The Department of Civil Engineering (DCE) successfully held its annual Department Industry Consultative Board (DICB) Meeting on 29th May 2025 at the IESL Lounge. The meeting served as a strategic platform for dialogue between academia and industry, aiming to strengthen the department’s academic programs and student development through industry feedback and collaboration.
The meeting commenced with a welcome address by Prof. U. P. Nawagamuwa, Head of the Department, followed by a presentation summarizing the department’s actions taken in response to feedback from the 2024 DICB meeting. These included enhancements in curriculum, employability initiatives, training quality, and student exposure to modern tools and sustainability practices.
A significant highlight of the meeting was the presentation by Prof. Nalin de Silva on the major curriculum revision set to take effect from the 2026 intake. Key updates include the introduction of new modules on contract administration, conceptual design, and geomatics engineering, as well as increased emphasis on research, sustainability, and soft skills.
During the discussion, industry members commended the quality of DCE graduates but also raised key concerns such as improving marketing of the Civil Engineering program, enhancing project management competencies, and increasing student awareness on emerging fields like AI and climate change. The need to curb the growing trend of engineering talent migration was also emphasized.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. H. R. Pasindu, who appreciated the active engagement of both industry and academic representatives. He extended gratitude to San Piling (Pvt) Ltd and Access Engineering PLC for sponsoring the event and to IESL for providing the venue.
