives in the Care Economy / Cooperatives’ Contribution to Sustainability

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17:00 – 18:00

Valedictory Session

Presentation of Young Researcher Awards

Vote of Thanks

The event is closed (only Research Scholars and Research Committee members invited for Research Conference) Observers (as audience) are allowed if communicated to the organizing team by 14th Nov 2025.

Session I [DATE: 24.11.2025 TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM]

Track A : Innovative Sustainability Practices within Cooperatives

Parallel Session 1

Venue: New Win Hall 1  

Session Chair (Alireza Banaeifar)

DATE: 24.11.2025 TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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9:00 – 9:15

ICAAP-CCR25-001

R.C.P. Ranasinghe

Impact of Managerial Leadership on Employee Performance: A Study on Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies in Western Province

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9:15 – 9:30

ICAAP-CCR25-019

Alireza Banaeifar

Fostering Trade and Innovation Through Co-operation Among Co-operatives; A Pathway to Sustainable Economic Growth

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9:30 - 9:45

ICAAP-CCR25-030

Dr. Abhilash Babu

Creating an Enabling Ecosystem for Co-operative Development Through Policymaking: A Pathway to Sustainable Waste Management

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9:45-10:00

ICAAP-CCR25-055

Dr. Sidel Grimstad

Cooperatives, circular economy and eco-innovation in the Asia Pacific

10:00 – 10:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

Track B : Understanding Co-operatives’ Contribution to Sustainability and Resilience (Part 1)

Parallel Session 1

Session Chair ( Prof. Satyendra C. Pandey )

Venue: Board Room 

DATE: 24.11.2025  TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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9:00 – 9:15

ICAAP-CCR25-006

Bahrul Ulum Ilham

Enhancing Farmer Welfare and Agricultural Resilience through Multi-Stakeholder Co-operative-Based Corporations in Indonesia

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9:15 – 9:30

ICAAP-CCR25-015

Srishti Saxena

Shared Risk, Shared Recovery: Role of Agricultural Co-operatives in Mitigating Production Risk through Mutual Crop Insurance Models

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9:30 - 9:45

ICAAP-CCR25-018

Satyendra C. Pandey

Co-operative Youth Entrepreneurship: Linking Competencies, Motivations and Well-being of Rural Dairy Entrepreneurs

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9:45-10:00

ICAAP-CCR25-032

Luis Camilo Oyarzún

From Principles to Practice: The PLUS+ Methodology as a Strategy for Advancing Co-operatives towards Sustainability

10:00 – 10:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

Track C : Creating an Enabling Ecosystem for Co-operative Development through Policy-Making (Part 1)

Parallel Session 1

Session Chair ( Dr. Pitchai Chickanagu)

Venue: Lecture Hall 1  

DATE: 24.11.2025  TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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9:00-9:20

ICAAP-CCR25-014

Abdel Fattah Shalabi

Forging an Enabling Co-operative Policy Environment in Jordan (2021–2025): A National Reform Model

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9:20–9:40

ICAAP-CCR25-099

Dr. Ankita R. Ojha

A Blueprint for Strengthening India’s Co-operative Financial Sector: Leveraging Global Oversight Models for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

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9:30–10:40

ICAAP-CCR25-133

Dr. Pitchai Chickanagu

National Co-operation Policy: A Holistic and Inclusive Vision for India’s Co-operative Future

10:00 – 10:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

Track C : Digitalization in Financial Co-operatives (Part 1)

Parallel Session 1

Session Chair (Dr. D. Sajith Babu)

Venue: Lecture Hall 2

DATE: 24.11.2025  TIME: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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9:00 – 9:15

ICAAP-CCR25-130

R.K.R.N. Madushani

A Qualitative Inquiry into the Experiences of Young Co-operative Members in Networking Platforms in Sri Lanka

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9:15 – 9:30

ICAAP-CCR25-067

Nor Alyani Abdul Razak

A Study on the Assessment of Personal Financing of Co-operative Members in Malaysia

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9:30– 9:45

ICAAP-CCR25-108

Lamia A. El-Dabbas

Advancing Inclusion and Climate Resilience in Jordan’s Horticulture Sector through Co-operative Fintech Solutions

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9:45–10:00

ICAAP-CCR25-037

R.K.R.N. Madushani

Dr. D. Sajith Babu

Digital Transformation in Co-operative Supervision: Impact of the Mobile Inspection Application on PACS in Kerala

10:00 – 10:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

Session II [DATE: 24.11.2025 TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM]

Track A : Innovative Sustainability Practices within Cooperatives (Part 2)

Parallel Session 2

Venue: New Win Hall 1  

Session Chair (Alireza Banaeifar)

DATE: 24.11.2025  TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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11:00-11:15

ICAAP-CCR25-056

Sareesh Kumar P.

The Co-operative Turn in Developing Countries: Re-imagining Disaster Resilience and Climate Action in Rural India – A Case Study

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11:15–11:30

ICAAP-CCR25-069

D.M.D.D.N.D. Namal Dissanayake

Identifying the Sustainability Practices in Multipurpose Co-operative Societies in Sri Lanka

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11:30-11:45

ICAAP-CCR25-083

Dr. Amita Dharmadhikary-Yadwadkar

Analysis of Solar Co-operatives for Sustainable, Clean and Affordable Energy in India

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11:45-12:00

ICAAP-CCR25-150

Alvita Arnisa

Innovative Sustainability Practices in Cooperatives: A Blue Ocean Strategy Approach Toward Advancing SDGs

12:00 – 12:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

Track B : Understanding Co-operatives’ Contribution to Sustainability and Resilience (Part 2)

Parallel Session 2

Session Chair (Dr. Sameer Fahmi Barhoumeh)

Venue: BOARD ROOM

DATE: 24.11.2025  TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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11:00-11:20

ICAAP-CCR25-042

Rossalina Christanti

The Resilience of Credit Unions in Times of Crisis: Insights from Indonesia

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11:20–11:40

ICAAP-CCR25-068

Mrunal Karkhile

Role of Co-operatives in SDG Implementation and Making India a 5 Trillion Economy

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11:40 12:00

ICAAP-CCR25-107

Dr. Sameer Fahmi Barhoumeh

Al-Ridwan Housing Cooperative: A Model for Community-Led Urban Development in Jordan

12:00 – 12:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

Track C : Co-operative Education Ecosystem (Sub theme 5) and Youth Integration (Sub theme 10)

Parallel Session 2

Session Chair (Prof. Shyam Singh)

Venue: Lecture Hall 1  

DATE: 24.11.2025  TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

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Time

Paper id

Author

Paper Title

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11:00–11:20

ICAAP-CCR25-041

Shyam Singh

Educating for Co-operation: Mapping the Landscape of Co-operative Education in India

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11:20–11:40

ICAAP-CCR25-137

Ragubalan Mangaleswaran

A Study on Role of Co-operative Educational Institutions (CEIs) in Imparting Youth Engagement towards Co-operatives

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11:40 12:00

ICAAP-CCR25-088

Evan Hansefri

Factors Related to Generation Z’s Intention to Engage with Co-operatives

12:00 – 12:30
Open Discussion (30 mins)

The detail session schedule is availavle here.