Techno - preneurship University, a role model

By Ranga CHANDRARATHNE

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth - Diogenes Laertius

Driven by a futuristic vision with the prime objective of value addition to the national resource base, the newly established Uva Wellassa University (UWU) offers a role model in terms of administration, research perspective and interdisciplinary approach to education in an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship, ensuring a production of graduates to the nation who are not only highly sought-after and employable but also capable of generating employment for others.

Entrepreneurship, innovation, application of technology and industrial requirements and meeting the highest professional standards are the corner- stone of the guiding philosophy of the education at UWU. Practical fervour buttress with patriotic sentiments are hallmark characteristics of the high quality courses of studies the UWU offers for students leading to Degrees in diverse fields. The courses in the UWU are conducted in the English medium.

The UWU provides 11 entrepreneurship and technological degree programmes. However, the unique feature of the UWU’s administration model is central resource utilisation although university is divided into Faculties and Departments, virtually avoiding the resources duplication as in the compartmantalised approach where each Department set aside resources for it. For instance, UWU has a central facility equipped with modern state-of-art technologies and allied facilities which are shared by all the Departments and Degree Programmes. All the academic resources are provided not for the individual departments but for the degree programmes.

The UWU offers science and technology based degree programmes, Agriculture based degree programmes and Management based degree programmes. One of the unique features of the academic content of the degree programmes the UWU offers is that it covers a gamut of disciplines from applied areas which are really relevant and applicable to the development of the country. The Degree course and the content of the courses are subject to change in keeping with the development goals and market requirements. For instance, the university recently commenced a degree programme in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management.

As there is a post-conflict boom in the Sri Lankan tourism industry and the country has embarked on large-scale tourism development initiatives and programmes, the industry needs manpower to fill the thousands of employment opportunities generated by the boom.

The university’s approach to resource acquisition for degree courses is that it draws resources from outside sources and share resources. For instance, UWU has entered into a partnership with the hotel school where the university shares the resources of the hotel school to conduct the degree programme. For the programme, the hotel school provides resources of its training Centre in Bandarawela and in return the University will work with the hotel school to develop the tourist guide and information base for the Uva Province. The university also entered into partnerships with the corporate sector.

Degree in tea technology

Although Sri Lanka has been producing tea for over 200 years, the technology used in the tea manufacturing process is very old and has not introduced innovative technology in tea manufacturing. Still the country largely uses the orthodox basic machinery for rolling and fermentation, the process would deprive the tea of its authentic taste and flavour. For instance, the fermention methods currently used in the industry are over 100 years old and are proved ineffective considering the high quality in terms of taste and flavour of the made tea demanded in the world market.

The Tea Technology and Value Addition Degree programme the university offers and for which only 50 students enroll. For each degree programme, a batch of 50 students enrolls. The students look for avenues in improving the quality of the made-tea and the students in their research have come out with innovative technologies which can add value to the made-Tea.

Aquatic Resources and Technology programme

The Aquatic Resource and Technology degree programme is a novel degree programme which focuses on the country’s aquatic resources which have been neglected for a long period of time. The university will focus niche areas where the university can contribute through the degree programmes designed on the theme value addition to the national resource base; adding value to the human and technological resource base of the country.

The university will commence a shipping and aviation degree programme with the target of supplying man power for the growing aviation and naval industries as the country becomes a naval and aviation hub of Asia.

Technological degree programmes

Among the important degree programmes of the UWU are Industrial Information Technology and Computer Science and Technology. Most of the vital sectors in the society are automated and Sri Lanka requires adapting computer-based management approaches.

The industrial information resources technology provides students with the know-how to prosper in the industrial sector and students with knowledge and aptitude in the sector will fit into the knowledge specific employment generated particularly in the industrial sector.

One of the objectives of the university is to bridge the gap in the utilisation of the resources for the national development through the knowledge generated through the degree programmes.

Unique feature

One of the unique features of the academic programmes offered by the UWU is that it enrolls students who have studied in arts and commerce subjects to enroll in science and technology degree programmes.

In the conventional university curricula, students who have studied humanities are not allowed to take up science and technology degree programmes. In the Western education models, there are avenues for students to cross boundaries and venture into areas outside their academic spheres.

In considering this issue, the university has opened its degree programmes for students from other subject streams who have passed the Advanced Level examination in any subject combination. The university has introduced a foundation course entitled ‘Broad General Knowledge’ to bridge the knowledge gap among science stream students and non-science stream students.

The course will provide the students with the knowledge of mathematics and science for non-science students and give broader understanding of humanities such as sociology, history and geography for science students. Throughout the degree programmes, students are offered language courses; Sinhala course for Tamil students and Tamil course for Sinhala students. Both groups follow English language courses.

The degree programmes in the university are conducted in English and intensive English language programme is conducted for those students who are weak in English.

Multi-disciplinary environment

One of the advantages of drawing students from diverse academic and social backgrounds is the creation of a multi-disciplinary environment. Sheer diversity of students itself has created such a multi-disciplinary environment which is conducive to robust academic activities and solving issues relating to fields of Technology and Management.

The approach to the curricula in the university is different to the conventional universities. In conventional universities the core of the studies are related to imparting subject-specific knowledge. However, at UWU, In addition to the subject specific knowledge, there are courses dealing with essential skills development, ethics and behavioural norms and patterns in the society and team work.

The graduates produced by the university will not only be equipped with subject specific knowledge and skills but also broader understanding about the society and the national resource base.

Country before self

The graduate value their contribution to the country and they are, essentially, patriotic and appreciate Sri Lankan culture and driven by the motto ‘country before self’.

The university also tries to introduce the culture that motherland is important. Being situated in Badulla, UWU will try to support the development initiative in the province and also make its contribution to add value to the national resource base.

Novel management mode

The university realising its objectives through its degree programmes, has adopted a novel university management practices different to the conventional university system.

Sometimes smooth university functioning is disrupted by student unrest and trade union activities by the academic staff and supportive staff.

Realising these issues the university has adapted a zero ragging policy.

Further, the university has no students’ unrest, protest and no national politics involving and disrupting the activities of the university.

One of the positive aspects of the university culture is the issues solving mechanism through amicable and friendly negotiation process.

The university does not maintain redundant cardres and have no single vehicle or a driver. The transport and security facilities are outsourced and provided by service providers on a competitive bidding process. Some of the management services outsourced are cleaning, office, hostel management services and maintenance.

UWU as a family

One of the important aspects of the university is student management. Steps have been taken to maintain a very cordial and harmonious relationship not only among students and the academic staff but also with the parents of the staff.

For instance, at the beginning of October, when the university admitted new students intake, students and parents were called and separate sessions were held to educate students and the parents or guardians on the facilities the university offers and the nature of the degree programmes and the proactive role that parents and guardians play in the university and help the university to strengthen the concept of Uva Wellassa university family.

UWU keeps the parents informed of the activities of the university and maintains a very close dialogue with them. During the first week at UWU, the integration programme is conducted to introduce students to the university. One of the objectives of the orientation programme is to inculcate the values and traditions of the university in the minds and the hearts of the students. the Five-day oriental programme is made up of Inaugural day (first day), Knowledge Day, Cultural Day, Heritage Day and the Talents Day. At the end of the first week, students were supposed to display their talents in a talents show and to perform on stage.

It has been noted that as a results of unique reshaping of the students at UWU, they perform excellently at national and international competitions and events.

The university has a central administrative building which houses the most of the administrative facilities for diverse departments and the resources have been ashared on a utilitarian basis.

Being located in Uva province in Badulla, the university provides transport facilities for students to visit industries located in diverse parts of the country and for fields visits which is a vital component of the degree courses.

The university is fortunate to have a renowned scholar and an eminent researcher, Professor Ranjith Premalal De Silva as the Vice Chancellor, who has been acclaimed in national and international forums at a young age and has got more than 100 publications including text books to his credit.

He has the personality, charisma and the dedication to promote the distinctive mission of UWU, to bring the best out of excellent young UWU staff, give leadership to teaching, research and outreach missions, develop academic and research links with international universities and institutions, and moreover to build upon the excellent qualities UWU has deeply embedded in its unique University culture.

Plans are afoot to introduce new research projects in foreign collaboration to the university to upgrade the university’s rank in the global university ranking system and to embark on the journey towards knowledge hub of Asia as a world-class university.

The university invites foreign research institutions to conduct joint research programmes at UWU and thereby improve the academic and research quality of the university.

The university has also launched an infrastructure drive acquiring an additional 100 acre land resource adjoining the university and under this massive development drive, new library, laboratories, gymnasium for students, senate building and staff housing facilities will be constructed to have world-class academic and research infrastructure.

The university’s vision is to make it a centre of excellence for value addition at both local and international level.