Knowledge Networks for Inclusive Growth

“If you want to develop yourself and advance your career, build and expand your network”
– Thangavel Sakthivell

Eastern Province, where I live, is recovering from a series of natural and man-made disasters: floods, cyclones, conflict, and a Tsunami.  Our community has developed resilience through dealing with these disasters. In 2017, the Australian funded Skills forInclusive Growth Program (S4IG) supported “Skills development in the TourismSector” in Ampara, Batticaloa, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts. I was able to join this team as a Business Development Service Manager.

As we began our S4IG program developing tourism businesses, it became clear our region has many unique physical and cultural resources.However, our diverse communities struggled with understanding the tourism sector. One of the key issues is that the Eastern Province has been isolated for more than three decades.  We wanted to develop tourism in the province but didn’t have the knowledge base to implement projects in an efficient way. We were looking for solutions and models that we could adopt.  

In 2018, I was accepted for an Australia Awards Short Course in Sustainable Tourism. This program changed my career and many people’s lives.  The Australia Awards organisers, and academic and industry team involved in this process, were able to plant hope in our mind as we became responsible for creating “Sustainable Tourism”,not only in our region but also in the world.

Because of this course, I was able to visit Australia and see good tourism practices operating firsthand.

The course also enabled me to expand my network and connect with some of the best players in the tourism space.

I have used this network to continue learning and to receive support for my projects at a regional and national level. Many of the other participants in this course, in the education, government and private sectors, have helped our region by supporting these initiatives. Around 450 families have benefited directly from S4IG projects such as e-tourism and tour guide training, business coaching, surf instructor certification, development of tour activity groups, and recovery from the Easter attack. My network has proved to be invaluable for innovation and implementation of these ideas.

My team and I have been working in the S4IG program and have been able to participate in many international webinars where we could share and learn ways of navigating through the challenges posed by COVID-19 and similar disasters. I am thankful and proud to be a participant of the Australia AwardsShort Course.

The big take away for me from this course is the importance of ‘’knowledge and networking’’. Both are important for your career and must be used properly.  The friendships I have developed have initiated many positive changes which will last forever. They are an investment in the human resources of an isolated and in-need, but capable, community. I now do not feel so isolated by physical distance as my “knowledge network” connects me with professionals and key players in the tourism sector around the world.

I am thankful to the Australia Awards Short Course Leader, Professor Noel Scott, and the team from Griffith University and University of the Sunshine Coast who mentored us during the course and continue to support us. They have become part of our network and encourage us to explore opportunities and ideas.