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Vice Chancellor of UNIVOTEC Prof Dayantha Wijeyesekera expressed satisfaction that almost all Graduates of the university are gainfully employed effectively contributing towards the development efforts of the country.
The following is the full text of the Chancellor’s Speech Convocation 2017:
"Let me at the outset congratulate you as fine products of a CASTLE, I am sure some of you are wondering why I said a "Castle" !
In the year 2004, when I was the Secretary of the Ministry of Skills development, Vocational Training and Technical Education under the government of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, I chaired a drafting committee for the Act of the University of Vocational Technology. While doing so with the feedback from industry, Professional bodies and the Academia, I was told by the Minister at that time that along with the Director Planning I was building a "Castle in the Air". That did not prevent me from doing what is right and needed for the country. The Bill was drafted passed in Parliament as one of the first Bills without a division. It did not take too long and in a matter of few weeks the Hon Minister in charge of the subject fully realized that the concept was most needed and the so called "Castle" was down to earth and came up at ground level in no time, the Minister was most appreciative and this is the net result with products much needed by the market !.
The University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC) is a unique university in Sri Lanka , established by Act of Parliament No 31 of 2008 to cater for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to provide a pathway to degree level higher education for those with vocational qualifications through the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) and also with mid level Technological qualifications through lateral entry and there is much scope to attract more with such qualifications . The UNIVOTEC takes pride that almost all Graduates of the university are gainfully employed effectively contributing towards the development efforts of the country.
In the current system of University Education there are three different modes and I am pleased to have been involved in all three modes. I am convinced through personal experience, the importance of all three modes for human resource development. The modes are, conventional university education, open and distance learning and thirdly, competency based training and assessment. The most significant development now is the interaction between the three modes resulting in blended learning, while retaining its own identity of a particular mode.
While it is possible to illustrate the distinction between, Science, Technology and Engineering, it is essential to describe the difference between Engineering and Engineering Technology. In short, Engineering technology is the practical application of science and engineering to a wide range of real world problems and in no way should the term "Technology" be underestimated to" Engineering". The differences between engineering and engineering technology are not always obvious. There is a great deal of overlap between the two fields of study. In most universities and institutes of technology, as listed internationally engineering programs have a strong emphasis on mathematics and science, especially physics and calculus, while engineering technology emphasize the application of engineering techniques and the engineering courses with focus on the development of concepts.
Some of the leading seats of Higher Education in Technological Education in the world, are not termed Universities but Institutes of Technology such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology in U.S. Indian Institutes of Technology IITs, Asian Institute of Technology AIT etc The UNIVOTEC has the added advantage of having a pathway for those with National Vocational Qualifications(NVQ) in addition to those with Mid Level Technological Qualifications. I was pleased to note recently that the prestigious Professional Body for Engineering in Sri Lanka has decided that into its College of Engineering only those with experience and Mid level Technical and Vocational Qualifications would be admitted and not those with pure GCE A-levels.
As far as abbreviations are concerned one of the leading Engineering and Technological Institutes ie California Institute of Technology is referred to as CALTEC, leading Technological universities in Nw Zealand and Australia are referred to as UNITECH, one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka in its formative years was referred to as Katubedda tech, not forgetting that many of leading engineers of this country came through Maradana Tech. We should be proud of places like current German Tech very famous internationally specially n Australia.
As I mentioned earlier, I am pleased that I was able to be associated with the setting up of this university at its inception from year 2004 as the Secretary of the Ministry upto now as its Chancellor. It has not been easy to keep its identity as a non conventional university different to a university purely open for GCE A-level students, but the demands of the industry have facilitated its existence thus far.
The demands of the industry and profession is more important than irrational directives. I have withstood many of them since 1985 and that is perhaps the reason why I have been able to be appointed by every Executive President in this country upto now to Head an institution. All SIX Presidents, had appointed me as a Head, irrespective politics, perhaps for standing upto rational decisions.
I would leave this example to the Graduates passing out today, stand up to the needs of the sector and the country, and abide by rational decisions. There have been many international and local expertise responsible for its establishment and existence and it is my fervent hope that the University of Vocational Technology for ease UNIVOTEC will continue to serve the useful role it was intended for students with technical and vocational qualifications either through weekday or weekend courses, just as much as the Open University of Sri Lanka and the Conventional Universities continue to perform their respective obligations.
Tertiary Education is available through many avenues for post-secondary school leavers in this country, and these avenues could be well strengthened by those graduating from this university as technologists and also as teachers of technical education.
May I also give one more advice to those passing out today, that when you perform your duties irrespective of Politics , make sure that you will be able to always get back to the institute with due respect and regard when your services and participation in activities are once again required.
While I congratulate the Graduands of today at this convocation, I pay tribute to all staff and specially to the pioneering Vice Chancellors of this University and the decision makers for the foundation laid to this unique university serving a useful national purpose at present and trust the concepts of this university would be preserved with greater motivation to increase both quantity and quality and the responsibility for any changes in the concept except for improvement and not for narrow reasons of expediency should be borne by such persons in the consequential occurrence of failure to meet the intended demands.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST"
Prof. Dayantha Wijeyesekera
Vice Chancellor of UNIVOTEC
Source : The Island, www.island.lk/
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