University of Moratuwa

University of Moratuwa
මොරටුව විශ්වවිද්‍යාලය
Motto	विद्यायेव शर्वधनम (Vidyaiwa Sarwadhanam Sanskrit, "Wisdom is all Wealth").
Established	1972
Chancellor	Dr. Roland Silva
Vice-Chancellor	Prof. Malik Ranasinghe
Admin. staff	500
Undergraduates	4,000
Postgraduates	500
Location	Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Website	www.mrt.ac.lk

The University of Moratuwa, located on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake in Katubedda, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, is the top technological university in Sri Lanka. Apart from the academics including the undergraduate and postgraduate studies, university of Moratuwa presents a variety of social and cultural activities, student services, societies^[1], and sports and recreational activities^[2]. The institution was known as Ceylon College of Technology, Katubedda ( Katubedda Tech) before gaining university status. Its roots however go back to the Institute of Practical Technology, founded in 1960 to provide technician education.

Students from the University of Moratuwa have won a number of competitions for Google Summer of Code in 2007, 2008, and 2009,^[3][4] Imagine Cup Sri Lanka^{[citation needed]}, and IEEEXtreme Competition. ^{[5] [6]} Further in Google Summer of Code, University of Moratuwa was ranked as the top university Worldwide in terms of the number of awards received by students for the five year period from its inception in 2005.^[7]

History

The University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka is an independent state university located at Katubedda, Moratuwa overlooking the picturesque Bolgoda Lake. It was established as the University of Moratuwa (UoM), Sri Lanka on 22 December 1978 under the Universities Act No.16 of 1978 and operates under the general direction of the University Grants Commission. However, its origin can be traced back to the Government Technical School (GTS) which was established in Maradana, Colombo in 1893.

The GTS, established in 1893 at Maradana, Colombo was the first institution for formal technical education in Sri Lanka (other than for the Ceylon Medical School established in 1870). It became the pioneering institution for science education in Sri Lanka and its name was changed to the Ceylon Technical College (CTC) in 1906. The CTC provided technical education in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering fields even before the establishment of the University College Colombo, affiliated to the University of London, in 1921.

The CCT at Katubedda first earned University status, as the Katubedda Campus of the single University of Ceylon, on 15th February 1972. The Department of Architecture, then at Colombo, was transferred to Katubedda in the formation of this new Campus. The Katubedda Campus thus began with one faculty, that of Engineering and Architecture. The first President of the Campus was Dr.L.H.Sumanadasa who steered the progress of the Institution, was in fact the Principal of the IPT before it became the Katubedda Campus. When Ceylon became a Republic on 22nd May 1972, the corporate name of the single University was changed to the University of Sri Lanka. Consequently, the Diploma in Technology programme was upgraded to the BSc Engineering degree and all students from the first intake of Diploma in Technology became eligible for the degree. Further, the name of the Technicians course was changed to the National Diploma in Technology. ^[8]

Organization and administration

Academic Entities

Faculty of Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering is the most demanding and top ranked Engineering Faculty in Sri Lanka. It is the largest faculty in the University of Moratuwa, comprising 12 academic departments, over 200 academic staff and around 3500 undergraduate and post-graduate students. The Faculty at present offers Bachelor of the Science of Engineering degree in 9 disciplines, Bachelor of Design degree in Fashion Design and Product Development and Bachelor of Science degree in Transport and Logistics Management. In addition, the Faculty offers a large number of post-graduate degrees leading to Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Philosophy, Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy. ^[9]

Entrance to the faculty is as for all state universities through the highly competitive GCE Advanced Level examination.^[10] The entrance examination consists of Maths, Physics and Chemistry subjects. Entrance is granted on the Z-score obtained. The duration of the Degree is four years on completion of which the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science of Engineering is awarded.

The Departments at the Faculty of Engineering are

• Department of Chemical & Process Engineering
• Department of Civil Engineering
• Department of Computer Science & Engineering
• Department of Earth Resources Engineering
• Department of Electrical Engineering
• Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering
• Department of Materials Engineering
• Department of Mechanical Engineering
• Department of Textile & Clothing Technology
• Department of Transport & Logistics offers the degree B.Sc. in Transport & Logistics Management.

Following departments do not have dedicated students but they are support the academic activities of other Departments by offering subjects to engineering undergraduates from all fields.

• Department of Management of Technology
• Department of Mathematics

Faculty of Architecture

The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Moratuwa confers Bachelors Degrees in Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Town & Country Planning, Facilities Management and Design. In addition it also confers Masters degrees in Project Management and other Post-Graduate degrees of the fields relevant to academic Departments. The Faculty of Architecture enjoys the unique distinction of being the only seat of education in Sri Lanka offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Architecture, Town & Country Planning, Facilities Management and Quantity Surveying. Many of the programmes conducted by the faculty have reached International Standards.

The Departments at the Faculty of Architecture are

• Department of Architecture
• Department of Building Economics
• Department of Town & Country Planning

Faculty of Information Technology

Faculty of Information Technology is the youngest faculty of the University of Moratuwa formed in 2001. Entrance to the faculty is as for all state universities through the highly competitive GCE Advanced Level examination from science(Maths/Bio) stream of study and an aptitude test conducted by the faculty. The faculty consists of 3 departments,
Information Technology
Computational Mathematics
Interdisciplinary Studies

Institute of Technology University of Moratuwa (ITUM)

Institute of Technology University of Moratuwa which was established in 2000 is temporally located inside the university until it is shifted to Homagama campus, The ITUM offers NDT(National Diploma in Technology) which is a technical diploma to produce technical officers for the industry.

Following discipline of fields are available in ITUM.

• Chemical Engineering Technology
• Civil Engineering Technology
• Electrical Engineering Technology
• Electronic Engineering Technology
• Marine Engineering Technology.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Nautical Engineering Technology
• Polymer Engineering Technology
• Textile Engineering Technology

Other Sections

Physics Unit
English Language Teaching Centre
Computing Services Centre
Industrial Training Division
Engineering Post Graduate Studies Division
Engineering Under Graduate Studies Division
Engineering Research Unit
Industrial Automation Research Center(IARC)

Officers of the university

Chancellor

Chancellor is the head of the university, and is responsible for awarding all the academic degrees. Usually the Chancellor is a distinguished person in an academic disciplene. Otherwise it is a distinguished person or a clergy in the civil society. Appointment is done by the head of the state, the President of Sri Lanka. The position is mainly ceremonial and duties are usually carried out by the vice chancellor. The current chancellor of the University is Deshamanya Dr. Dr. Roland Silva.

Vice Chancellor

The Vice chancellor is de facto the principal academic and administrative officer of the university, responsible for the management tasks. This appointment is also done by the President of Sri Lanka. The current vice chancellor of the University is Prof. Malik Ranasinghe, BSc Eng (Moratuwa), MASc (BrCol), PhD (BrCol), CEng, FIE (SL).

Deans of Faculties

Deans are the heads of the faculties. They are responsible for the management and the tasks carried out by the faculty. Deans are appointed by the chancellor for a time period of three years.

Dean Faculty of Architecture:
Professor (Mrs.) Chitra Weddikkara
B.Sc.B.E.(S.L), A.Arch. (Aust), B.Sc.Q.S.(Aust), M.Sc.Bldg(Aust),
Ph.D(Law), R.A.I.A.(Aust), F.I.A.(S.L.), A.I.Q.S.,A.I.Q.S.(Aust),
F.R.I.C.S., F.I.Q.S.(S.L.)

Dean Faculty of Engineering:
Professor U.G.A. Puswewala
B.Sc.Eng (Moratuwa), MEng. (AIT), PhD (Manitoba), CEng, MIE(SL)

Dean Faculty of Information Technology:
Prof. Asoka Karunananda
B.Sc. (Hons), M.Phil., Ph.D. (Keele)

Other Officers

Registrar:
Mr. A L Jaufer Sadique
BA (Cey) P.G.D. Mgt (OUSL)

Librarian:
Mrs. R C Kodikara
BA(Kelaniya), MLS(BrCol)

Bursar:
Mr. E. M. R. L. Munaweera

Notable people affiliated with the UoM

• Arthur C. Clarke - former Chancellor
• Dr. Ray Wijewardena - former Chancellor
• Prof. S. "SAM" Karunaratne - former Vice Chancellor
• Prof. J.R. Lucas
• Dr. D. Amith I. Munindradasa

     Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering website
     A man of many talents - Sri Lanka Guardian

• Saman Amarasinghe

Coordinates: 6°47′47″N 79°54′3″E / 6.79639°N 79.90083°E / 6.79639; 79.90083

Student life

Student organizations

Students at the University of Moratuwa run over 25 clubs and organizations. These include cultural and religious groups, academic clubs and common-interest organizations. The University Students' Union is considered the highest body which represents all internal students of the university.^[11] Separate student unions operate in each faculty. These student societies include:

• The University Students' Union -This is the union consisting of all members of the Faculty unions of the University.
• The Engineering Faculty Students' Union - The union consisting of the representatives of students in the Faculty of Engineering , elected for a period of one year.
• The Architecture Faculty Students' Union - The union consisting of the representatives of students in the Faculty of Architecture.
• The Information Technology Faculty Students Union - The union consisting of the representatives of students in the Faculty of Information Technology.

• Astronomical Society
• Buddhist Society
• Catholic Students' Society
• Civil Engineering Society
• Computer Society
• Electrical Engineering Society
• Electronic Club
• English Literary Association
• Ethugalpura Students' Circle
• Gavel club
• LEO Club
• Majlis Ui Islam Society
• Maritime Club
• Mass Media Society
• Materials Engineering Students' Society
• Mechanical Engineering Society
• Moratuwa Students Christian Fellowship
• Nature Team
• Quantity Surveying Society
• Rangamadale Api Rangakala Ekamuthuwa
• Rotaract Club
• Sinhala Cultural Society
• Sisu Sahana Society
• Student Development Society
• Tamil Literary Society
• Toastmasters Club

Sports and Recreation

Department of Physical Education is the place which caters the total student population of the University in sports. The Department gives the students sports facilities in two ways.

• The students who wish to do certain games only for their fun in their leisure times and the students who wish to get these facilities only to make their strength are given a chance of using the power room, swimming, Weight lifting room, Common room 1 for Table Tennis, Carom & Chess and the Gymnasium to play Badminton.
• The Department conducts a regular programme for 18 sports namely Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Carom, Chess, Cricket, Elle, Football, Karate, Netball, Rowing, Rugby Football, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Weight Lifting & Wrestling. The Department not only gives the facilities necessary to these Sports but also supplies qualified coaches for most of the games. The aim in this regular programme is to participate in the annual Inter University Championships as well as the National Championships.

References

1. ^ Societies in University of Moratuwa
2. ^ Sports and recreational activities in University of Moratuwa
3. ^ Google Summer of Codes Official Blog - Statistics
4. ^ This Week's Top 10's: Universities for Google Summer of Code 2008
5. ^ IEEEXtreme Competition 2009
6. ^ IEEEXtreme Competition: UoM team wins world prize
7. ^ Google Summer of Codes Official Blog - Statistics
8. ^ The History of the University
9. ^ Home page of Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa
10. ^ University Admissions - Minimum Z-Scores
11. ^ Student's Unions, Student's Societies and Clubs of University of Moratuwa

External links

• University of Moratuwa
• Links to the News page maintained by ITFAC
• Innomech Programme
• MoraSpirit Initiative