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© Proceedings of the Ruhuna Quality Assurance Sessions 2021 (RUQAS 2021)
st
21 September 2021

According to the results obtained in both 2020 and 2021, IT facilities, library facilities, dean’s office
services, hostel facilities and service of the student affairs unit were rated well indicating that students

are satisfied with those facilities and services. The satisfaction on study areas, common rooms, and

canteen was rated as below average. Among these, the canteen facility was the lowest rated facility in
the faculty according to the students’ perception. Although it showed a significant improvement with

respect to students’ satisfaction in 2021 compared to 2020, the majority still rated the quality of the
canteen facility as poor. The canteen supplies food and tea at the concessionary rates determined by

the tender procedure of the university. Although the prices are affordable, the students found the
canteen facility unsatisfactory. In a study conducted by Weerasinghe and Fernando (2018) it was

found that facilities such as student cafeterias and social areas work as major determinants of student

satisfaction levels at state universities in Sri Lanka. In the current study, as the majority of students are
unhappy with the canteen facilities, it needs attention to identify the factors and measures to rectify the

deficiencies.

The response rate increased significantly in the latter year compared to the previous year. The IQAC

addressed most of the issues brought forward by the students in 2020 while incorporating their
suggestions into the system whenever possible. In addition, during the past year, the IQAC has been

closely in touch with the students of the said batches, introducing novel approaches of the faculty to
them such as an online reporting system for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), online

academic calendar, etc. Frequent recommendations made to the authority based on students’ feedback
could have enhanced the students’ trust leading to an increased response rate.

The main areas suggested by the students to improve were infrastructure (lecture halls, multimedia

facilities, canteen, students’ car park, facilities for sports, common rooms and study areas), activities of

student bodies/societies, providing an updated academic calendar informing about the main
examinations well ahead, and conducting extra classes for repeat students.

As this is a routine survey to identify where the students’ satisfaction is not up to the expectations, it

would be worth conducting separate surveys in the areas where the students are not happy to recognize

the exact reasons why they are not happy. Further, such in-depth studies would facilitate identifying
effective remedial measures.

Conclusions

The satisfaction of medical undergraduates in the academic program and the overall experience of

undergraduate life is an important factor that indicates the quality of a medical faculty. In order to

measure the satisfaction levels of the medical undergraduates, SSS were introduced in 2020 by the

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