Uva Wellassa University :The Centre of Excellence for Value Addition to the National Resources Base

" In my personal capacity, I have served the University system in many ways for nearly two decades as a social responsibility in advisory roles and in career development of students in the private sector. When Sri Jayawardenepura was closed indefinitely after two students were killed due to students’ factional fighting in 2004, the government invited me to find a solution and to get it reopened when everything else had failed. I did this and served that university as a Council Member for nearly four years. I also served the Standing Committee on Agriculture of the UGC for four years before being appointed a Vice Chancellor."

by Chandra Embuldeniya

(April 20, Badulla, Sri Lanka Guardian) There was a derogatory statement regarding the Uva Wellassa University and its Vice Chancellor published in Sri Lanka Guardian on the web under the caption ‘another island wide strike’ during Mar 2011. Whilst I strongly believe in the freedom of expression of the author as a fundamental right, I respectfully request my reply also to be given an equal opportunity. Besides, I wish to invite you as the editor to visit this university as many other writers have done to verify the facts I state here with justifiable pride. The university website can be visited at www.uwu.ac.lk

I was invited by the government in 2004 to establish and develop a university in Uva, one of the poorest and remotest provinces of Sri Lanka. After nearly seven years of dedicated work under trying conditions I have established the Uva Wellassa University in Badulla from scratch, now well on its way to becoming the centre of excellence for value addition to the national resources base. I was asked to establish market oriented degree programs running in English so that the graduates can be employed by the private sector. The students should get essential skills for the world of work and a broad education to deal with techno-economic problems in real life. I was also required to ensure that this university functions without the crippling problems existing in the university system.

There is very clear evidence that we have successfully achieved all these goals in a short period of seven years and established eleven interdisciplinary degree programs that generate and impart knowledge to add higher value to the national mineral resources, agricultural resources (such as tea, rubber, palm, aquatics, animal), management and entrepreneurship, ICT, tourism and hospitality, events management, and Science and Technology. Uva Wellassa University is also recognized for being an all entrepreneurial university due to students learning and practicing to be entrepreneurial in all their programs. The critical success factors unique to this university are the Course Driven Academic Process and the Operations Driven Administration Process delivering the desired results on the value proposition. Our entire strategy is aligned with the vision and the human capital is integrated with the strategy.

This university has gained recognition from employers as indicated by the high rate of employment and salaries paid to our students. We have also gained recognition from universities overseas judging by the invitations we receive to work with them on similar projects elsewhere. On the other hand our students have developed relatively a large number of innovations that can produce valuable intellectual properties published by papers and presented at the UWU research symposium in 2010. Ceylon Daily News carried several of these articles in 2010-11 and showcased the students.

Currently our employment rates are over 90% after six months from graduation of the first batch. We have one of the most attractive universities in the country providing a salubrious setting for high level academic pursuits. At present we have over 1600 students and it will go up to 2200 by Sep this year. Starting with about 5600 applications in 2006 we have now 18200 applications for enrolment in 2011 in undergraduate programs for 550 places. There has never been any student unrest or ragging in this university. We have never had to suspend any student for an offence.

In my personal capacity, I have served the University system in many ways for nearly two decades as a social responsibility in advisory roles and in career development of students in the private sector. When Sri Jayawardenepura was closed indefinitely after two students were killed due to students’ factional fighting in 2004, the government invited me to find a solution and to get it reopened when everything else had failed. I did this and served that university as a Council Member for nearly four years. I also served the Standing Committee on Agriculture of the UGC for four years before being appointed a Vice Chancellor.

The first Institutional Quality Assurance Review of Uva Wellassa University was conducted by a team of Senior Professors during 10-14 Jan 2011. I am happy to let you know that the conclusion of the review team is summed up in a boxed statement as follows. Quote “The unanimous decision of the review team is that during the past five years, the rate of development of the UWU is nothing short of a miracle, mainly due to efficient management and administration” adding that “Review process has shown that the judgment of ‘CONFIDENCE’ can be given to Uva Wellassa University when the procedures that are in place to safeguard standards and maintain quality are considered” unquote.

This statement is unparalleled. The entire 28 page report is filled with commendations of the changes we have done to the system.

The review team members are

Prof. Lakshman Jayathilaka – Chancellor of Wayamba University, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Former VC of Peradeniya,

Prof. W.D.Lakshman – Emeritus Professor of Economics and Former VC of Colombo,

Prof. H.P.M.Gunasena – Emeritus Professor of Crop Science and Former Director Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, Peradeniya,

Prof. M.J.S.Wijeyaratne – Senior Professor of Economics and Former VC of Kelaniya,

Prof. Kapila Dahanayake – Emeritus Professor of Geology and Former Director of Postgrduate Institute of Science, Peradeniya,

Prof. Veranja Karunaratne – Senior Professor of Chemistry, Peradeniya.

I also appeared before COPE on 6 April 2011 at a committee room in the parliament complex. This was another memorable event. The COPE Chairman commended the Vice Chancellor of UWU and congratulated all our staff. He advised the government officials as follows.

a) Take this new model of operations at UWU to other universities

b) Prepare a report on UWU to preserve the strategy for posterity

c) Ensure that this system continues at UWU after I relinquish duty

d) Chairman of COPE even requested the government to start a larger university in Mullaitivu under my leadership (I have never solicited such a position)

There were other compliments paid by the COPE members who were present. This was truly amazing for any university in the history of COPE.

The previous UGC under Chairman Prof Ranjith Mendis invited me to carryout this mission and I think I have done justice to their confidence placed in me. I never asked to become the Vice Chancellor of Uva Wellassa or any other university. I have established and developed this university as a social responsibility while giving up other opportunities. The only reward I have is the satisfaction gained from accomplishing the mission I was requested by the government to fulfill. I am not seeking another term as Vice Chancellor or be a Vice Chancellor of another university because I must now get on with my life elsewhere.

 (Mr. Chandra Embuldeniya counts over 38 years experience and have worked overseas in multinationals and been a CEO of several companies in Sri Lanka including higher education, past President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, President BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President Business Council for Sustainable Development Sri Lanka, etc. and worked since 1972 after graduating from Peradeniya)