The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura started functioning as a new faculty from the 27th of January 2019 with the approval of University Grants Commission. The aim of establishing a new faculty in health sciences is to meet the growing demand for allied health care professionals in the national health care delivery system and to meet the global markets in health sciences.
The four departments and the heads of the departments are as follows:
The degree programmes that will be conducted by the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences include BSc honous in Nursing, Bachelor of Pharmacy and BSc honors Medical Laboratory Sciences. These courses were conducted by the Faculty of Medical Sciences for nearly 15 years and have been designed in conformity to the national and international standards specified by the respective disciplines and professional bodies. The graduates are gainfully employed in Sri Lanka and in other countries. Currently, the faculty is equipped with academics with a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills in indifferent disciplines. Laboratories for teaching and skills development are also established. Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, Apeksha hospital Maharagama are the main hospitals used for training of students. For special training and internships students are sent to other government institutions. The Faculty of Medical Sciences continues to support the Faculty in conducting teaching learning activities, training of students and conducting assessments. Resources such as Library facilities, IT and Language development and recreational facilities are still shared with the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The continuous support from the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the other established faculties in the University will contribute significantly for the growth of this youngest faculty of the University in the future.
The establishment of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences will enable to fill the void in the increase in demand of allied health care professionals in the country and raise the standards of services available in achieving health and wellness.
Further there will be many opportunities for the academics and the graduates to contribute to research and development in the country especially with regard to health sciences, education, pharmaceutical industry and medical diagnostics.
The challenge for the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences is to expand in the future and utilize the resources more effectively and efficiently. Increasing the student intakes to the currently conducted courses and introducing new degree programmes is planned. Optometry is one such honors degree which is pending UGC approval. The faculty has to establish the administrative structure, with recruitment of academic and non academic staff to the vacancies in the current departments and to new departments which will be established in order to increase students numbers and to commence new degree programmes. Expansion in terms of space, resources and logistics of providing training opportunities for students in keeping with the global trends in the allied health sciences disciplines is the greatest challenge. However with a team of committed academics and the support of the other faculties and the guidance from the leadership of the University I am confident that the Faculty of allied Health Sciences will grow to achieve its goals.