The research project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), and is led by Principal Investigator, Professor Paola Scaparra from KENT University, along with participation of professors and doctors from Universities of KENT, Southampton, Lancaster (United Kingdom), other universities and research institutes from 05 Southeast Asian countries including AMDI Institute, Royal University of Phnom Penh, National University of Laos, University of Indonesia, Hanoi University of Sciences – Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport and Yezin Agricultural University of Myanmar. The overarching aim of CREST-OR is to establish a long-term UK-Southeast Asia partnership to build research capacity in mathematical OR tools that can be used to address urgent Southeast Asian needs in four target areas including:

•       Disaster Risk Management;

•       Resilient transport infrastructure;

•       Food Security;

•       Smart cities.

The project was started in April 2020 and completed in March 2022. At the Final Dissemination Workshop, the project results and proposals were presented by OR ECR. Besides, the workshop also demonstrated the project website integrated with the online learning management system on Operational Research. The website was built with the desire to be a sharing and learning platform for researchers, students who are interested in Operational Research and its application to solve daily challenges.

Representatives from countries attending the international Scientific Workshop principally agreed on the establishment of the Southeast Asian Operational Research Network (SEAORN), whereby each country participating in the project (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam) will nominate a member to join the SEAORN Management Board and continue to build the SEAORN network.

The workshop also received very useful sharing from the members of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS) and the Asia-Pacific Association for Operational Research Societies (APORS), which are the leading organizations of Operational Research in the world in terms of opportunities to build and develop the Southeast Asia Operational Research Network (SEAORN).

By the afternoon of the same day, the workshop was held successfully, aiming at many positive and effective solutions in building the SEAORN network and sharing the system of learning and research databases on Operational Research.

Some pictures of the Final Dissemination Workshop:

Principal Investigator, Professor Paola Scaparra from KENT University presented “CREST-OR: Objectives and achievements”

Representatives from Vietnam, University of Kent - United Kingdom, Laos, Indonesia, and Cambodia

Vice President of Royal University of Phnom Penh, Dr. Phal Des speaking at the opening of the workshop

 Representatives of Asian Management and Development Institute (AMDI) and Hanoi University of Science presented souvenirs to Principal Investigator, Professor Paola Scaparra, KENT University

Representative of Laos, Dr. Pinkham Thanavanh presented “Using Operational Research to improve wastewater and drainage system resilience to climate change in Pakse, Laos”