THE IMPACT OF THE UNIVERSITY SUBCULTURE ON LEARNING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

In Sri Lanka, learning English, as a second language considered essential for the undergraduates. However, many of the undergraduates in the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences suffer due to their inability to use the language accurately. Analyzing more, the university subculture, which considers as the essence of the university students appears to play a decisive role in their language learning process. Hence, this study was designed to explore the impact of the university subculture on learning English as a second language. The researcher has selected the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka for the investigation. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data whereas; in-depth interviews and focused group interviews have been used as tools to gather qualitative data. The findings revealed that the university subculture exercises sever negative impact on learning English as a second language. Such negativity was created mainly due to the socio-cultural factors associated with English. It is the sociolinguistic importance placed on English, which has made learning English more than just learning a second language. Further, the language issues related to the primary and secondary education and certain institutional shortcomings appeared to facilitate the subculture to control the students, as it wishes. The future research implications are also discussed.&nbsp

Eco-efficiency Performance Comparison of Additive and Subtractive Manufactured Parts

This thesis aims to develop a decision support tool for the manufacturing industry, which has been achieved through the 'techno-eco-efficiency' framework. The framework provides a comprehensive assessment of additive and subtractive manufactured parts by integrating technical feasibility assessment, environmental life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, and eco-efficiency assessment. The framework has been implemented on virgin polymer composite and metal parts. Additionally, the social impacts and the eco-efficiency improvement strategy of material recycling has been explored

THE ROLE OF THE LANGUAGE LABORATORY IN LEARNING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN A UNIVERSITY CONTEXT WITH REFERENCE TO SRI LANKA

As per Sri Lankan university students, English is not just a language but also a cultural component. Most of the time it seems difficult to divert these passive learners into active and energetic language learners. Hence, the language laboratory in the Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna was decided to incorporate into language learning as a new mechanism. In order to analyze the role of the language laboratory in learning English, closed ended questionnaires were distributed among 150 Science students. 30 students plus all the teachers who worked at the faculty of Science were also interviewed. Data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings revealed that the laboratory was a great motive. Students started attending lecturers. It provided them relaxation, exposure to authentic language, confidence, individuality, interactions, and immediate feedbacks. It was the best place to practice listening and speaking. Nevertheless, the laboratory was not successful in practicing reading and writing than the traditional classroom. In fact, it was neither a problem related to the laboratory nor a matter with the students. It was a problem with the teachers, who failed to implement creative lesson materials. Teachers’ creativity, up to date knowledge, and selection of software will decide the attainment. Language laboratory is not a substitution for a teacher. Traditional classroom is not a dull place either that we should forget. Therefore, a well-adjusted approach will make the language laboratory a perfect strategy in the long-term success of the language learning process

Exploring Key Determinants of Tax Compliance Decision Among Individual Taxpayers in Sri Lanka

Tax compliance is a major problem in revenue generation by Government of Sri Lanka.  The aim of this study is to explore the key determinants of tax compliance behavior of individual taxpayers’ in Sri Lanka. Four tax compliance determinants were examined. This research comprises a quantitative study and was established theoretical framework used on existing literature and previous studies relevant to the examined tax compliance determinants were Tax Rate, probability of being Audited, non-Complexity of tax system and probability of detection. This research tested set of research hypothesis based on the framework and quantitative data collected by a questionnaire survey method of research design. Given the five point likert scaled ranking information for both independent and dependent variables. The seven hundred (700) questionnaires were distributed and the number of questionnaire completed and returned were three hundred and eighty eight (388). The researcher used cluster sampling method for this study because of the sample should be represented of the whole country. The multiple regression models were used to examine the relationship between independent and dependent variables and indicate that tax compliance was influenced by the tax rate, probability of being Audited, non- complexity of tax system, and probability of detection. The results of this study can inform policy makers how the determinants influence tax compliance behavior. The results of this study also provides insights both policy makers and tax Administrators to gain better understanding of the key variables that are significantly associated with tax compliance and enable them to implement suitable strategies to minimize potential damaging factors and allow them to improve government revenue. The study also attempts to enhance the existing literature by providing comprehensible picture and a view of taxpayers’ compliance behavior from developing countries. Keywords: Tax compliance; tax Rate, probability of Audit, non- complexity of tax system, probability detectio

UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION: SRI LANKAN EXPERIENCES

The University sector in the national innovation system (NIS) is considered as one of the key players which links new knowledge with the industry for the purpose of diffusing new knowledge for economic and social benefits through commercialization of products, services, processes and other artifacts. This paper inquires the role of Sri Lankan universities in the innovation process by paying special attention on the strength of university-industry linkages. Responses from the industrial sector obtained through a surveys and interviews with respondents. Data presented and analyzed through descriptive statistics using summery statistics and figures.  Social Network Analysis (SNA) was employed to determine the strength of the networking relationship among the Universities and the Firms Qualitative data were analyzed employing the method of content analysis. The study revealed a positive trend in the higher education sector towards performing effective role in the future towards innovation. However, it was evident that these relationships are still remained very weak. The industrial sector remains inward oriented with little intention to innovation while universities still prioritize their traditional teaching role in higher education.

Investigating the adsorption and surface active behaviour of silk fibroin peptides and mixtures of peptide and conventional surfactants

The work herein investigates the surface active properties of short peptides and their interactions with conventional surfactants. Short peptides can be designed to mimic the structures of conventional surfactants such as SDS and C12TAB. Such peptide structures include V6K peptide, which are attractive in many fields and applications as they can be more biocompatible, biodegradable and environmentally friendlier substitutes to harsh surfactants. Similar peptide structures can also be found naturally occurring in proteins, such as silk fibroin, and can then be liberated by breaking down the protein into its constituent peptides. The interaction of these peptides with conventional surfactants at the air-liquid and solid-liquid interface have not been investigated before. The adsorption behaviour and structures formed at the solid-liquid interface were examined using Ellipsometry and Neutron Reflection

Assisting Professional Development of Subordinate Engineers; Evidence from Owner/Manager Entrepreneurial Engineers in Sri Lanka

Many innovative-minded engineers have stepped towards the business domain as entrepreneurs in the international context and in the Sri Lankan context. Most entrepreneurial engineers have exploited technology-related business opportunities and succeeded in their entrepreneurial journey while contributing immensely to the economic development of the country. Although these engineers play the role of a business leader, they are professionally qualified engineers. Hence, they cannot neglect Engineering Ethics and perform as pure business managers in their entrepreneurial firms. The Code of Engineering Ethics applicable to Sri Lanka advises local engineers to actively assist and encourage the subordinate engineers to advance knowledge and experience. Therefore, Sri Lankan entrepreneurial engineers have an ethical responsibility to support the professional development of subordinate engineers. Both fields of entrepreneurship and ethics of engineers lack systematic studies in Sri Lanka. Thus, the authors were involved in an ongoing grounded theory-based qualitative study on entrepreneurial engineers' ethical practices in Sri Lanka. Based on the findings of that study, this paper investigates the strategies followed by Sri Lankan owner/manager entrepreneurial engineers on the professional development of their subordinate engineers. A purposively and theoretically selected sample of twelve entrepreneurial engineers was interviewed face to face to collect data. Interviews were voice recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview transcripts were analyzed employing grounded theory techniques to achieve this study's objective with the NVivo software's support. The study reveals that Engineering Ethics' influence has compelled entrepreneurial engineers to follow various employee development strategies. As highlighted in their interviews, training, teaching, coaching & mentoring are the major categories of procedures followed by entrepreneurial engineers in Sri Lanka. This study's findings can be considered as guidance for emerging and future entrepreneurial engineers to create a mutually beneficial sustainable work environment for entrepreneurial engineers and their employees while achieving business success.          KEYWORDS:     Entrepreneurial Engineers, Professional Development, Sri Lanka, Subordinates &nbsp