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Message From the Vice Chancellor
It is with much humility that I take on the onerous
duties of Vice-Chancellor of this university with effect from 9th March ,
2007.
The University of Ruhuna is the only academic and research centre in the
Southern Province. Therefore, the University of Ruhuna must play a
leadership role in the development initiatives in the region. The vision for
the university must necessarily be based on this very important premise.
Furthermore, since the 'South' has been abundant in its contribution to the
educated human resource base of this country from early times, the vision of
the University of Ruhuna must also include the goal of developing Centres of
Excellence at the national level as well. The main constraint for this
development has been the gravitational pull of the metropolis that has seen
many of its best graduates leave the region for better career prospects
elsewhere in the country.
The University of Ruhuna needs to take an initiative in developing an
intellectual, academic and research base that can attract energetic young
academics and professionals to engage in creating the knowledge base that is
essential for the development of the Southern region. Since the University
of Ruhuna now consists of 7 faculties -
Agriculture,
Engineering,
Fisheries and Marine Sciences &
Technology, Humanities &
Social Sciences, Management &
Finance,
Medicine and
Science - that cover vitally important aspects in the development
paradigm, what remains to be done is to energise the faculties in their
research and training activities. The University of Ruhuna can then reach
heights in these areas. With this vision, I hope to achieve some objectives,
targets and goals for the University of Ruhuna.
Another important aspect that I am particularly concerned about is the work
ethic of staff - both academic and non-academic. For an institution such as
a university, commitment is an essential prerogative for its sustenance and
development. The academic staff in the first instance must give the lead in
this aspect by being role models to other staff as well as students who are
being nurtured by them. It is only then that we can improve the discipline
and a sense of responsibility among students. I wish to work towards the
goal of the University of Ruhuna establishing an environment of creativity
and freedom together with a developed ethical culture of tolerance of
diverse viewpoints and ideological positions. Tolerance is strongly seeped
into our culture by the `Great and Ageless Teacher' who has inspired the
establishment of a unique Eastern Philosophical Tradition.
As much as academic freedom is enshrined in the university system and is an
important right of an academic in a free and democratic society, the
academics must ensure that that freedom has to be enjoined with duty,
responsibility and commitment to the institution. This sense of duty,
responsibility and commitment must also seep into the administration so that
a very high level of transparency and accountability in all aspects - with
special emphasis on financial matters - can be maintained at all times.
In terms of student welfare, I have a vision to strengthen and bring out the
aesthetic talents and creative abilities of all students so that their
energies may be channelled along productive lines instead of destructive
paths resulting from repressed angers and frustration. I envisage a radical
move away from the confrontational approach to continuing dialogue and
negotiation without compromising on the norms and standards of accepted
behavior. To nurture and encourage the creation of a new culture of
tolerance, I will establish a "Vice-Chancellor`s Lecture Series" and
a "Vice-Chancellor`s Seminar Series" through which I will invite the
best critical and analytical minds in Sri Lanka - both within and without
the university academia - to articulate, debate and discuss current issues
which are of immediate importance to Sri Lankan society. I will also
establish an annual "Ruhuna University Oration" to stimulate
intellectual discussion and take the university towards being a centre of
creative intellectual activity.
My vision in the role of the Vice-Chancellor is to principally be an
initiator of creative endeavour, a facilitator of academic initiatives and a
mediator and conciliator when contradictory forces within the university
threaten to disrupt and disturb its normal functions.
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