r Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

National Defence College

INTRODUCTION TO NDC

National Defence College (NDC) was established as the premier institute that promotes strategic thinking for the senior officers of the tri-service, Police and Public Service to provide holistic knowledge in view of developing highly qualified strategic decision-maker in the realm of national security, statecraft, diplomacy and public policy to ensure national security and national development of Sri Lanka. The reading will aim at creating strategic thinker, strategic analyser, decision-maker and strategic advisor. Institution will provide wise counsel to the Government in national and international security matters and also acts as a think-tank on matters pertaining to the national security and holds a very important position in shaping up the national security outlook of the country. The organizational Structure of NDC as follows.
The NDC is presently accredited to the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka for the awarding of MSc and MPhil degrees. Teaching methodology is consisting with central lectures, Syndicate Room discussion, research and exercises which will be conducted by the highly acclaimed local and foreign scholars/academia.
VISION
To be the premier national defence institute for security & strategic studies leading to high level analysis of varied local and international social, economic, political, military, scientific & organizational aspects involved in the formulation of national security strategy.
MISSION
To impart knowledge and develop future leaders in an integrated strategic environment to function as strategic thinkers in the realm of national security, statecraft, diplomacy and public policy to uphold national interest.
NATIONAL DEFENCE AND STRATEGIC STUDY COURSE

STUDY MODULES

The National Defence and Strategic Study Course (NDSSC) is a multi-disciplinary learning platform tailored to suit the vision. A total of nine study modules will be conducting in two semesters. Each module is consisted of carefully selected subjects which are required for the higher-level decision making and policy formulation. The distribution of nine study modules are as follows:

SEMESTER 1

SN CODE COURSE UNIT LECTURE HRS NO. OF CREDITS PERCENTAGE
1 MDSS 1013 Introduction to Strategy and Policy 45 Hrs 3 10.42%
2 MDSS 1023 Research Methodology 45 Hrs 3 10.42%
3 MDSS 1034 Sri Lanka Studies 60 Hrs 4 13.75%
4 MDSS 1043 Economic Security: Regional and Global Compulsions 45 Hrs 3 10.42%
5 MDSS 1054 Science and Technology 60 Hrs 4 13.75%
Sub Total 255 Hrs 17 58.75%

SEMESTER 2

SN CODE COURSE UNIT LECTURE HRS NO. OF CREDITS PERCENTAGE
6 MDSS 2064 International Security 60 Hrs 4 13.75%
7 MDSS 2074 Geo- politics and Policy 60 Hrs 4 13.75%
8 MDSS 2084 National Security and Strategy                                                   60 Hrs 4 13.75%
9 MDSS 2096 Extended Essay/ Dissertation See Note 6 * See Note
Sub Total 180 Hrs 18 41.25%
Total Hours/Credits 435 Hrs 35 100%

Note

* An Extended Essay would be adequate to be eligible for the award of NDC qualification. Only four (04) credits are allocated for the Extended Essays.
KEY ACTIVITIES AT NDC

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND FIELD ACTIVITY EXERCISES

Two major strategic gaming exercises are conducted as part of the NDSSC curriculum. A Strategic Planning Exercise (SPE) is scheduled in Semester-I related to the Sri Lankan context, covering aspects of National Integration and Nation Building in an Internal Conflict scenario. A Field Activity, Exercise scheduled in Semester-II deals with formulating strategic options for National Policy decision-making and Strategic Leadership in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) setting in regional context.

NDC SEMINAR

The NDC Seminar on a selected theme that addresses a regional/global issue is conducted in Semester-II where the course participants articulate and deliberate topics under the selected theme and submit papers, which are subsequently published in the NDC Journal.

RESEARCH VISITS

According to the scheduled academic programme Research visits / Academic Visits locally and internationally planned to provide maximum exposure to the course participants. Comprehensive information pertaining to research visits are as follows:
a. Local Visits of NDC. As part of the course curriculum, the course participants are taken on various research visits to respective military/ service headquarters, agricultural sector, industrial sector, services sector, historical sites and economic/industrial hubs in Sri Lanka. This invaluable opportunity will stretch better exposure and relate the 'on ground scenario' with issues discussed in the respective study modules. Duration for local study tour is planned to maximum of 10 days.
b. The Overseas visit of NDC. The Overseas visit has planned to be held at the end of 2nd Semester. Course participants will get an opportunity to visit the countries categorised as developed and developing, which will be decided by the faculty of NDC and the duration for the visit approx. 12 Days including travelling.
Note: If the funds are not allocated directly to NDC, respective services, Departments and institutions will have to borne the expenses of student participation.

COURSE DETAILS

The other relevant details are as follows;
a. Course Name : National Defence and Strategic Study Course
b. Medium : English
c. Start Date : Last week of May 2021(tentative)
d. End Date : Mid of March 2022
e. Type of degree/Certificate awards : Qualification of “ndc” will be awarded and which can be used as a post nominal title. The “ndc” qualification is also globally accepted as the highest civil-military strategic qualification. Further, a Master degree will be awarded by Kotelawala Defence University on completion of ndc course in 11 months. Prospective candidates can also enrol for the MPhil programme at KDU which is of two years and NDC course duration is counted for the Mphil programme.
f. Course fee : Free of charge
g. Type of Course Full time (Woking Days and Saturdays)
SN TIME DESCRIPTION
1 0830 - 0930 Session 1
2 0930 - 1030 Session 2
3 1030 - 1100 Tea break
4 1100 - 1200 Session 3
5 1200 - 1300 Session 4
6 1300 - 1400 Lunch
7 1400 onward Notional hours
Note: Additional time may be scheduled for impromptu activities/ other commitments.
h. Dress code : Shirt and Tie / (Ladies - Saree)
i. Venue : National Defence College, No 544, Galle Road, Colombo 03.
j. Facilities given : Library, Printing & Photocopy Service (on payment), Module textbooks, Computer & Network Service (Including Wi-Fi), Learning Management System (LMS)
k. No of participants per course : Total participants – 30 ( Army, Navy, Air Force, Police officers and Officials from the public sector)
l. How to apply : Enrolment Application is could be viewed in Ministry of Defence website (www.defence.lk)
m. Student selections : Army, Navy, Air Force and Police will select the nominees as per the stipulated selection criteria published. Applications of officials from the public sector will be scrutinized and selected by the Board of Management (BOM)
n. Closing date for applications : 10th June 2021
o. Web site link : Will be launched soon, however any information could be obtained from MOD Official website and ndcsrilanka1@gmail.com
p. Minimum qualifications required Officials from the public sector to be of Senior Grade and of Class 1 in all island service
q. Age limit Not applicable
r. Accommodation Will not be provided. However, respective services, departments and organizations nominating the officers should meet the demand until such time NDC establishes accommodations
s. Meals Morning tea and lunch will be provided as an organized event on payment basis
t. Transport Own arrangements
u. Point of contact Colonel Pradeep Ratnayake Academic Coordinator 0774235686

Application Forms

NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE SRI LANKA REGISTRATION FORM