Gauge Newsletter January 2020 | Page 34

Are there any memorable experiences that you would like to share with us, you had during higher studies? Were there any difficulties you faced during higher studies? In the UK, I had to experience a completely different culture. We had a multicultural set up within the research group; my supervisor Dr.Bushra Al-Duri was an Iraqi who had moved to the UK. We had research students in the department from the UK, China, Ghana, Malaysia, India, Brazil and a few other countries. There was a sizable Sri Lankan community in Birmingham, so almost every weekend we had parties, get-togethers, excursions, etc. Despite all this fun, I used to work in the laboratory for approximately 14 hours a day. My postgraduate life in UK was full of fun and memorable events. At the end of the Ph.D. studies, I received several invitations to stay in the UK, but it was my ambition to come back and serve my mother nation. When did you join the faculty staff? I joined the faculty in 1998 as a Probationary Lecturer. Since 2005, I have been serving as a Senior Lecturer. Since I excelled in Why? undergraduate studies, my friends sought my support to clarify difficult engineering concepts. That might have flared up a desire in me to be a teacher. I was always interested in disseminating the knowledge I gained among others. So naturally, a university career may have been the best place for me to continue that. Also the push I got from my parents, helped me to set my mind and move into the university. What were the factors that motivated you, along the journey you have taken so far? Desire to do new things. Usually, I devote my time and energy to complete the undertaken tasks. I love to take up responsibilities. The trick for my success could be the way I handle complicated tasks; perform small segments at a time. I always try to enjoy the present moment. Can you explain your experience as a lecturer at the faculty? You were appointed as the head of the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering. Tell us about the experience as the Head of Department. As a university teacher, I will be very happy, if students are actively engaged in the teaching-learning process. Unfortunately, something is terribly wrong in our education system. Students are trained to be rote learners. Their main objective is to pass examinations, but not to gather knowledge and skills to practice as useful designers or engineers. Our students need to improve language and other softs skills required by present day industries. As the Head of the department, we have taken steps to change the existing teaching-learning system. We have already established an outcome based curriculum and we are moving away from teacher centered education to a student centered education system. Our degree programme has been accredited in 2016 by Washington Accord. In 2019, we revised our curriculum. Many positive changes are online and we hope the future will be far better than the present. “ We require the full corporation from individual students, and also from student unions to ensure a better future for all undergraduates. ” Page 32 University of Peradeniya GAUGE Magazine