Slide 1

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 2

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 3

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 4

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 5

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 6

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 7

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 8

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 9

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 10

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 11

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 12

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 13

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 14

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 15

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 16

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 17

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 18

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 19

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 20

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 21

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 22

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 23

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 24

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 25

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 26

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 27

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 28

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 29

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 30

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 31

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 32

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 33

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 34

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 35

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 36

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 37

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 38

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 39

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 40

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 41

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 42

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 43

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 44

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 45

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 46

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 47

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 48

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 49

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 50

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All


Slide 51

The Need of
‘Technology Teaching’
to be
‘Practice Orientated’

by

Dr. Roland Silva
Emeritus Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Chairperson,
Chancellors and Vice Chancellors,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This is a paper we have culled out and condensed
from an Address made by us to the
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2012.

We will never tire ourselves repeating
this a thousand times as we feel that it is
only with the deeper digestion of this
critical thought and in the
implementation of such a concept, that
Moratuwa University and other
Technology Universities will be
contributing substantially towards the
advancement of Our Mother Land.

In 2011, we advanced a couple of
thoughts where the Teaching
Curriculum of the Technical University
could be dovetailed with a Construction
Organization and in so doing, the
student’s knowledge base could be made
to mature in a hands-on environment,
thus assimilating the applied principles
of the theories that they were digesting.

By this method the youth will
already be swimming at the deeper
end of their practice pool on the day
of their convocation.

With this in view, my suggestion was that the
Vice Chancellor requested for an Additional
Deputy Vice Chancellor precisely for this
purpose of “Practice Orientated Teaching”
from the Grant’s Commission and assigning
him to this task. He too should be permitted to
hand pick the right Dons from each
Department of Studies for this purpose with a
specific budget for this enterprise and then to
fix a time target to have these programmes
implemented, perhaps within one or two years.

If such an end result was reached, the
respective Dons and the Deputy Vice
Chancellor should have been
appropriately remunerated both
academically and financially.

I am placing below in summary what
I stated in December 2011 pertaining
to “The Need of Technology
Teaching being Practice
Orientated” as mentioned to the
“Annual Symposium of the
Engineering Research Unit”.

1. Ship and Trawler Designing and Building with
the Fisheries Ministry and the Colombo
Dockyards PLC

This course of training can easily be twined
with a working organization as that given
below. The emphasis being that the students be
orientated to working conditions on the lines of
a “teaching hospital”. Hence, the university
dons needed to identify an organization where
the students are made to step into the workings
of the trade from day one as is with the doctors.
An international institution that is on a parallel
practice, may be considered instead of having
to ‘re-invent the wheel’:

Colombo Dockyards, established in 1974 is Sri
Lanka’s leading ship repair, shipbuilding, heavy
engineering and offshore engineering facility,
conveniently located within the port of
Colombo, a hub to all major shipping lanes. As
a state of the arts engineering entity, it operates
on four graying dry docks.
A tactical collaboration with Onomichi
Dockyards Co Ltd of Japan in 1993, had proved
to be a highly successful venture. Onomichi’s
long and reputed history in training and
developing programs, has enhanced the
professional skills and the technical experience
of the engineers and apprentices.

2. Train Carriage Assembly with the Railway
Department and the Ratmalana Workshop
We may be wrong if we were to accept a wild
statement that the only Railway Line that was laid
in the Island since the British left Sri Lanka in
1948, was the toy train that was laid out in
Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. It is with a view
to correcting such a humbling and thought
provoking statement that we suggested, that the one
and only Technical University of the country, takes
up the challenge to move forward with programmes
of work to counter the truth or otherwise of such a
humiliating comment, directed, no doubt, against
the intellectual prowess of a highly capable
community.

With this in view, it seemed prudent that we
corrected any misunderstandings about our good
nation and made up for any lost ground, and so get
our tracks in place and see that the Railway Stocks
kept moving, and that, not with imports as at
present, but with products turned out by our own
hands and intellectual genius. However, let us be
humble to learn this from those that have already
had some experience as the people of Hungary:

The “Raba Automotive Regional University
Knowledge Center” in Hungary is such an
organization that can join hands with the
Ratmalana Railway Workshop and Moratuwa
University to meet such an objective. In order to
promote technological innovation in Hungary,
which is the basis of development, the company
took an active part in the establishment of the
“Automotive Regional University Knowledge
Center”. Quality training of the employees had
been taking place for two years in the framework
of “Raba’s Learning Academy”. With such an
impetus and by the introduction of a share-option
purchasing scheme, which is a unique practice in
Hungary, the company strengthened the
management’s loyalty efficiently and was, thereby,
able to earn 50 billion Hungarian units of currency
profit in 2006.

3. Building Buses with TATA Motors and the CTB
A major shortcoming in the country is the lack
of proper public transport. This has resulted in
people using private vehicles to get to their
places of work. Thus, contributing the
overcrowding of roads and the excessive use of
expensive fuel. It is a national responsibility for
Institutions like the Universities to provide the
intellectual back up to national needs. One such
way would be to educate the public to use public
transport such as bus travel by providing
adequate fleet of buses at reasonable cost than
spending valuable foreign exchange in
importing buses. Moreover, these are different
avenues of employment to all sectors of the
people as well.

It is with a multi-purpose objective that we suggest
that the University undertakes not only the
designing of bus body’s, but also the mechanical
development of the machines as well, which aspects
can be the academic features of a course of studies
at a Technical University as Moratuwa. Such
details can be worked out with institutions like
Tata Motors, which organization is already
working in Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Transport
Board.

4. Construction of Speedways along with the
Highways Authority

The Speedway Constructions has taken a new
dimension in development with the
inauguration of the Southern Expressway. This
trend will, undoubtedly, be replicated
throughout the Island. It is most definitely an
area that will require large number of
Specialized Engineers. Thus, Moratuwa needs
to wake up to this call by the nation.

A country that has developed its infrastructure
of highways in recent years is China. And also
as a country that is most sympathetic to Sri
Lanka’s growth, China could well be a donor
not only to the enterprise of training, but will
undoubtedly, considered being a banker to
“Speedway Constructions in Sri Lanka” as
well.

A forward-looking statements made by
John Bai, Chief Financial Officer, China
of the China Infrastructure,
Construction Corporation in a press
release made recently records the
expected joint venture collaboration to
such an enterprise. It is this type of
Nation Building Ventures that the Dons,
of this Number One Academic Institutions
need to pursue for their country and
home.

5. Slum Clearance, Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority, UDA and the Town
Planning Department
A serious proposal of the Government of Sri
Lanka in the past months pending Local
Government elections was the need of “Slum
Clearance and Flat Construction with the
Housing Authority”. These election promises
should not be disbanded even if one loses such
an election. In fact, the sincerity of such
election promises should be to have these
implemented irrespective of the outcome.

Many former colonial countries, without
exception, have encountered the growth of
slums due to ill-conceived planning and the job
creating efforts following independence to
nations. India was no exception, perhaps even
worse due to the enormity of the population
problem. As such, some examples may be cited
from among the Indian cities such as
Bangalore. These were considered collectively
on a state by state basis such as the Karnataka
Slum Clearance Board. The Main Objectives of
the Board were:

(a)
(b)

(c)
(d)
(e)

(f)

To take up environmental improvement clearance
and redevelopment of the slums.
To enable slum dwellers to live in hygienic
conditions by providing basic amenities like
drinking water, toilets, street light, drains, roads,
community bathrooms, community toilets, etc.,
To construct new houses to the slum dwellers and
to upgrade the houses.
To prevent unauthorized constructions in slum
areas.
To identify and declare the slum areas in
accordance with the provision of the KSA (I & C)
Act 1973.
To take up a socio-economic survey in the slums
in order to improve socio- economic conditions of
the slum dwellers.

Is the solution to Slum Clearance to disperse
Industries whether, Public or Private throughout
the Country, than permitting these in over
saturated regions of the Cities? We doubt if such a
plan does exist? Why cannot Moratuwa work with
the UDA and the Town Planning Department and
undertake such appropriate schemes for all the
Provincial and District Capitals and reward these
efforts with academic and financial benefits?

6. Motor Engineering with Micro Cars Ltd. and
other Car Importers

With the many imports of cars and the
maintenance, a serious study programme not
only to repair or assemble but even to
manufacture these as is in The Netherlands and
Australia, with the same population as in Sri
Lanka, and is being carried out presently.

Tata Motors provides a congenial atmosphere
to work, learn and grow. The Company
conducts various programmes to train their
staff in the latest and the best technology and
management practices. Moratuwa University
need not leave all these initiatives to the Vice
Chancellor or the Council or the Senate to
formulate proposals but instead these should be
developed by the Dons and the Faculty staff.
Using the Tata example and the pioneering
efforts of Micro, Sri Lanka. Moratuwa can be
the leavening institution to move forward in the
academics of this enterprise.

7. Irrigation Work with the Mahaveli Authority
and the Irrigation Department
UNESCO-IHE offers four accredited
International Master of Science programmes,
with a total of 21 specializations. The MSc
programmes are meant for professionals that
want to deepen their expertise, and in the
meantime wish to gain substantial insight into
the global water agenda. Moreover, studying at
UNESCO-IHE could result in, establishing
contacts with fellow professionals from around
the world, who could be scientific advisers,
thereafter.

UNESCO-IHE MSc degrees are legally accredited,
and students awarded this degree are eligible for
admission to PhD programmes all over the world.
UNESCO-IHE uses the European Credit Transfer
System, in which each credit point is equivalent to
28 study load hours. The Delft-based UNESCOIHE specializations are 106 credit points in total.
The Institute’s academic staff was composed of
established international professors and lecturers.
A pool of guest lecturers and partners from
UNESCO-IHE’s global network provide
additional scientific expertise in the various areas
of specialization and bring in case studies where
theory is merged with practice.

8. Telephone, Telegraph, the development of
Internet and Computer Development through
appropriate organizations.
Telephones, Telegraph and Internet which were
all dependent on an extensive network of
telegraph posts, telephone cables and servicing
offices have now been eliminated due to the cell
phone system and its compact instrumentation
and its multifaceted usage.

The term ‘Electronic Age’ takes its name from
such equipment and the economic growth of
nations too, are heavily dependent on such
industry. Nearly 80% of grown up persons in
Sri Lanka carry such a device and is
contactable in nearly every part of the country
at any time. It is a convenience that is near
universal, at least in this country. It is believed
that there are as many cell phone units as the
population of the country.

If this be the situation in the country where
one’s cell phone can soon be even the credit
card for purchasing items of food, clothing and
perhaps even shelter, why is Sri Lanka not
launching its academic skill at university levels
to such a knowledge base?
If the Information Technology Faculty can get
linked up with Dialog or any established
Software Organization and train the personnel
to higher objectives the monopoly of Finland,
Sweden or South Korea or Taiwan in such a
futuristic industry can well be challenged by
the young minds of this country as well.

9. Ariel Survey work with Satellite Imagery
together with the Survey Department
Satellite Imaging, undoubtedly, is most advanced
in the United States. This science was, in all
probability used for intelligence gathering.
However, the science is most useful in peace time
for appropriate high resolution satellite images,
as well as enhanced satellite image data to create
accurate, interactive mapping projects. The
imaging, geographic information systems (GIS),
global positioning systems (GPS), and geodesy in
the extraction, manipulation, and
supplementation of satellite images and imaging
data are all now possible.

If such an organization and the Ariel Survey
Division of the Survey Department could join
hands with the University of Moratuwa, an
appropriate course of training can be
commenced to aid projects in oil and gas
exploration development, and production, land
cadaster, construction planning, and
environmental impact studies.

10. Radio and Television with suitable institutions.
It was Arthur Clark who repeatedly said that if
Africa and other members of the Third World
were to get even with the rest of humanity, the only
course of education was the Radio and the
Television. Despite countless reports in the public
press that Sri Lanka has stepped up from its place
in the Third World, it is well to know that much
more education via Mass Media is essential to
elevate the Common Folk to an even stand above
that of the Third World.

Education, as we all know is not only book
learning. It is the knowledge and practice of all of
us in our daily life. It could be the way we eat, the
way we dress, the way we talk, the way we play
and a whole host of behavior patterns that we
carry out minute by minute, hour by hour,
throughout our life.

What is the best way to adjust our lifestyles to
accepted norms except through the examples set
to us by our parents, by our teachers and by our
neighbors? Despite these fundamentals the
eternal educator is the all-time companion, the
Radio and the Television. It is this outreach that
can penetrate any home however remote it be. It
is in many ways a pity that the authorities have
not taken adequate advantage in this regard.

Even at this late hour, it seems prudent that the
Faculty of Information Technology extends its
interest to training not mere Radio and
Television repairers but Designers and
Inventors so that these products are made
available at reasonable levels to the Common
Folk.

These efforts will undoubtedly, reduce the drain
on Foreign Exchange and also find more
employment to the people of this country. What
about “Distance Learning” and the advances
towards our bread winner, namely, the higher
yields in our agriculture. All these are ideas that
each Ministry can draw on to extend their
objectives to the public through “Distance
Learning”.

Because of the competitiveness of the
broadcasting industry, many jobs require a
bachelor’s degree. A four-year degree also gives
employees a better prospect for advancements
in the respective fields. Broadcast and sound
engineering technicians and radio operators
held about 114,600 jobs in USA in 2008. Their
employment was distributed among many
detailed occupations:

All is well to rest on the laurels of a past and say
that Moratuwa University has been the best in
the island in the past five or more years. It is the
prudence of a leader institution to be sufficiently
humble and attempt to be even better. I say this
on the example set by perhaps the third or
fourth best frontline university in China with
that country holding the largest economy of the
world.

Reaching for the Top globally: A relenting
need for the best.

In the modern era where the
importance of nations are judged by
its economic might and GDP, it is
comforting to know that even those
institutes sitting on top of the pyramid
are examining routes to improve their
performance base on solid
foundations and academic prowess.

Recently, a Sri Lankan Don working in
the UK was invited to Chair a committee
to examine the quality of output and
performance metrics of the Department
of Materials Science and Engineering at
Zhejiang University in China by the
President of the university. The request
was purely to help benchmark this activity
against international competition, knowing
very well that the activity had been found
to be rated third or fourth in China by a
pan-China review panel.

The first question to ask oneself is why was
such a highly rated university was using an
international panel to benchmark its own
‘crown jewels’, such as the Materials Science
and Engineering activity considered to be one of
the best in China? It was also the first
comprehensive Materials Science and Engineering
Department set up by the government of China.
The simple answer to the question is that the
Chinese psyche does not believe in sitting on its
laurels, and there is the ever present drive and
energy to make things better and stronger and
grander.

This is clear in the manner in which technology
has evolved in China, where they started with
basic designs and quite primitive electronics and
now the Chinese electronics industry has within
the last 20 years, developed into one of the
strongest and most progressive in the world. At
present there are more semiconductor foundries and
electronic companies engaged in the assembly and
in the designing of electronic circuits in China than
in the USA. The same progressive attitude is now
mirrored in the car industry at present.

The Chinese authorities have given the people
with knowledge intellectual capital, and an open
playing field to develop competitive products in
the country. These products so evolved, now
challenge the best in the world, due to the
comprehensive knowledge base that they possess.
This is now being developed via the academic
establishments, with funding poured into the best
to make them stronger and thereby, supporting the
industry based knowledge power-houses of China.

Yesterday’s world of using efficiency of
manufacturing to keep costs low and making
margins on products is no longer the route to profits
and healthy surpluses of balance in the nations’
economies. Today’s objectives are based on
knowledge economies, where technology and
intellectual prowess trumps all others, and for
the knowledge economies to be driven the
government has created catalysts for intellectual
discourses, innovation and debate. There is the
acceptance that the world will not stay still to be
better and stronger.

The second important question raised was why
an international panel was requested to conduct
the benchmarking with no local or native
Chinese academics to guide the process? This
attitude was quite unique and brave. In this case the
committee consisted of leading material science
and engineering professors from the UK, Germany,
Slovenia, Japan and the US. The expertise of the
panel was selected to give the depth and breadth of
the subjects covered within the existing department.

So, the final question we need to ask is,
“what was it all about?” Was it purely to
navel-gaze and produce a document that
affirmed how good the unit was? Not at all?
The scrutiny placed on the report so
submitted has enabled the department to
position itself even more strongly within
the university with a custom designed
building with new laboratories and state
of the arts facilities.

Consequently, new courses were evolved
to strengthen the curriculum by bridging
the gaps between science and technology,
with a fresh outlook on enterprise and
entrepreneurship. The so called valley of
death scenario for academics starting
companies and then running out of
steam is now being examined to find
routes through regional funding.

At present on a worldwide scale, this
activity in China is rated as per the ISI data
to be within the top 20-35 in Materials
Science Engineering. It was noted that
within five years this discipline will be
among the top 10-15 in the world. We
have much to learn from the Chinese in
improving standards and the quality levels
of our own institutions.

Therefore, what is the lesson to learn from this
Chinese puzzle?

First, to be humble that even if we are the best
today, let us not rest on our laurels, but in all
humility, see what more can we do to better ourself
tomorrow.
Secondly, let us not get petty minded that there
are no Nationals in such Review Committees, as
it is only a science review.

Thirdly, what is the follow-up – to be better and
better in an international ranking rather than to
be the best in a country set-up.

Well Ladies and Gentlemen,
While we compliment the Chancellors and
Vice Chancellors present for results of
eminence in their own establishments, let
us keep an open mind that there is,
indeed a world of massive experience to
draw on and make our Institutions even a
wee bit better in the years to follow. And
above all, let ‘Technology Teaching’ be
‘Practice Orientated’.

Thank You All