FVMAS Handbook –Batch 2018/19 MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR It is with great pleasure that I welcome all the new entrants to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science on behalf of the University of Peradeniya. Those who gained admission to the University of Peradeniya are indeed a privileged group considering the numbers who qualify to enter to the Sri Lankan University system. Obviously, the primary objective of a veterinary undergraduate would be to complete the course in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science successfully and become a competent veterinarian. The University of Peradeniya is the only institution in the country which offers this special field of study with an environment conducive for intellectual pursuits of the highest standards. The university has one of the best libraries in the South Asia covering many branches of learning. Hence, those who gained admission to the University should make use of this unique opportunity using the faculties provided and lay a solid foundation for their future by achieving academic excellence. In comparison to the most universities in the country, University of Peradeniya is the only residential university that provides full complement of facilities besides providing excellent academic training program. It also provides facilities such as sports and many other supplementary opportunities to the undergraduates. I firmly believe that the students should make use of these opportunities to improve their physical and mental fitness, leadership qualities, interpersonal and communication skills to become useful citizen to the Country. In addition, the University of Peradeniya also has many student societies covering wide interests ranging from nature exploration, conservation and scientific innovation to cultural music, drama and religious and social activities. The students can gainfully engage themselves in activities of these societies to broaden their horizons. I take this occasion to wish all of you a very pleasant and a memorable stay at the University and every success in your future academic activities. Professor Upul B. Dissanayake Vice-Chancellor University of Peradeniya i FVMAS Handbook –Batch 2018/19 ii FVMAS Handbook –Batch 2018/19 PREFACE The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science is the only faculty in the Sri Lankan university system that offers the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc.) degree. We have tried our utmost to ensure that the BVSc. degree programme will produce competent graduates who will be an asset to the veterinary profession, both locally and globally. This handbook is intended to provide information to undergraduates on the general organization of the faculty and the functions of its various departments, centres, and units. Most importantly, the handbook provides information on the academic courses over the five-year degree programme and examination procedures. I sincerely hope that students will familiarise themselves with the course details and examinations, which will pave the way for a successful undergraduate career. We have been changing teaching practices over the years to deliver a more student-centred learning experience where students actively participate in the learning process both within and outside the classrooms, facilitated by our teaching staff. Thus, students are required to have a pro-active role in learning and to develop problem-solving skills which are needed when they graduate and enter the competitive job market or pursue postgraduate studies. This edition of the handbook provides details of the BVSc. curriculum first introduced in 2020. This five- year curriculum was developed with the help of a twinning programme with Massey University, New Zealand under the purview of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Some major objectives of the new curriculum are to (1) provide increased clinical exposure with a fifth year dedicated to clinical appointments; (2) inculcate critical thinking skills among students using problem-based learning methods; (3) enhance soft skills such as teamwork and communication by incorporating professional studies in the study programme; and (4) promote life-long learning by means of student-centred teaching strategies. This handbook provides information to undergraduates on all courses and examinations offered during the BVSc. programme and the spread of courses across the five-year duration. Students start with learning the fundamental sciences (via courses in anatomy physiology, and biochemistry) in the first year but are also exposed to animal handling and observation of animal behaviour, welfare, and clinical practice from the beginning (via courses in animal science). More than half the academic programme in the first year comprises practical classes, thus enabling students to develop essential skills. In their second year, students learn the foundations of disease including pathology, microbiology and parasitology and will start learning the basics of clinical practice and therapeutics. These are reinforced in the third year and fourth years, where all lectures pertaining to the course will be completed. These include medicine, surgery and therapeutics of production, companion, and wild animals as well as courses on preventative medicine such as public health and epidemiology. Concepts of animal science including animal management and nutrition will be taught throughout the course. Starting from the first year, students will have hands-on experience in the teaching hospital and teaching farm, as well as exposure to clinical cases outside the faculty. The final year is entirely devoted to clinical work, with some clinical appointments being electives, so that students may gain extra knowledge in the areas they are most interested in. All examinations throughout the five years contribute towards the final BVSc. degree. The handbook also provides information on common amenities available to students at the University of Peradeniya. This includes information on recreational facilities, student societies, student accommodation, counselling and health services, as well as the rules and regulations pertaining to undergraduates. I have no doubt that this Student Handbook will be of immense value to veterinary undergraduates to prepare themselves for the BVSc. programme and their university life. Dr. D.M.S. Munasinghe Dean Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science January 2020 iii FVMAS Handbook –Batch 2018/19 Contents 1 UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PHYSICAL SETTING.............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 HISTORY .............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 CLIMATE ............................................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 UNIVERSITY PARK ............................................................................................................................... 2 1.5 MAP ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 VISION, MISSION, VALUES AND GOALS OF THE UNIVERSITY ............................................................. 4 1.7 UNIVERSITY CREST ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.8 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM OF SRI LANKA ...................... 6 1.9 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA ............................................... 7 1.10 FACULTIES AND INSTITUTES ................................................................................................................ 8 2 FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND ANIMAL SCIENCE ............................................... 9 2.1 HISTORY .............................................................................................................................................. 9 2.2 VISION AND MISSION ......................................................................................................................... 11 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ......................................................................................................... 12 2.4 MAP ................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.5 OFFICE OF THE DEAN ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.6 SENIOR STUDENT COUNSELLORS AND DEPUTY PROCTOR ............................................................. 15 2.7 ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS ................................................................................................................ 16 2.8 ACADEMIC UNITS OF THE FACULTY .................................................................................................. 18 2.9 FACULTY BOARD SUB-COMMITTEES ................................................................................................. 19 2.10 VETERINARY