The primary aim of the National Diploma in Technology (NDT) course is to produce mid-level professionals required by the industry of our country in various engineering technology disciplines. We conduct the NDT programme in English medium in ten disciplines with a total intake of 800. The breakdown is as follows:
Chemical Engineering Technology 50
Civil Engineering Technology 200
Electrical Engineering Technology 100
Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering Technology 100
Marine Engineering Technology 20
Mechanical Engineering Technology 100
Nautical Studies 20
Polymer Technology 50
Textile and Clothing Technology 60
Information Technology 100
A fully fledged diplomate is initially expected to function as the link between the professional Engineer or Manager and the workforce at the field/shop level. This role requires a diplomate to develop professionally and improve his communication and managerial skills. He/She needs to educate himself/herself in the chosen field of study so that he/she would be able to appreciate the innovations/designs by the professional engineer and would be able to communicate with the subordinates and make an innovation/design or a design a reality.
Thus, the course consists of a two- year(4 semesters) academic study period and one year(2 semesters) industrial training. The first and second semester subjects are designed mainly to equalize, consolidate and improve the students knowledge in basic sciences and to introduce the specialized discipline of study to which he/she has been selected. It will also give exposure to some basic skills required in engineering practice (e.g. Workshop Technology, Engineering Drawing). Additionally, each discipline offers one or more modules of the chosen field of study. E.g. Civil Engineering Division offers Building Construction for the Civil Engineering stream.
English Language is a compulsory module in the first and second semesters for dual purpose.
Communication plays an important role in a diplomates career. Therefore students are required to develop their skills in comprehension, speech and report- writing
Majority of the students entering the programme, have done their studies in Sinhala or Tamil medium up to the GCE (A/L). Therefore levels of proficiency in the English language vary widely amongst them and there is always room for improvement.
The third and fourth semester modules mainly include the application of various engineering phenomena in the selected field of study.
The fifth and sixth semesters in the third year has been allocated for obtaining the required hands-on experience in the industry. Training at the accepted industrial establishments is organized and monitored by the National Apprenticeship and Industrial training Authority (NAITA) and the Lecturer in charge of Industrial Training at the ITUM.
At the end of the three years of education and training, the successful students are awarded the National Diploma in Technology with an Ordinary, Credit or Distinction pass, as per the performance criteria approved by the University.
The latest academic curriculum in operation at the ITUM was introduced in the year 2018 for the first year students and in 2019 for the second year students. This curriculum revision changed the annual academic system of the NDT programme to the semester system.
