AN INTERVIEW WITH Eng. P.W. Sarath
Chairman of the IESL Education Committee

In the sixth episode of the SLEN Podcast, Eng. Chamil Edirimuni speaks with the Eng. P W Sarath, Vice President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka about Engineering education and the role of IESL in standardizing engineering education. An edited version of their conversation follows. .

Eng. Chamil Edirimuni:

Welcome to Sri Lanka Engineering News Podcast Session No.06. You are listening to IESL SLEN podcast featuring a wide range of conversations on diverse engineering and non-engineering sectors of national importance. I am Engineer Chamil Editimuni & today for our 6th podcast we have a special guest. He is one of the Vice Presidents of IESL as well as the Chairman of the IESL Education Committee. Let us welcome former CIO of Sri Lanka Telecom, Eng. P W Sarath for today’s discussion. Welcome you sir.

Eng. P.W. Sarath:

Welcome

Eng. Chamil:

You are most welcome. Let me begin this discussion. My first question to you, as the Chairman of the IESL Education Committee, what is your view on the engineering education in the country?

Eng. Sarath:

Well, it is a long history Chamil. That we can start from the point where engineering education formally began in Colombo University several decades ago, I think in 1950s.Formerly It may be a semi formal engineering education and after that the formal education commenced from University of Peradeniya once the engineering faculties was established, in one of the banks of the Mahaweli river, now in Peradeniya Engineering Faculty. It was really the foundation. So that is formal education commenced and with the state of art technologies, those days. Then most eminent and prominent professors came forward. So that was the beginning. After that in 1972 or 73, it was Moratuwa (Katubadda Campus). Actually, that is the second engineering faculty. After that Ruhuna engineering faculty was born after several decades. In a formal education in engineering education, I must be thankful to our fathers, specially to the good teachers and our previous generation that laid the proper foundation. Because of this we have come to this height. Whatever the critics, whatever the charges leveled against the engineers, but still this country has shown economic growth because of the engineers. They did excellent and effective work throughout the history. So I am very happy to see that still. The engineering faculties in the Sri Lanka, especially state universities so they actually render a very valuable service to the nation in producing excellent products who can work internationally, nationally under any circumstances.

Eng. Chamil :

Thank you for your comprehensive answer. Actually, when speaking specifically on engineering education two key words, ‘Recognition’ and ‘Accreditation’ always been heard. I am in the view that engineering community should have a proper understanding of these two terms. So could you just explain the meaning of those two words, Recognition and Accreditation??

Eng. Sarath:

Well, Chamil. Engineering is a noble profession. It is not seconded to any other profession. So engineering profession we will serve for the nation. Engineers form the engineering profession. Therefore, I consider engineer as a product. When we deliver a product to the society, it should be acceptable to the society. It should perform well, and it should meet the expectations of our citizens. It should deliver our expectations. When you buy a product, you look at its quality perspective Therefore, many engineering faculties can say we produce the best products. How can we how can we justify it? For that purpose, there is a third party. This third party should handle it. Then they must see whether what these producers say is correct or not. So that is the quality criteria. That is called the recognition.

When you talk about the recognition in the local context sri Lankan context, the IESL is the body who can recognize any engineering degree program like other product what similar to what Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) is doing.

But when it come to the global context, when you produce a product for the world that is to be acceptable to every other country. Then we name the word Accreditation. Therefore, any engineering degree program we offer for the undergraduates who will be passing out as engineers should meet Recognition and Accreditation criteria.

Eng. Chamil :

Thank you. Why do we need this accreditation and recognition for an engineering degree programme. That was my next question. But I think you have summed up in your answer. but if you can elaborate more, this is the chance.

Eng. Sarath:

I can elaborate it in this way. Engineering degree programme, for example if you follow an electrical engineering degree programme in a particular university, that we don’t know exactly whether it meets our requirements.

We here want to elaborate the engineer definition. To be a professional engineer first you must earn some academic qualifications. As per the definition of the professional engineer, he or she must be able to solve complex engineering problems. For that purpose, he has to follow a 4-year recognized or accredited degree programmes. It involves basic science, mathematics, designing and other management aspects, economics etc. For example, if you are following electrical engineering programme, it should consist of the basic sciences first. Then the electrical engineering principals, then the electrical engineering applications and electrical engineering management principals. When those are blended together in a 4-year degree programme we can say your degree is fully recognized. That is my answer.

Eng. Chamil :

As the chairman of the IESL education committee, can you elaborate further what is the role responsibility and authority of IESL in accreditation and recognitions?

Eng. Sarath:

Well. IESL is formed by a parliament incorporation. It is formed under an incorporated act. Because of this act, we called it as an institution, not an institute. The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka has been given the wide and extensive powers by the law to accredit or recognize any engineering degree programme offered within the territory of Sri Lanka. Accordingly IESL has set up criteria. So there is a criterion to asses the programme structure, programme delivery, programme mapping, administration, culture and the quality assurance. So we check any of the degree programs offered can meet those criteria. Then only we provide recognition and accreditation, provided that they must meet the minimum requirements, whether it may be a state university or a private university. So IESL has wide and extensive powers. IELS is strictly following this mechanism. Because producing an engineer is not an easy task and we should never compromise our quality.

Eng. Chamil :

Coming in to more on the role of IESL, when deciding its role on accreditation and recognition, why does the IESL outline the advanced level requirement as the entry qualification for engineering education?

Eng. Sarath:

Well, I will give an analogy for that. Assume you want to see a finished product; say product X. You need raw material A, machine B and another machine C to get the product X. If the incoming material quality is inferior, what will happen to the product X? We can get an example from the pharmaceuticals. Why some pharmaceutical products are expensive and have high quality? Because they use supreme quality ingredients.

The supreme quality ingredient in our case is the Advanced Level. As I said, any degree holder to be eligible for associate membership will have to solve the complex engineering problem. Therefore, he must know mathematics, general science and possess the analytical skills. That is why IESL decided to impose the requirement of minimum of 2 Cs and 1 S in Advanced Level exam from the physical science stream to become an engineer.

Eng. Chamil :

Yes, that’s clear. Without Physical Science or Mathematics how can anyone become an engineer? Actually, I have another question which is linked to my previous question. We know that all who completed the school education will not qualify for the state universities. When parents search for other available options for their children there are many institutions. If they are looking for engineering education, how they select the correct institution? Is there something like a checklist to guide them to select the suitable engineering degree programme offered by a non-recognized degree awarding institute?

Eng. Sarath:

Well, it is a very pathetic situation. We know that Advanced Level is a very tough exam. Only you have limited avenues to state universities. But we must give the chance to the people who qualify at least with 2-Cs 1-S to become an engineer? May be doing engineering have been his childhood dream. Then the private education is required. However, when the private education is not properly regulated, various people put many marketing slogans and advertorials to attract the people, poor students and poor parents will become prey. So, as you for your question, I strongly recommend to follow a, if anyone wants to follow to go abroad, follow a Washington accredited degree. But if you don’t have money and going to follow a non-recognized or non-accredited university programme, be very careful. You will have to see that IESL criteria, there is a credit requirement. It is specified in our website. So it says, minimum 25 number of credits from mathematics and sciences, 75 credits from 4 subjects and other subjects. it is specified to give a total of 130 credit requirement totaling for a 4-year academic degree programme. This is the way they have to select a good programme. So I appeal to the parents always consult IESL Education Division before selecting any degree programme. We can’t say this programme is better than that. But we can say, this is our requirement. Therefore, I again want to make an appeal as the Education Committee Chairman of the IESL specially from the parents. Don’t become prey for certain advertisements and marketing propagandas.

Eng. Chamil :

Thank you for the answer. With the ideas shared with us, now we clearly understand that the importance of recognition and accreditation in the engineering education. If someone wants to get more information on recognition and accreditation from where he or she can find that?

Eng. Sarath:

Yes, you can visit www.iesl.lk and Education Division. Right else he or she can personally call educational division of IESL calling the general number.

If they want further assistance, I’m ready to answer. My phone number is 071 4736791. I am your service at any time.

Eng. Chamil :

Thank you Eng. P. W. Sarath, one of the Vice Presidents of the IESL who is the Chairman of the Educational Committee of the IESL. So we have had a good discussion about engineering education. I think it is beneficial sort of discussion for all the viewers. So I must thank once again Eng. P W Sarath who had joined this discussion and conveyed his thoughts and answered our questions which will be better for our engineering community. Thank you, sir.

Eng. Sarath:

Thank you Eng. Chamil edirimuni.I am pleased to be here and that is a wonderful evening because I think you asked very relevant questions. I hope I clarified all your questions.

Eng. Chamil :

Yes, of course. You are most welcome and that is it from digital SLEN podcast team. we will be meeting with you agaiwith our next issue of digital SLEN and until then good bye from here.