Prof. H. M. S. K. Herath
With great pleasure, I would like to welcome you to the Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture (FASEA) which is one of the four faculties of Uva Wellassa University and established with inception of the university in the year 2005. FASEA focuses on excelling in teaching & learning, research and outreach activities in undergraduate, postgraduate and extramural programmes emphasizing value addition to the agricultural and allied resources through scientific and emerging technological approaches. It also envisions that if it is to increase foreign exchange earnings obtained for agricultural and related products, teaching-learning activities and research must be excelled with a strong emphasis on value addition to national agricultural resources. Thus, FASEA strives to achieve its mission by creating conducive environment for teaching-learning activities that enhances knowledge, essential skills, values and attitudes of students.
Currently, FASEA has two departments: (i) Department of Animal Science and (ii) Department of Export Agriculture. At the outset, Bachelor of Animal Science Honours, which was later revised as Bachelor of Science Honours in Animal Production and Food Technology, under the Department of Animal Science, and Bachelor of Science Honours in Export Agriculture under the Department of Export Agriculture were introduced. The first group of students for these two programmes was admitted to the faculty in August 2006. Later, another three degree programmes namely, Bachelor of Science Honours in Tea Technology and Value Addition, Bachelor of Science Honours in Palm & Latex Technology and Value Addition and Bachelor of Science Honours in Aquatic Resources Technology were introduced; the former in 2008 and the latter two in 2009. At present, the faculty delivers these five degree programmes mainly focusing towards value addition to agriculture, fisheries and related resources and, the annual proposed intake for the faculty is 500+ students.
All our undergraduate degree programmes are unique and delivered in English medium providing Essential Skills Development (ESD) and Broad General Education (BGE). Undergraduates are also provided with specialized knowledge in agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and other related subjects, in their field of focus, in addition to equipping with practical skills, attitudes and insights to meet local and global challenges. It also focuses on transforming students’ mind-sets to be entrepreneurial as we expect our graduates to contribute to national economy once graduated. FASEA has also introduced research-based MPhil degree programmes under four Boards of Studies, and in future, some taught master programmes will be introduced covering various disciplines of agriculture and related aspects. As extension courses, some certificate courses have been commenced and opportunities for such courses will be further widened in future.
As a practice, curricula of the degree programmes are reviewed and updated regularly in consultation with stakeholders considering local, regional and international trends, needs and standards. Qualified staff members of the faculty are committed to develop high quality teaching-learning process and research activities promoting intellectually stimulating multi-disciplinary environment for studies.
Overall, the faculty expects to produce graduates who could make a significant impact to the national economy through their knowledge and skills gained during the stay at Uva Wellassa University. More importantly, attitudinal change of the students is expected in order to provide the expected service to the country.
I wish the success!
Prof. H.M.S.K. Herath
BSc Agric. (Hons) (SUSL), MPLR & MSc (Ghent-VUB, Belgium), PhD (Massey, New Zealand), VRF (Lanzhou, China)
Dean, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture
Telephone: +94 (0)55 2226672
Fax: +94 (0)55 2226672
Email: deanasea@uwu.ac.lk