10.1

Preamble

References

The University carries out various Self-Financing Activities (SFAs) ranging from Consultancies, Postgraduate taught courses, short courses, part time courses, external degree programmes, testing assignments, surveys, contract research, contract teaching, etc.in order to address the needs of the industry and/or society.

All SFAs conducted by the University should be in compliance with the guidelines specified in the UGC Commission Circular No: 04/2016 dated 1^st March 2016 when carrying out the self-financing activities above mentioned.

Public Finance Circular No: 01/2020 -section 07

UGC circular: 04/2016

01/2021

10.2

Types of services provided by the university on fee levying basis

The Services offered by the University on fee-levying basis can be broadly classified into three main categories as;

1. Trainings/ Study Programmes: The University offers postgraduate taught courses for upgrading qualifications of graduates, external degree programmes, short courses and part-time courses etc through various Faculties/Centers/Units attached to the University. The University also conducts seminars, workshops and other academic assignments to transfer knowledge and technology to the industry and society. The University has three separate Postgraduate Institutes to offer PG programmes in the fields of Science (PGIS), Agriculture (PGIA), Humanities & Social Sciences (PGIHS) and Medical Sciences (PGIMS) while certain other PG programmes are offered by the Units attached to the respective faculties (Engineering, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Allied Health Sciences, Dental Sciences & Management).

This chapter describes administrative procedures for offering postgraduate study programmes only by Faculties of the University. Administrative procedures for Postgraduate programmes offered by the Postgraduate Institutes are given in Chapter 12.

1. Research and Development Services: All SFAs coming under Research and Development (R&D) are those that will meet current needs of the industry and/or society which can be discontinued when such needs no longer exist. The SFAs considered for generating income under R&D are all types of contract research activities undertaken by employees of the University funded by the Government, Industry or any other funding agency either local or international.
2. Consultancy and related Services: The SFAs considered for generating income under Consultancy are all types of Consultancy, Testing Assignments, Surveys, etc. undertaken by the employees of the University.

Laboratory services and testing are:

1. conducted within University/Faculty (associated with a Centre, Unit or a Laboratory in Department);
2. where Academic, Technical and Labor staff could be engaged in conducting a technical procedure/ methodology;
3. where the procedure/methodology involves make use of the equipment or machinery installed within faculties of the University in conducting the procedure/methodology;
4. which is conducted within a Faculty in any day of the week subjected to 1, 2 & 3 above;
5. for which samples are brought in from outside parties, samples obtained there from patients/subjects, or sample prepared from materials and/or components brought in from outside parties who plan to obtain the services;
6. which produces a test report based on the readings/measurements/data obtained through defined technical procedure, conducted and verified by either the Academic staff and or the Technical staff;
7. for which written permission has been granted by the relevant Dean of the faculty and HoD to conduct in a defined faculty;
8. for which necessary consumables & chemicals are purchased from the budget prepared for the activities of the Faculty concerned;
9. for which charging rates (in LKR) have been approved by the Finance Committee of the University for the respective year.

Accordingly, providing laboratory services on Testing in Engineering, Biopsy and Specimen testing in Faculty of Medicine, Veterinary and Dental Hospitals, Allied Health Services and requesting reports on any other diagnosis by an outside institute, or a person, shall not come under Consultancy Services defined in Commission Circular 04/2016 and will be considered as Ancillary Services provided by the University using facilities available.

All such services are routine for the client and tests are done by the minimal involvement of the experts’ knowledge. No novel outcome/solution will be there for the client other than the report which would help to make a decision or diagnose which would help experts or decision makers. All those come under the word “Tests” and place providing such services “Laboratory”.

10.3

Guidelines for offering services on fee-levying basis

10.3.1

Guidelines for offering study programmes on fee-levying basis

1. All study programs (degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions which are awarded at the Convocation of the University) shall have the prior approval of the Senate & the Council of the University & UGC as stipulated by the SLQF guidelines.
2. Postgraduate study programmes offered by faculties shall be recommended by the Higher Degree Committees (HDC) of the respective faculty in addition to the approvals mentioned under 1 above.
3. By-laws and criteria (rules and regulations) related to all study programs shall be approved by the Senate.
4. Approval of the UGC should be sought for early exit points and fall back mechanism if any in all study programs. Fall back mechanism and early exit points if any should be included in the University by-laws.
5. Examination procedure shall follow the By-Laws approved by the Senate and the Council.
6. It is mandatory to obtain a declaration on Conflict of Interest (if any) from all candidates, teachers and support staff of the study programmes.
7. All candidates, teachers and support staff of the study programmes shall adhere to the Intellectual Property (IP) policy of the University.
8. Programme budget for each study programme shall be recommended by the Finance Committee and approved by the Council prior to the commencement of such programmes.
9. In additions to the guidelines to be followed from 1-8 above, guidelines mentioned under 10.3.2 should also to be followed when carrying out Study programmes on Fee-Levying Basis.

SLQF guidelines

IP Policy

University Act

Commission Circular

04/2021

10.3.2

Guidelines for offering consultancy & related services, training and undertaking contract research

1. All the above services shall have the prior approval of the University Council.
2. Priority shall be given to SFAs directed towards improvement of efficiency and productivity of the local

industries and helping to realize the country’s socio-economic environmental and human development

policies. Also, the level of the service must be of adequate standard to bring credit to the institution.

1. University can hire staff on contract/assignment basis over and above the approved cadre using funds of the SFAs. Salaries and Wages of such individuals should be similar to the parallel positions of the University.
2. A permanent staff member shall be assigned to each service center/unit as the coordinator and the responsible person. He/ She should report all its activities to the Faculty Board/ BoM or the immediate relevant authority bi-annually.
3. The Services undertaken shall not in any way be detrimental to their contractual responsibilities to the

University or in conflict with the law of the country, and international standards applicable in the country.

1. All SFAs should be carried out over and above the normal work load of staff members as defined by the

approved Academic Accountability Guidelines of the University.

1. The estimated income and expenditure for each service should be prepared and approved by the Finance

Committee.

1. The budget for the SFA which is on non-profit basis (i.e., there is no excess of income over the expenditure) should be approved by the Council prior to any disbursement.
2. The Financial statement of completion of the SFA should be approved by the Council prior to any payment being made to the employees of the University. If the SFA activity exceeds one year in duration, the Financial Statement of completion for that year along with the budget for the balance duration of the SFA should be approved by the Council prior to any payments being made to the employees of the University.
3. The Vice-Chancellor reserves the right to withdraw the permission granted to the staff member/s to carry out SFAs if the member/s is found to violate any of the conditions under which the services were allowed and then report such actions to the Council.

UGC circular

04/2016