FACULTY OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA, SRI LANKA Academic Year 2018/2019 Undergraduate Student Handbook August 2020 Copyright C 2020 Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna. Message from the Competent Authority As one of the pioneering members of the Faculty of Science and the Chief Executive Officer of the University, I am pleased to extend my best wishes to the 45th batch of students entering the Faculty of Science in August 2020. The Faculty of Science is one of the pioneer faculties of the University of Jaffna established in 1974. I am happy to note that you have selected the best option to pursue a science degree programme at the University of Jaffna. The graduates from the faculty are well-known for their scholarly attributes. Most of the graduates of the faculty have been doing well in all walks of life, especially as administrators, educators, ICT professionals, and scientists in the country as well as abroad. Graduates of the faculty exhibit scholarship with versatile skills, meeting the needs of the local and national communities. It is with utmost confidence, I believe that you would make use of the facilities available at the university to hone yourselves as responsible and competent science graduates to fulfil the dreams of your parents and that of the society. I wish you all the best for a productive and happy university life. Professor K. Kandasamy Competent Authority University of Jaffna -iii- iii Message from the Dean On behalf of the Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, I take this opportunity to welcome you all to the Faculty and wish you a successful and rewarding period of stay in the Faculty. We are happy that you have taken a wise decision to undertake a Bachelor of Science Degree programme at this prestigious faculty which has a good track record of producing competent and skilful graduates. The programmes offered by the Faculty lead to the Bachelor of Science degree of either three-year or four-year duration, which are designed to provide knowledge on both pure and applied sciences, together with comprehensive skills development components. As you enter the Faculty of Science, there may be many questions that you would like to be answered. In this Handbook, we seek to answer some of the queries that are common to everybody and to provide you with information on nature/structure of the degree programmes, subjects and courses offered, methods of evaluation and available student support services. I believe that this Handbook would provide you the necessary information to enable you to begin your undergraduate education with confidence. Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, the faculty has made changes to the programme delivery while giving you the best possible academic experience. The impact of social distancing is likely to mean that we will not be able to deliver all our teaching in a usual manner, and a part of the teaching may need to be delivered with the aid of a learning management system and video conferencing. The faculty -v- is determined to work hard for providing students with the highest quality education and offers the best possible experience. In the event of any queries or problems, you are strongly advised and encouraged to consult your Lecturers, Student Counsellors, Academic Counsellors, and the Heads of Departments. I wish you a fruitful, safe, and blissful university life. Best wishes Professor P. Ravirajan Dean, Faculty of Science University of Jaffna Website : http://www.sci.jfn.ac.lk E-mail : [email protected] [email protected] Tele/Fax No.: +94(0)21 222 2685 -vi- CONTENTS 1. University Education 1.1 University of Jaffna 1.1.1 Brief History 1 1.1.2 Vision 1 1.1.3 Mission 1 1.1.4 Crest 1 1.2 Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna 1.2.1 Brief History 2 1.2.2 Vision 3 1.2.3 Mission 3 1.2.4 Objectives 3 1.2.5 Graduate Profile 3 1.2.6 Teaching Framework 4 2. Student Learning Resources and Supportive Services 2.1 Students Learning Resources 2.1.1 Main Library 5 2.1.2 Computer Unit 5 2.1.3 Department of English Language Teaching 6 2.1.4 Learning Management System 6 2.2 Student Supportive Services 2.2.1 Student welfare Service 6 2.2.2 Students Complex 7 2.2.3 University Health Centre 7 2.2.4 Physical Education Unit 8 2.2.5 Centre for Gender Equity and Equality 8 2.2.6 Student Counselling System 8 2.2.7 Social Harmony and Student conduct 9 2.2.8 Well-Being Centre 12 2.2.9 Career Guidance Unit 12 2.2.10 University Business Linkage 12 -vii- vii 3. Administrative set up of the University 3.1 Role of the University Grants Commission and 13 the Ministry of Higher Education 3.2 The Chancellor and Officers of the University 13 3.3 The Faculties and Academic Departments 14 3.4 Administration of the Faculties 15 3.5 The University Senate 16 3.6 Administrative Branches of the University 3.6.1 Administration Branch 16 3.6.2 Examinations Branch 16 3.6.3 Admission Branch 16 3.6.4 Welfare Services Branch 16 3.6.5 Academic and Publications Branch 16 3.6.6 Finance Branch 16 3.6.7 Planning and Maintenance Branch 16 3.6.8 Security Department 16 4 Structure of the Bachelor of Science Degree Programmes 4.1 Degree 4.1.1 Bachelor of Science degrees (Three years) 17 4.1.2 Bachelor of Science Honours degrees (Four years) 18 4.2 Academic year, SLQF Levels and Faculty Descriptors 19 4.3 Subjects 4.3.1 Principal Subjects 20 4.3.2 Supplementary Subjects 21 4.3.3 English 22 4.3.4 Life Skills and Career Fair 22 4.3.5 Computer Applications 22 4.3.6 Mathematics for Biological Science Students 22 4.4 Courses 22 4.5 Selection to Honours Degree study Programmes 26 4.6 Evaluation Procedures and Examinations 4.6.1 In course Assessment – Formative Assessment 27 4.6.2 End of Course Examinations – summative AssessmentǦ 28 4.6.3 Examination in English 30 4.6.4 Repeating Examinations 30 4.6.5 Examination offenses 31 -viii- viii 3. Administrative set up of the University 4.7. Criteria Awarding egrees 3.1 Role of the University Grants Commission and 4.7.1 Bachel cience r hr years) 32 13 4.7.2 Bachel cience urs rees (Four ears) 32 the Ministry of Higher Education 4.7.3 Bachel cience urs pli ence 33 3.2 The Chancellor and Officers of the University 13 4.8. Award Class 33 3.3 The Faculties and Academic Departments 14 4.9 Fall back pti Awar pl gher a 33 3.4 Administration of the Faculties 15 4.10 Effective te of lificati an ficial 34 Ǧ 3.5 The University Senate 16 Transcripts 3.6 Administrative Branches of the University 3.6.1 Administration Branch 16 3.6.2 Examinations Branch 16 Annexures 3.6.3 Admission Branch 16 3.6.4 Welfare Services Branch 16 A Calculati Grade oint Average 3.6.5 Academic and Publications Branch 16 A1. Selecti t S Hons gree programme 35 3.6.6 Finance Branch 16 3.6.7 Planning and Maintenance Branch 16 A2 Selecti h BS AppliedSc r Programme 36 3.6.8 Security Department 16 A3. BSc degrees 36 4 Structure of the Bachelor of Science Degree Programmes A4. BS rees 37 4.1 Degree 4.1.1 Bachelor of Science degrees (Three years) 17 B List o rse Offere i the egree rogrammes 4.1.2 Bachelor of Science Honours degrees (Four years) 18 B1 Leve of r (1G) 38 4.2 Academic year, SLQF Levels and Faculty Descriptors 19 B2 Level r (2G) 39 4.3 Subjects B3 Level r (3G) 40 4.3.1 Principal Subjects 20 B4 Level r (3M) 42 4.3.2 Supplementary Subjects 21 4.3.3 English 22 B5 Level f Hons degree (4 44 4.3.4 Life Skills and Career Fair 22 B6 BS Hons (Computer cience) degr S/2S/3S/4S) 46 4.3.5 Computer Applications 22 B7 Level f pli ence r (4X 47 4.3.6 Mathematics for Biological Science Students 22 4.4 Courses 22 C Scholarships, ries, rizes Gold Me nd the Awards 50 4.5 Selection to Honours Degree study Programmes 26 D. Principal ffice the niversit 58 4.6 Evaluation Procedures and Examinations E. Principal ffice the acult 58 4.6.1 In course Assessment – Formative Assessment 27 4.6.2 End of Course Examinations – summative Ǧ F. Sta Profile the Facult 59 Assessment 28 4.6.3 Examination in English 30 G. Staff of the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Science 67 4.6.4 Repeating Examinations 30 H. Use lepho Numbers 68 4.6.5 Examination offenses 31 I. Ma of Facult premises 69 -ix- ix viii 1. University Education 1.1. University of Jaffna 1.1.1. Brief History The Jaffna Campus of the University of Sri Lanka was established in 1974 with a ceremonial inauguration on October 06, 1974 and Late Professor K. Kailasapathy was appointed as the first President. The Jaffna Campus was upgraded as an autonomous university bearing the name “University of Jaffna” on January 01, 1979 (For more details: http://www.jfn.ac.lk/ index.php/history). 1.1.2. Vision of the University of Jaffna “To be a leading centre of excellence in teaching, learning, research and scholarship”.