Life at Moratuwa Business Faculty

Did you know that the University of Moratuwa has a Business Faculty?

The Business Faculty at the University of Moratuwa, which started in 2017, is still new to many people. Imagine my surprise when I got a few blank looks from my peers in other faculties as a student in the business faculty of the University of Moratuwa as if they hadn’t heard of it before. But those of us in the Business Faculty know better. We’re not just attending classes – we’re shaking things up all over campus. Whether it’s sports or student societies, you’ll find Business Faculty students making their mark everywhere.

Though it is fairly new, the Bachelor of Business Science degree has been making waves in the industry. There are three specialisations offered by the degree. Namely, they are Business Analytics, Financial Services Management and Business Process Management.

If you are an A/L commerce student, I am sure that the University of Moratuwa is not the typical choice of university that comes to your mind when it comes to pursuing higher education. Even though it is out of the ordinary, I liked the idea of being part of something new and exciting, so I chose the University of Moratuwa. I think the degree has been curated to provide business undergraduates with many analytical skills and scientific principles.

I am one of those lucky students who joined the Business Faculty at the University of Moratuwa as a part of the 23rd Batch. Our batch has 150 students from all over the country. I love that we are a small batch as we get to make a much closer bond with our fellow batchmates. We come from various walks of life to pursue a common goal and at first, the university was an entirely different environment than the school environment that each one of us came out of. Though everyone is still getting to know each other and fit in, there is a sense of unity and belonging from the start.

My batchmates selected me as one of their student representatives. I grudgingly admit I had no idea what I was walking into. There is no explanation that can do this role justice because, ‘chaos’ would be a more appropriate description. During the early days, I painstakingly wrote announcements in the group chat. Nowadays I forward everything, sometimes even forgetting to add the context. All I can say is that being a ‘repa’ or ‘repi’ is a true test of your will power and sanity. One perk of the job is that most of the time you are the first to know when a lecture or exam gets cancelled or rescheduled. No one can describe that joy in words. All jokes aside, I am a person that thrives on being busy and helpful. So, I constantly improve my interpersonal skills, communication skills and problem-solving ability in this challenging role.

It is funny how food, of all things, became a big part of my first-semester experience. I almost want to start a food-reviewing side hustle.

The University of Moratuwa provides several canteen facilities like there is the Goda canteen, Goda Uda canteen, Wala canteen, Sentra Court, and some others I probably have not even heard of. The good old L Canteen in our faculty can boast of a Ginger Plain tea with a kick that wakes you right up. Not to forget the variety of meals ranging from Roti, String Hoppers, and Bread to short eats. There are days where you skip breakfast because you are running late for lectures. On other days, you eat from several lunch packets brought by friends and then fall asleep in the next lecture.

Our inauguration happened in February 2024, but it seemed like it was yesterday.

Once lectures started, it was truly an uphill battle to keep up. Right away you realise how different the university system is from school. We learn from lecturers, seniors, and peers, and we cannot forget YouTube. I had to learn statistics and programming which were entirely new subjects to me. There is a lot of self-learning and self-study, but one of the most helpful forms of support was the ‘Kuppis’ done by batchmates. I have come to greatly appreciate this supportive culture in our university.

Additionally, we submit assignments for every module. One day we submit a report, and then the next day we do a presentation. Amidst all of this, who needs sleep anyway? The stress alone keeps us awake. I am sure all of you understand and have experienced at least once the panic that sets in when assignments are submitted in the nick of time, or the Moodle glitching when submitting at the last moment. These assignments improved my teamwork and it also helped me learn new skills like video editing and script writing. During exam periods, you require endless snacks, tea or coffee and loyal friends that keep you awake. The library is a safe haven during these times and occasionally a cradle that lulls you to sleep.

Looking back at the first semester, I sometimes marvel at how we survived. It is a strange dichotomy at a university. You have so much freedom, but you have to learn to be responsible.

One great thing I discovered here is that you can be yourself here. You have a chance to try sports, hobbies and various extracurriculars as a university student. I honestly learned so much about life just by being here. It is basically a crash course in adulthood. Looking back, I am grateful to my younger self who took an unknown leap that landed me where I am today. I am excited to see what the next semester brings to my life.

P.S - Just to cover all bases, I reserve the right to become unexcited when the next exams come around.