General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University:

Making professionals for the tri-services

Continued from yesterday

Prof. Ranjith B. Mapa

At the time of admission, cadets have the option to select their preference to the three armed forces Army, Navy or Air Force for their future career.

Foreign cadets from SARRC countries possessing equivalent qualifications also get an opportunity to enter the KDU applying through the Foreign Ministry and respective High Commissions of Sri Lanka. Each SAARC country is offered with two vacancies and by year 2008 twenty such students graduated from Bangladesh, Maldives and Nepal.

University authorities

The statue of General Sir John Kotelawala at the University. Courtesy: Google

The management and administration of KDU is vested with the Board of Management (BOM) appointed by the President of Sri Lanka.

The BOM consists of Chairman-Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law and Order, the Additional Secretary of the same ministry, Chief of Defence Staff, Commanders of the Tri Services of Sri Lanka, Army, Navy and Air Force, Director General (Department of Budget, General Treasury), Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Vice Chancellor / Commandant of the University and the Registrar as the Secretary to the Board.

The Chancellor of the University is appointed by the President and presides over convocations of the University where the tenure of service lasts for a period of five years. Presently, General Desamanya JE Denis Perera holds the position of Chancellor.

The Vice Chancellor/ Commandant of the University is also appointed by the President and has to be a Service Officer in the rank of Major General/Rear Admiral/Air Vice Marshal from Army, navy or Air Force respectively.

His tenure of service lasts normally for a period of three years and rotated among the three services, Army, Navy and Air Force.

At present Major General Milinda Peiris hold the post of Vice Chancellor. The Deputy Vice Chancellor/Deputy Commandant of the University appointed by the Board of Management, has to be a Service Officer in the ranks of Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore and is presently held by Brigadier HL David.

Faculties of Studies

The academic program of the University is carried out under the guidance of the Director of Academic Studies (DAS) who is at the level of a professor, with the assistance of eight Academic Departments offering 11 degree programs which were named in the introduction of this article.

These are conducted using the services of a team of qualified academics consisting of both internal and visiting staff. At present there are 22 internal academic staff members and KDU obtain the services of many visiting lecturers and professors from Universities including University of Moratuwa which is in close vicinity. In addition, some lectures are conducted by qualified service officers from the tri-services. For the smooth functioning of the degree programs, KDU obtain the services of Consultants, Course Coordinators.

The Advisory Committees Board of examiners and Board of Studies are formed to assist in collective decision-making.

The degree program consists of two semesters of 21 weeks per year for 3 years whereas 2 years are spent at KDU and the balance time at their respective military academies. Approximately 75 percent of students contact hours is allocated for Academic Program while 25 percent is used for Defence Studies consisting of various military training activities.

The Faculty of Defence studies is headed by Commanding Officer (CO) assisted by Squadron Commanders in charge of each intake and Troop Commanders supervising each troop.

The cadets at KDU are subjected to compulsory military training whilst carrying out their academic program. The military training is designed and planned to educate, train and inspire cadets for an exemplary career as Commissioned Officers of the three Services. The course curriculum in Defence Studies includes Weapon Training, Map Reading, Leadership Studies, Elementary lessons in Field Crafts etc.

The Post Graduate Program is conducted by the Institute of Post Graduate Studies (IPGS) coordinated by Brigadier UAB Madewela.

It offers external Post Graduate Degrees for middle and senior level officers of the three Services and Police in Master of Science (Defence Studies) Degree in Management. In addition, courses on English and Information Technology are conducted during the weekends for military officers, other rank officers and civilians serving in military establishments.

Facilities

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University offers the Cadets many facilities as provided to students by other Universities in the country. Spacious lectures rooms, auditoriums, laboratory complexes and engineering workshops support in developing practical skills of cadets.

In addition, two language laboratories, a library and an IT center facilitate their learning. KDU also provide the cadets with sport facilities with a well-equipped gymnasium and a swimming pool for them to compete in different tournaments.

The extra curricular activities are supported by formation of various clubs like E-club, Photography club, Rowing club, Music and Dancing club, Eco club etc.

Crest of the University

The crest of KDU which is shown to the left of the title of this article has a symbolic composition. It consist of the emblem of the Republic of Sri Lanka showing the loyalty to the country, the crosses of swords symbolic to the Sri Lanka Army, the Anchor and Wings which are symbolic to Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force, and the Torch symbolic to education. The motto in the embalm reads "For the Motherland Forever". The KDU has its own university anthem written by Dr. S.H. Nissanka and music composed by Dr. Premasiri Kemadasa.

Plans for the future

With the able guidance of BOM, the present Vice Chancellor/Commandant Major General Milinda Peiris and his team of officers, the KDU has already started a medial stream to provide the doctors needed by the armed forces.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the KDU and the University of Ruhuna on September 22, 2009 to train medial graduates starting from 2009. The first batch of 25 cadets was enlisted and they have joined the Medical Faculty of University of Ruhuna at Karapitiya in late September. This number will be increased to 40 in the next year and plans are underway to start its own Medical Faculty at KDU, Ratmalana soon. In addition, plans are underway to start a Faculty of Law to provide the necessary legal personnel to armed forces. Under the restructuring plan, the existing Departments of Engineering and Humanities and Social Sciences will be elevated to Faculty level to have a full fledged Defence University consisting of many Faculties and an Institute for Post Graduate Studies.

The winning of the war against LTTE has proved that the Sri Lankan forces are not second to any other armed force in the world. There is a great demand and many inquiries from foreign armed forces in obtaining training on revolutionary warfare and leadership qualities from Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

These opportunities should be exploited by the KDU, as it will be the most appropriate institute to engage in such training courses, workshops and seminars. In addition, the staff and cadets of KDU should be given opportunities to study, research and document various field structures and tactics used in Guerrilla war by LTTE.

The academia of Sri Lanka applaud the services rendered by the armed forces in the battle against LTTE and the sacrifices they made in winning the war which lasted for 36 years. There are many ways the academics can show their appreciation to Armed Services by joining hand in hand to further develop the Academic Programs of the General Sir John Kotelawala University. Opportunities will be made in the near future for the academics in Universities and other relevant institutes to participate in curriculum development, conduct visiting lectures and to participate as resource personnel in workshops and seminars in areas of need, which would uplift the standards of graduates and post-graduates who will be joining their respective services after graduation from KDU.

With the development to a full fledge University with many faculties, KDU will be able to increase its intake to supply the manpower needed not only for armed services having the professional qualifications and the necessary discipline, but for the whole nation needing in such services.

For more information on admission requirements for Sir General John Kotelawala Defence University, visit our web site www.kdu.ac.lk or call 011-2634201.

Concluded

The writer is Director, Academic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana