FCMS bags Rs 100 m grant from WB: For update of teaching methods | Sunday Observer

FCMS bags Rs 100 m grant from WB: For update of teaching methods

27 January, 2019
From left Dr. P.N.D. Fernando, Dr. Amila Munasinghe and Prof. P.M.C. Thilakarathna in discussion
From left Dr. P.N.D. Fernando, Dr. Amila Munasinghe and Prof. P.M.C. Thilakarathna in discussion. Pic: Malan Karunaratne

Updating the higher education system to meet the needs of the vibrant industrial world is essential for the development of the Human Resources of the country. While, generating updated human resources are a challenge, Commerce and Management is an area where industrial changes and practices must be absorbed at a higher pace.

Understanding this requirement, the Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies of the University of Kelaniya (FCMS) developed a proposal to change its teaching methods and overall learning experience at the university. This revolutionary proposal bagged a Rs. 100 million grant from the World Bank (WB) recently.

The Sunday Observer met the Dean of the FCMS Dr. P.N.D. Fernando, Project Consultant Prof. P.M.C.Thilakarathna and Senior Lecturer Dr. Amila Munasinghe, to discuss the new project and how it will change the learning and teaching methods at FCMS.

Upon receiving the grant FCMS wishes to implement the project proposal within a three year time frame. Developing Socio-emotional skills (soft skills) and the English speaking abilities of undergraduates, are two major components of this project.

Updated curriculum

“This is a project initiated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) with the help of the WB to improve the quality of Higher Education. They asked all the national universities to submit proposals, and the University of Kelaniya was selected among three awardees of the grant in phase one of the project” said Dr. Fernando.

“The project consists of five areas - Curriculum development, English language development, Teaching and learning environment development, Socio- emotional skills and intercultural harmony development and Entrepreneurial mindset cultivation,” said Dr Munasinghe.

Prior to facilitating the project the WB has conducted a background study and learnt that there is a mismatch between education at Universities and the employability of graduates. FCMS is now gearing up to avoid any possible mismatch between education and industry requirements.

“We are providing updated curricula to students. But there are still some areas which we can further develop,” said Dr. Fernando.

One significant observation was, that the new project had not been originated solely by the academia. Undergraduates and alumni have also taken part in preparing the project.

“This clearly is a rebirth of the existing curriculum system or rather internationalisation of the entire faculty. We have planned beyond revising topics in subjects by introducing a multi-disciplinary approach. So, future FCMS graduates will be able to have a cross disciplinary education. For example, we can teach Social sciences to FCMS students and HR course units to accountancy students” said Prof. Thilakarathna.

It is common knowledge that there is a gap between graduates and industry requirements. Many organisations are willing to hire team players with good inter communication skills rather than hiring a graduate with mere paper qualifications.

“Already in each and every subject we have embedded presentation-delivering as a part of soft skills. Student clubs such as the Gavel Club are also helping to upgrade the communication and soft skills of undergraduates. Here the WB brings in a new term called ‘Socio-emotional skills’, in which they focus on more advanced areas rather than English speaking skills and soft skills” Dr. Fernando added.

“The WB’s intention is to develop the state-funded higher education sector achieve the profile of a global graduate. It has named it as ‘Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD)’. Enhancing good characteristics such as resilience, negotiation skills, public speaking, tolerance and empathy are another aspect of the project. We simply don’t want to produce mere degree holders. We want to see a complete person passing out from the university” said Prof. Thilakarathna.

Student Centred Learning (SCL) and Outcome Based Education (OBE) are main components in terms of the transition in the learning environment of the FCMS. Changing the ways of traditional passive listeners into active participants, will be a major shift in classroom methodology.

Revisiting the internship system is also a part of this. Therefore a smart class room will be introduced to the students who are following internships during their final stage of University education. Adopting social media platforms which are universally accepted to enhance learning experience, will also be a part of this transformation.

Due to the diverse student population of the faculty, English language skills vary among students. To overcome this challenge FCMS has already planned several initiatives.

“There will be a common English language training course prior to the beginning of the main course. It is a one month intensive General English Program.

ESP

Then we are planning to introduce a unit called English for Specific Purposes (ESP) where students are trained to learn management in English. We have proposed a dedicated mobile app for the English language development of students,” said Dr. Munasinghe.

“We are going to embed course units to develop the entrepreneurial intention first. Without intention there can be no enterprises. Secondly we are going to organise competitions in order to empower innovative business ideas of students. These competitions will pave the way to merge capital providers and idea creators. This will also include, receiving support from banks and other state institutions for funding for students to start their own businesses,” said Prof. Thilakarathna.

“This transformation will take place this year. By 2020 the whole project will be implemented. The benefit of the project is for students. We believe that they will make the maximum use this massive transition within the faculty,” said Dr. Fernando.

Comments