EDUCATION

Engineering Research Unit of Moratuwa University Symposium

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Twenty four academics from the University of Moratuwa have been rewarded for outstanding research with over two third from FOE and research opportunities are provided with increasing enrolments for post-graduate degrees both by course and research.

Dean, Faculty of Engineering of the Moratuwa University Prof. Ananda Jayawardena said delivering the welcome speech at the 14th Annual Symposium organised by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Moratuwa held at the Galle Face Hotel Colombo on Friday.

He said UOM is fortunate to have increased opportunities to carry out industry funded applied research due to very close collaboration with the industry and in transforming research into development and trends in development leading to research is continuing. As a result there are several industry sponsored labs fully geared for R&D, he said.

Another positive aspect is that enthusiasm for research is improving with availability of qualified staff, improved funding, improved facilities, peer competition, promotional prospects, active support by Heads and administration and motivation through recognition of outstanding researchers and achievers.

Prof. Jayawardena pointed out that the confidence on the university by the industry and the Government Ministries has vastly improved and the faculty also has been successful in attracting research and development funding from the Government Ministries in addition to the Ministry of Higher Education.

The University has received a total of Rs. 140m to establish a Rapid Prototyping facility in the Engineering Design Centre and to establish Dye and Mould manufacturing facility in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

This is a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Industries, UOM and Dye and Mould Manufacturers’ Association. Both these facilities provide significant input to industry for R&D.

Apart from that the Engineering Design Centre also has received Rs. 4 m from the Ministry of Industries to develop hybrid power supply for a local three-wheeler manufacturer, ALBA.

The University has also developed a scheme for the industry to support the university research through Endowed Research Chairs like in international universities. At the moment there are two offers to establish these positions in the area of ‘Entrepreneurship’ and ‘sustainable Energy and Climate Change’ according to Prof. Jayawardena.

He invited the industry to come forward and join hands with the University as there are many more opportunities and strategies to solve a specific problem, sponsor research, industry labs, endowed research chairs or industry supported PG research to move forward together as partners in our quest to develop R&D, entrepreneurship leading to wealth creation for the nation.

This year’s ERU Symposium had received 76 extended abstracts out of which 62 were included in the symposium programme.

The topics covered during three parallel sessions included robotics and intelligent systems,system automation,automatic control, modelling and simulation,power electronics,wireless communications energy, waste treatment,materials systems design, transportation,technology management process engineering and product development, according to Prof. Ajith de Alwis.

ANC passes another milestone

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The American National College (ANC) has passed another milestone becoming a one stop shop for UK, USA and Australian degree programmes, Dean of the Faculty Dr Upali Mampitiya told the Daily News Business.

He said the ANC has reached greater heights during the recent years by way of increased student numbers, acceptance of credits by foreign universities etc. It has also started the US degree completion programme in Business from Northwood University.

Another step forward taken was starting the Australian University Transfer Programme with prestigious Monash University. These programmes are designed by Monash academics and supported by highly experienced Australian and local lecturers. The first intake of 2007 has twenty seven students.

The students can join the programme with O’Level or A’Level and then at the end admission to University of Monash is guaranteed he said. ANC has appointed enrolment directors for each programme.

Dr Mampitiya said the trend in admission is changing. Earlier A’ Level was a must now it is not the case because UK has recognised 12 years education is sufficient. “Universities are coming up with their own programmes as foundation year of Diploma and with that they can enter. We offer those pre university programmes also at ANC,” he said.

“ANC also signed up with the Consortium of University in UK which is called NCUK which offers UK transfer programmes here and that was started in 2008. We started with UK headed by University of Manchester and another 11 universities. Students are guaranteed the admission to any one of those eleven universities.

In between the degree completion programme was developed by introducing Psychology and IT from Missori University of Science and Technology. Students can finish these courses entirely in Sri Lanka which is another advantage,” he further stated.

Dr Mampitiya said ANC is different to other universities because each programme is headed by an Employment Management Director from that respective programmes. On top of that it has expat faculty members . At present there are six teaching professors supported by local faculty members who have Masters or PhD.

ANC has lot of extra curricular activities not just academic. They develop a holistic approach to sports, charity business, etc where the students become more employable. Charity teaches how to get involved with other people. Sports days, Graduation Fashion Shows are also conducted annually.

The recent Road Show was very successful and received excellent response from people particulary to US degree undergraduate and graduate markets and the transfer postgraduate market. Some had enrolled already with some starting after O’Levels. Embassy involvement provided confidence. ANC speaks to banks and provide loan facilities for students if necessary, Dr Mampitiya said.

PMP Certification Training @ Singapore Informatics

The next Project Management programme in Sri Lanka will be conducted at Singapore Informatics Professional Development Centre, the only registered education provider with PMI USA from October 30.

The five days programme is scheduled on October 30, November 1, 6, 7 and 8. Programme will be conducted by renowned Project Management expert, trainer and a consultant, Dr. Madhu Fernando (PMP, DBA, MEng, - One of the 25 world’s Most Influential Women in Project Management - PMI PM Network Magazine), together with an experienced team of PMP Trainers and project management experts from different industries, Ajith Ranasinha (PMP), Pasan Manukith (PMP) and Aruna Kooragamage (PMP).

The Project Manager’s role has never been so interesting and challenging with the increasing popularity of the Project Management Profession, as well as the high expectations organisations have set on project management. Many organisations in both private and public sector expect their project managers to play a key role in implementing their vision into reality, as it has a proactive and result oriented approach.

Understanding the value of Project Management, today organisations are calling project managers with prestigious PMP - Project Management Professional credential to take up the top roles in their project organisations. If you are in the project management field, you will discover infinite possibilities with PMP credential issued by the US based Project Management Institute (PMI).

PMI is the leading global project management association with more than 260,000 members in over 170 countries around the world.

The PMI certification programme department maintains ISO 9001 standards in quality, underscoring its commitment to excellence for a credential that is globally recognised and valued by project management practitioners. Exam questions are developed by individuals around the world who already hold the credential.

Singapore Informatics head quarters, Informatics Education Limited of Singapore is in a strategic alliance with PMI USA to deliver highest quality project management training through their professional certification training division, Professional and Skills development Centre (PSD).

Free course preview and spot admission Inspire Management Institute

Inspire Management Institute (IMI), the Sri Lanka branch campus of Singapore’s Inspire Business School, scheduled to begin its first intake of students in Sri Lanka in November, will hold a special introductory course preview session and spot admission for students on October 19 at 2pm at the Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo.

IMI which is located at Nugegoda will offer various courses that will include undergraduate diplomas, advanced diplomas and final year degree programme in Business Administration and Accountancy.

Chief Academic Officer of Inspire Business School Singapore Simon Teo, said this is an ideal opportunity for Sri Lankan students who would like to work abroad as the courses awarded at the School are internationally recognised.

The Regional Marketing Director of Inspire Business School Patrick Lek, said with the setting up of Inspire Management Institute in Sri Lanka, many Sri Lankan students will have access to an internationally recognised qualification backed with a competent lecture panel and visiting lecturers from Singapore and abroad. The students will also be able to receive a qualification with a fraction of the cost of studying in Singapore.

Inspire Business School already has branch campus in China, Malaysia, Myanmar and Mongolia. The seminar at Trans Asia Hotel will provide in-depth information students and parents need on the Institute, the courses available and the benefits of following a course with Inspire Management Institute.

Knowledge driven institutional reforms for plantation sector stressed

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

Investments in agriculture need to be rationalised and appropriate knowledge driven institutional reforms have to be brought into transform agriculture in Asian countries.

An appropriate framework for technology development and dissemination is very much needed from the present approach of its sustenance as a way of life to a vibrant economic activity for future generations.

Project Coordinator (Palms) All India Coordinated Research project Dr. S. Arulraj who was the chief guest at the symposium on plantation crop research, delivering the key note address on International Trade For Plantation Sector Prosperity at the BMICH Colombo on Friday, said the growth of agriculture both in terms of GDP and livelihood security with social equity has been ever challenging and more so in the present context of inadequate public sector investment and services and pressure of globalisation of agriculture leading to a greater demand for highly knowledge intensive services.

He pointed out that transforming process must begin by imparting dynamism and optimism in the farm sector. Accelerated agricultural progress based on the enhancement of productivity, sustainability and profitability through farming systems diversification, sustainable intensification, quality upgradation and value addition, is vital not only for food security and poverty eradication but also for national sovereignty, he said.

Chairperson of Second Symposium on Plantation Research Organising Committee and Director Coconut Research Institute Chithrangani Jayasekara said the plantation sector in the country occupies over 750,000 hectares of productive land providing employment for over 1.5 million people contributing nearly five per cent to GDP with the four crops valuing over Rs. 115 billion.

She said Sri Lanka has to set the pace with plantation crop producing countries by increasing productivity, competitiveness and quality of product processes to face the emerging global challenges of high cost of energy, small land sizes, environmental disasters, due to global warming.

She said that the theme Export Competitiveness through quality improvements was selected for this symposium considering the importance of those facts and more emphasis was paid on new technological developments in product and process development on tea rubber and coconut sectors.

The Second Symposium was a joint effort of research in coconut, tea, rubber and sugarcane institutes to discuss and disseminate novel research findings among fellow scientists and stakeholders.

Government committed to helping Indians - Malaysia

Seeking to address the concerns of ethnic Indians alleging racial discrimination, the Malaysian government today said it was committed to helping the community in terms of employment, education and business opportunities.

The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Mohd Najib Razak who chaired the Cabinet Committee for Indian Affairs had asked the Public Services Department to increase the intake of Indians in government departments and agencies, second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop said in Butterworth.

He has also asked the relevant bodies to ensure that scholarships are given fairly to deserving Indian students, after presenting Diwali goodies to the needy the Daily Star reported today.

PTI