The Staff Development Center of the University of Vavuniya organized a discussion on “Building Social Responsibility through Employee Volunteering: Pathways for Academic Staff, Academic Support, Executive & Administrative Staff.” This workshop was scheduled to be held on 17th October 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Board Room, IT Centre, University of Vavuniya. The session was conducted by Mr. Balakumar Thangavelu, Director – CSR, India Head – Outreach, Employee Volunteering (CSR) | Global Lead – ESG, and Ms. Vidhya Bhojan, Founder of Right Dots, a CSR consulting firm, who served as the resource persons, sharing their expertise with the staff.
The Discussion on “Building Social Responsibility through Employee Volunteering” successfully raised awareness among academic and administrative staff at the University of Vavuniya about the importance of integrating social responsibility into their professional roles. The resource persons explained the significance of employee volunteering and how university staff can actively contribute to community development. They shared examples of CSR programs and services that universities and alumni associations can implement. Additionally, they presented five main volunteering pathways for universities. The first is Curriculum-Linked Community Projects, where students and staff work on real-life community issues as part of their academic learning. The second is School and Infrastructure Support, which involves assisting schools with basic needs and facilities. The third pathway is Health and Nutrition Outreach, were staff support health awareness and nutrition programs for local communities. The fourth is Capacity Building and Teacher Training, focusing on enhancing the skills of school teachers. The fifth and final pathway is Immersive Exposure and Mentoring, where university members provide guidance and mentorship to students or youth through close interaction. Overall, the session helped participants understand how they can contribute meaningfully to society through volunteering and how such efforts can strengthen the university’s role in community development.
