Summary:
The Faculty of Engineering falls under the organizational structure of the University of Moratuwa. The University of Moratuwa has started to develop and practice strategic/corporate management since 2013. Five-year plans and annual action plans with continuous updates and revision in response to the changes taking place in the society are developed. The Faculty develops actions and strategies to align their strategic plans and action plans with the University Corporate Plan. More specifically, the faculty is included in and abides by the corporate and action plans of the university, and the faculty's annual implementation plan puts this strategic planning into action at the faculty level. To this end, within the faculty, many standing and ad-hoc committees have been established.
Some departments of the faculty are accredited by IESL, and by Washington accord in turn. There are frequent internal and external audit reports conducted. Annual workload reporting by the academic staff is carried out. Peer reviewing and student feedback collection have been stream-lined. To encourage and recognize the valuable services by the staff, different types of awarding mechanisms have been established, such as policies on the assessment of staff for research awards, teaching excellence award criteria for academic staff, and long service awards for all staff, among others.
Student representation is included in the faculty decision-making process. Representatives of the Engineering Faculty's student union participate at the monthly meetings of the Faculty Board and the Liaison Committee. To get regular consultations from the industry, Faculty Industry Consultancy Board (FICB), and Department Industry Consultancy Boards (DICBs) have been established. The timetables committee oversees the academic calendar, as well as the timetables. The faculty calendar aligns with the dates of the student intakes and the graduations of the university. Matters and decisions related to quality assurance are taken and communicated to all the stakeholders (e.g., industries, students), at the department, as well as at faculty levels. Moreover, the decisions are appropriately integrated into the curriculum and program developments. In this respect, the curriculum development committee, curriculum revision committee, and faculty academic committee play an important role. Since the inception of the faculty, no instances of program discontinuations have been reported. Nevertheless, policies and procedures to ensure the seamless progression of students under such circumstances are yet to be devised.
A well-organized orientation program and an open-day are held for the new entrants to the faculty. Students are provided with the faculty handbook at the orientation day. This contains all the program-related details. Besides, bursary information, donation scholarship information, etc. are provided. Departments provide the department handbooks to the students in the respective departments. The faculty organizes a mentoring program for the semester 1 students. Departments also arrange mentoring sessions with the help of industry. Student counselors are appointed. Student disciplinary by-laws, as well as examination by-laws are established. Students in certain semesters are provided with hostel facilities.
The faculty website contains information relevant for the public. Email lists are used for swift communication between the staff. The faculty also uses a Document Management System (DMS). To communicate with the students, email (each student is given a university email address), Moodle notices, and notice boards are used. Personal data of staff and students, as well as course management are securely handled by the university CITeS, using university owned servers.
Engineering faculty students take advantage of various welfare services, societies and clubs, sports and recreational activities, as well as medical facilities. Students have to undergo a medical check-up at the university medical center upon entering the university. The faculty abides by the university safety policy, and laboratories have established safety guidelines. Students are part of the canteen committee that overlooks food hygiene of the cafeterias.
The faculty has established disciplinary by-laws that govern all the students, as well as for the staff. Disciplinary committee looks into any possible issues with student disciplines. Besides, there is a student grievance committee. The faculty abides by the university policies on Gender Equity Equality (GEE), and Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Strict and continuous measures are being taken to curb ragging.
Claim 1.1:
The Faculty of Engineering falls under the organizational structure of University of Moratuwa. In addition to the regulations governed by the university, the faculty has developed its own by-laws, and set-up standing as well as ad-hoc committees for smooth operation.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.2:
The Faculty of Engineering has developed an annual implementation plan, which is in-line with the corporate plan and the strategic plan of the university. Progress of action plan implementation is closely monitored.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.3:
Most of the degree programs have obtained IESL accreditation, and Washington accord in turn. Internal, as well as external audits are conducted, and the faculty follows the operational/management procedures stipulated by the university. Academic staff is monitored through work load reporting, as well as peer review and student feedback.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.4:
Student participation in the governance and management process of the Faculty is encouraged. Engineering Faculty student union represents the undergraduate student population. Student representatives of the union participate in the monthly Faculty meetings. Field representatives are being involved in the Faculty quality assurance process by the QAC. Student Liaison committee has been established to address general student concerns. Academic committee has been established to oversee specific student grievances.
The other major stakeholder of the faculty is the industry. Regular industry consultation is obtained via DICB meetings and FICB meetings. Industry personnel also represent the Faculty board.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.5:
The Faculty established academic committee is responsible for the Faculty curriculum development. Timetable committee oversees timetable development. The Faculty aligns its academic calendar with the annual entry and graduation dates of the university.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.6:
All the new undergraduate entrants to the faculty are provided with the student handbook and the faculty handbook during the orientation program, along with other information such as bursary information and MIS user manual. Starting from 2019, an open day is organized to make new students feel at-home. New entrants undergo a mentoring process conducted by the academic staff. Departments also conduct mentoring programs with the help of the industry.
Evidence of Best Practices
- Mentoring Program
Claim 1.7:
The Faculty Handbook provides all the details about the undergraduate programmes. Department handbooks provide field-specific course details that include information about the curriculum, modules (compulsory, optional, and elective modules), minors, etc. The student performance criteria elaborate on the admission requirements, programmes of study, registration of each of the academic year, add/drop of modules, the procedure of leaving from academic activities, evaluation of performance, graduation requirements, the effective date of graduation, etc. These details are made available to students via the website of the undergraduate studies division. All the examinations are governed by examination by-laws.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.8:
The Faculty maintains its own website within the university website. Faculty handbook is not publicly available, but has been added to Moodle for students to access. Regular communication among staff is carried out via group emails. A DMS system is used for document sharing. Each student gets a university email address. Communication with students is via email, Moodle messages, as well as printed notices.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.9:
The Faculty has set up an orientation committee to organize the orientation program of the new undergraduates. The orientation program is held over about a week. Students are made familiarized with various facilities such as library, and medical center. While in semester 1, students undergo a staff-conducted mentoring program.
Evidence of Best Practices
- Mentoring Programme [Refer Claim 1.6 Evidence]
Claim 1.10:
The Faculty ensures confidentiality of all the student records with the MIS and LMS systems, which guarantee secure access and storage. IT committee and ICT strategic committee are responsible for smooth operation and enhancement of these ICT facilities.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.11:
The University of Moratuwa has moved towards using ICT in the teaching learning process. Faculties, library, and administration units are upgraded with ICT facilities. Teaching staff adopts a variety of teaching and training materials and methods (e.g., printed and ICT-based material)
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.12:
The University follows disciplinary procedures for students. All matters are guided by the By-laws on student discipline. A board of discipline has been established for this purpose. The governing council is the final authority in deciding disciplinary matters. The essential information is communicated to the students through mediums such as, student’s handbook, student information pack, instructions on web, and mentors, among others.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.13:
The University follows disciplinary procedures and grievance redress mechanisms for the staff. The disciplinary matters of academic and non-academic staff are decided by the establishment code and relevant circulars. The governing council is the final authority in deciding disciplinary matters. Due process is followed in handling all disciplinary matters. In addition, there are procedures established by the faculty quality assurance system to monitor the teaching duties of academic staff.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.14:
The University follows recruitment and promotion criteria and procedure laid down by the UGC in relation to both academic and non-academic staff. Staff development center plays a crucial role in implementing and recommending diverse training activities for the staff. Different types of awarding mechanisms are established for rewarding high performers.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.15:
As per the UGC guidelines the University has established and effective internal quality assurance system with internal quality assurance unit (IQAU) at the centre and internal quality assurance cells (IQAC) at the faculty level with clearly defined scope and terms of reference. IQUA meets monthly to discuss quality assurance related matters and reports its activities monthly to the senate.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.16:
The University ensures continuous enhancement of quality of education through minor, as well as major course curriculum revisions. These are for continuous updating and enhancing the underlying knowledge. The University conducts regular department and faculty industry collaborative board meetings, through which external feedback is obtained for the enhancement of existing and possibly future programms.
Evidence of Best Practices
- Senate Curriculum and Evaluation Committee
- Policy and Procedures on Curriculum and Course Development
- Faculty Curriculum Revision Committee
- Faculty Academic Committee
- Curriculum Development and Approval Process (Flowchart)
- Curricula of Degree Programs (Refer Department Handbooks)
- Department Industry Consultative Board Meetings (DICB)
- Faculty Industry Consultative Board Meetings (FICB)
- Accreditation Reports
Claim 1.17:
The senate and the faculty board along with their related standing committees continuously and persistently address matters of academic development and planning. Study programms within departments are reviewed periodically. Though University has principally agreed with SLQF guidelines, the final SLQF is yet to be adopted.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.18:
The University ensures a well identified policy for new programme approval and implementation, where senate curriculum and evaluation committee and curriculum development committee are instrumental. Policies and procedures to ensure seamless progression of students under discontinuations are yet to be devised.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.19:
The University conducts regular department/faculty industry collaborative board (DICB/ FICB) meetings, through which feedback is obtained for the enhancement of programmes. Moreover, teaching learning practices are also evaluated using student feedback and peer observations, among others. In these cases, the faculty quality assurance mechanisms play a key role.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.20:
The University has engaged in a number of MoUs with foreign universities. It also has initiated joint PhD programs with foreign universities. The University encourages foreign collaborations also through policies on adjunct, honorary, research and visiting academic appointments.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.21:
Students receive many welfare facilities, as indicated in the handbook. Many students receive hostel facilities as stipulated by the hostel policy. Student counseling is available, which is operated under the Chief Counselor of the university. Each department has appointed few staff members as counselors. They are being provided adequate training. In addition, Faculty-level, as well as department-level mentoring is conducted.
Evidence of Best Practices
- Mentoring Programmes at Departments [Refer Claim 1.6]
Claim 1.22:
Engineering Faculty undergraduates are entitled for healthcare, sports, WI-FI, and recreational facilities provided by the university.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.23:
The Faculty abides by the university safety policy. Labs have established related occupational health and safety guidelines. Quality of canteens is governed at University level, with the help of the canteen committee.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.24:
The Faculty abides by the relevant by-laws of the university, such as examination by-laws, and has established specific Faculty-level by-laws as necessary. Student discipline is governed by disciplinary by-laws. Staff is also governed by disciplinary by-laws. Committees of inquiry and standing committee have been established to attend examination offence.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.25:
Currently the Faculty does not have a policy for students with special needs/differently abled students. However, there is a procedure for granting academic concession on medical grounds where the student is unable to sit for examination due to sudden medical conditions.
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.26:
The Faculty abides by the university policy on Gender Equity and Equality (GEE) Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
Evidence of Best Practices
Claim 1.27:
Student discipline is governed by the disciplinary by-laws. In addition, the Faculty abides by the university policy on curbing and ragging, and has taken strict disciplinary action on reported ragging incidents.