The Graduateship in Chemistry (GIC) Programme
The Graduateship in Chemistry (GIC) is one of the programmes offered by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) which was established in 1971 and incorporated by Act of Parliament No.15 of 1972, as a professional body for the general advancement and practice of Chemistry in Sri Lanka and also is a government-approved degree awarding institute. The designation of ‘Graduate Chemist’ is accrued by successful completion of the GIC programme which was commenced in the year 1979 and has produced 2045 Graduate Chemists during the period from 1983 to 2023.
The standard of the GIC programme is concerned, it comprises not less than 120 credits of coursework spread over a fouryear period and conducted in English medium. The subjects that make up the programme are fully Chemistry oriented. However, courses such as Introduction to Management, Economics and Finance, Information Technology for Chemistry, Fundamentals of Physics for Chemists, Applications of Mathematics for Chemists etc. are also being offered to students as supporting courses. Accordingly, the significant features of this programme are;
Four-year professional qualification Both the Academic & Industryoriented application
Path to becoming a Chartered Chemist Recognition by international professional bodies such as the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) -UK and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)
Opening to follow postgraduate courses in Chemistry
A full-time programme fully conducted in the English medium One of the entry criteria of the GIC programme is the Bachelor in Science (general degree) and holders of this qualification can directly enter into level three of the GIC programme. Entry qualifications to level one of the programme are either G.C.E.(A/L) -local/ London- with a minimum of 3 passes and Chemistry as a subject or successful completion of the Diploma in Laboratory Technology (DLT) offered by the IChemC.
The University Grants Commission has recognised that the ‘Graduateship in Chemistry’ qualification awarded by the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon can be considered as having satisfied the basic requirements of registration for a Postgraduate Programme in Chemistry at a University. Further, in 1986, the Government of Sri Lanka accepted the GIC programme of IChemC as an alternative qualification to a Degree in Science with Chemistry as a subject, awarded by a recognised University (Vide public administration circular No. 334 of 17 July 1986), for the purpose of employment. The GIC Programme was formally accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK in 2012. The RSC has recognised and accepted the successful completion of the GIC examination as fulfilment for admission as an Associate Member of the RSC (AM. RSC). Similarly, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon (IChemC) have also recognised the GIC qualification for admission to their memberships AM.RACI and A.IChemC respectively.
Presently, the GIC qualification has been widely recognised and accepted by universities in many countries (including the USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka). It is appropriate to highlight that over 300 Graduate Chemists have obtained postgraduate degrees from Universities in Sri Lanka and foreign Universities in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Singapore, Norway etc. Some of the Graduate Chemists of IChemC are in Academic Positions in State Universities and Research Institutes in Sri Lanka. In addition, some of them are in academic positions in foreign universities and research institutes such as Johns Hopkins University- USA, North Dakota State University, Mississippi State University, and Virginia Research Center-USA.
Furthermore, indisputably, the GIC programme has been a strong platform for students to secure many industrial and academic opportunities both in Sri Lanka and abroad.
By Geeth Karunaratne Registrar Institute of Chemistry Ceylon 24th January 2024