Archives

IT faculty opens at Moratuwa University

by Nadira Gunatilleke

The newly formed Faculty of Information Technology at the University of Moratuwa, the first of its kind in the State university system was inaugurated by the Deputy Ambassador of Norway, Odvar Laegreid with the admission of the first batch of students yesterday.

The new faculty which would conduct the first non-fee levying internal degree program on Information Technology in Sri Lanka will make the course broad-based so that it would cover various IT disciplines. The new faculty is expected to eventually cater to a total annual intake of 500 students for its undergraduate program and another 1000 on short-term training programs functioning by 2005. At present the number of IT professionals produced annually by all institutions in Sri Lanka is less than one fifth of the country's total requirement.

The faculty will also offer supplementary IT courses for the existing BSc Engineering, Quantity Surveying and Architecture degree courses so that all graduates would be trained in IT applications in their relevant fields of study. The new faculty will offer post-graduate conversion diploma programs to transfer other degrees to IT sector degrees as practised in developed countries. The degree program in the IT faculty has been designed with multiple entry and exit provisions and to accommodate entrants from many fields of specialisation at the GCE (A/L).

Laegreid said that the North East conflict strained the resources of the country and impeded development. "The Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg is very busy working on Sri Lanka's peace process", he said. The University of Moratuwa is a very important higher education institution in the country and NORAD has been assisting Sri Lanka to develop tertiary education since bilateral cooperation commenced between the two countries 25 years ago. It is the duty of the students to obtain maximum benefit from this course and work for the country's future economic development.

Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education and Training, Saman Ediriweera said it was a pleasure for him as student of the University of Moratuwa about 30 years ago that the institution has achieved great progress since then. Several programs will be implemented under the government's 100 Days Program to develop tertiary education.

Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Prof. Dayantha Wijeyesekara, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology, Dr.Priyantha Wijayatunge, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Prof.B.R.N.Mendis, Chairman, National Education Commission, Prof.R.P.Gunawardena and President, Computer Society of Sri Lanka, Niranjan De Silva also spoke.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager