Intel joins ESOFT Metro Campus to develop young undergraduates in Sri Lanka

ESOFT Metro Campus, Sri Lanka’s largest private sector education network entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intel Sri Lanka on the adoption of Intel® Learn Easy Steps. This program addresses the needs of adults and youth around the world who seek to learn basic digital literacy skills. ESOFT Metro Campus would be using this as a primary instruction module for fundamental technology education at its branch network.

The MoU was signed by Dr.DayanRajapakse, Managing Director, ESOFT Metro Campus and Indika De Zoysa, Country Business Manager for Intel Sri Lanka, in the presence of several ESOFT Metro Campus and Intel Sri Lanka officials.

Under this MoU, Intel and ESOFT Metro Campus will create a platform to implement Intel Learn Easy Stepsas a primary instruction module for fundamental technology education at ESOFT Metro Campus branch network, to accelerate access and effective use of technology to increase and improve opportunities for education. Intel will provide a no-fee license to use and replicate Intel Learn materials, access to the Intel Education Help Guide, services of a senior trainer to conduct a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ and no-fee license to use and replicate the Intel Entrepreneurship Basics materials.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr.DayanRajapakse, Managing Director, ESOFT Metro Campus said, “Sri Lanka needs to do more to properly utilize ICT in higher education institutions; so that we can improve quality, widen access and reduce the costs of learning. Technology can strengthen the three critical elements of higher education institutions: research, service to the community, and teaching. While commending the great work done by Intel Sri Lanka to develop education in Sri Lanka through technology; we believe that Intel® Learn Easy Steps will be an engaging platform for our students.  Further, this is a platform that we can take to the grassroots level to promote interest of, and use of ICT, and we will be promoting this extensively via our branch network to further enhance the ICT literacy among our youth.”

Indika De Zoysa, Country Business Manager for Intel Sri Lanka said, “The integration of ICT in higher education is an imperative. Sri Lankan higher education institutes need to move to integrate new technologies into their curriculums and educational programmes and the partnership with ESOFT Metro Campus through Intel® Learn will help us to educate students and academia and work towards that goal.”

The Intel® Learn Easy Steps programmeis currently deployed in more than 20 countries. Its simple instructional approach teaches basic computer literacy, which is a key 21st century skill, enabling enhanced social and economic self-sufficiency. Intel Learn Easy Steps content is simple, practical, and relevant, and is based on adult learning research. Participants acquire basic computer skills that are locally appropriate, and that support multiple hardware and software solutions. Intel provides the content free of charge to governments and NGOs, who manage local implementation.