The Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna proudly presents the fifth Undergraduate Research Symposium (URSA), continuing the legacy of academic excellence established by its predecessors. The first four symposia – URSA 2021, URSA 2022, URSA 2023, and URSA 2024 – were successfully held on January 10, 2022, August 16, 2022, January 18, 2024, and January 22, 2025 respectively. Notably, URSA 2021 and URSA 2022 received significant financial support from the AHEAD project, which was instrumental in their success.

This symposium serves as a vital learning opportunity for undergraduate students, offering them a platform to showcase and disseminate the insights gained from their final-year research. It not only highlights their academic achievements but also fosters a culture of inquiry and intellectual exchange within the university.

The upcoming fifth Undergraduate Research Symposium is scheduled for October 8th, 2025, at the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna. This event promises to be a significant milestone in the academic journey of our undergraduates, reinforcing the faculty’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of scholars.

Theme – “Knowledge in Action: Bridging Disciplines to Empower Change”

In an era marked by accelerated changes and numerous challenges in the world, Humanities and Social Sciences are of paramount importance to comprehend and apprehend the complexities, enabling us to navigate our journey. The Theme of this year’s Undergraduate conference, “Knowledge in Action: Bridging Disciplines to Empower Change” reflects the importance of the application of knowledge, thereby making changes in the intellectual acumen of the Academia by way of integration of multiple disciplines with a view to analyzing the past and engaging with the future.

Located in a culturally and historically significant region in the country, this conference organized by the Faculty of Arts, University of Jaffna, provides a unique platform for undergraduate students under the Sun to share their research work at a time when Sri Lanka essays to rebuild and redefine its identity and trajectory in the post-conflict era with various issues at hand. This conference invites undergraduate students to reflect on their own experiences, all the while pondering over the Socioeconomic inequalities which poses a threat to the existence of Humanities and Social sciences.

By fostering dialogue by dint of critical thinking and creative thinking, we aim to create a conducive space where new ideas can emerge, by way of integration of multiple disciplines, in pursuit of the growth and development of Humanities and Social sciences in Sri Lanka and beyond.