Get your Masters Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
The faculty of Graduate Studies of General Sir John Ko te law ala Defence University is engaged in conducting External Postgraduate and undergraduate degree programmes in addition to the diverse range of certificate and diploma programmes for interested Executive Personals of public and private sectors as well as Officers of Tri Services and Police. Rather than focusing only on the academic based professional development, the Faculty of graduate studies also ensures the personal growth of their students through interactive sessions, experimental learning, and independent research projects. With new teaching techniques and methods, the course components of these degree programmes are designed to facilitate and enhance the knowledge base of the students, to develop their skills and to transform attitudes and approaches for problem solving.
Mr. Ravi na th Ariyasinghe, the secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka is currently the lecturer for International and National Security at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Sharing his teaching experience at KDU, he stated, “I find it very interesting to teach my class because I learn as much as I teach. In spite of their work and jobs they are very enthusiastic and eager to learn. Also I have students coming from faraway places like camps of Mullaitivu which is a great commitment on their part.
When I am teaching I always try to provoke students to react and encourage them to question what they learn because that will get them to think and in to discussions which will give the practical aspects of the subject. Plus, engaging with them on a continuous basis adds the gravity to the subject.
Rather than adding another qualification to your CV, it is important that you factor what you learn in to your working experience. At
KDU, students are there because they know why they are there and to get something from it. And that is a good place to be.”
Facilities and services
As for facilities and services, KDU ensures that their students have access to all the necessary learning facilities at their best condition.
Library Facilities - The KDU library provides excellent services including inter library loan service and book reversion facilities. Moreover, the students have the opportunity of getting the membership and reference services of British Council Library and American Centre Library. Subscription Databases and Information Networks are also been provided as additional facilities.
m-learning Platform - With the enhancement in new technologies at KDU, the Faculty of Graduate Studies has introduced a new m-learning platform for postgraduate students, who are unable to participate in lectures due to their personal and official commitments. This facility helps the students to connect live with the lectures from their working or living places world-wide.
IT Facilities - The University provides a wide range of computing resources and support services so that students can utilize those computing facilities for research, course work and general work.
In addition to this, KDU provides the students free WiFi Facilities, comfortable classrooms with Air conditioning, lunch and refreshments and a friendly learning environment.
MPhil and PhD Programme at KDU
The overall goal of FGS at KDU is to develop and enhance the capabilities of the researchers, possessing originality and ingenuity to conduct pioneering research at the front lines of different interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. Postgraduate students are always encouraged to publish their research work in Indexed Journals, Peer reviewed Journals and in local and international research conferences as well as to develop their researches to meet the needs of the industrial sector and society, contributing significantly to the national development.
As a Senior Scientific Officer in International Liaison Division of National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, Dr Mahesha Nadugala has contributed enormously for the betterment of the country. “As the first registered and the graduated student under the Windows II cat e gory at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, I got the opportunity of learning from the best in the field.” She said.
“As I was new to the concept of KDU, it was a bit of a challenge to adopt to the environment at first. But with the backing of the lectures and students it became very easy and effective. Moreover, their timely schedule is a big advantage because it saves time and helps you to accomplish your targets by the date.
KDU has also created many national and international level platforms for their students motivating them to publish their research work.”
Sharing more about this learning experience at KDU, Dr Nadugala said that it was a huge opportunity for the PhD research projects and it assisted her to gain two national patent applications for her research work focused on the development of a vaccine candidate with a broadly reactive neutralizing immune response against dengue.
Master’s Programmes at KDU
The Master’s programme covers a broad spectrum of related subjects including all the key areas needed to become a successful team leader. The programme is designed in accordance with the Sri Lankan Qualification Framework published by the Ministry of Higher Education and its academic standard is equivalent to Sri Lanka Qualifying level 10. Designed by a panel of senior academics and professionals from reputed universities and institutions in Sri Lanka, KDU ensures high academic standards to facilitate participants to complete Master’s Degrees in two years whilst being employed.
The duration of the Master’s Programmes is four semesters ( two academic years) and classes are scheduled from 0830 hrs to 1730 hrs on every other weekend except on public holidays.
“Twenty years ago when I started working at Maliban as a quality assurance executive it only touched the technical aspects. But as I was planning to g row with my career, it needed the touch of mana gement tech - niques and tools. That is why I selected KDU for my second MSc degree in Management. I followed and complet- ed the degree successfully with a broad knowledge on important management aspects like Strategic Management, Project Management Total Quality Management and Human Resource Management. “, said Mr. Vinoy Jayashantha, who is now the Senior Manager of Quality Assurance, Research & Development at Maliban Biscuits Manufactories Pvt. Ltd.
Adding to this, Mr. Vinoy Jayashantha said that the Masters programme at KDU is properly designed to an on time schedule with high quality educational standards and a highly qualified lecturer panel. He also stated that apart from all the academic knowledge, his masters degree helped h8im to develop his presentation and people skills, something which is very important for a manager.
Mr. Lahiru Thilakarathna, who is a LL. M degree holder of KDU, is also an Attorney- at- Law ( Supreme Court) and the director Ni- Cey Group. After completing his Master’s Degree from KDU, M r . Thilakarathna is eagerly looking forward to accomplish his dream of completing Mphil and PhD degrees from KDU.
Sharing his thoughts about KDU he said, “I choose KDU for my masters mainly because the institute works on a proper timeline so I could plan my future without any distress. And I highly admire the academic quality because it brought down the opportunity of learning from excellent lectures.
Since this is a part of a military institution it has carried forward that in- heart discipline for their academic studies as well. But it does not limit your thinking. Rather, it gives you freedom to question and to take a practical approach with research.
While appreciating the excellence of KDU he also added a valuable massage for the parents.”If the parents can motivate their students to join KDU, they will not only have an educated student but they will have a committed, determined and disciplined student who is passionate about the country as well.”