Co-operatives for Sustainable Development: Innovation, Digitalization and Community Empowerment

Friday, 11 December 2026, at the National Institute of Co-operative Development, Polgolla, Sri Lanka (hybrid symposium)

The National Institute of Co-operative Development (NICD) is pleased to invite researchers, academics, practitioners, and postgraduate students to submit abstracts and extended abstracts for the International Research Symposium on Co-operative Development (IRSCD 2026).

The symposium aims to provide an academic and professional platform for sharing research findings, innovative practices, and policy perspectives that contribute to sustainable co-operative development, organizational innovation, digital transformation, and community empowerment.

Conference Tracks

Submissions are invited under the following tracks:

Management & Digital Innovation
Focus areas: cooperative management, leadership, governance, operational efficiency, digital technologies, financial services, entrepreneurship and organizational innovation.

Social Sciences & Community Empowerment
Focus areas: social entrepreneurship and enterprise development, social inclusion, poverty reduction, women's empowerment, youth entrepreneurship and participation, community development, cooperative member engagement, cooperative education and social capital.

Multidisciplinary Studies for Sustainable Development
Focus areas: research that connects cooperative development with environmental sustainability, agriculture, climate resilience, public policy, education, community health, economics and other disciplines.

Submission Guidelines

Abstract: 200–300 words, with 4–6 keywords.(For symposium proceedings publication)
Extended abstract: 1,000–1,500 words, excluding references.(For peer review)
Language: English or Sinhala.

The extended abstract should include the title, author details, introduction and research problem, brief literature review, methodology, results and discussion, conclusions and recommendations or policy implications, APA-style references, and an originality declaration.

Important Dates

Paper Submission Deadline: 10 November 2026 - email to [email protected]
Notification of Acceptance: 20 November 2026
Registration Deadline: 5 December 2026
Symposium Date: 11 December 2026

Paper presentations will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing participants to present their papers either in person or online. Selected papers will also be considered for publication in the refereed journals Sri Lanka Journal of Cooperative Studies and Samagri, subject to the applicable editorial and review processes.

Mr. Prabath Galagamage- Senior Researcher and Ms. Onela Pathirana- Assistant Researcher

On behalf of the Organising Committee.