SLASSCOM Academy Launches its Professional Skills Development Programme for the IT/BPM Sector
With the vision of further uplifting the industry standards, the SLASSCOM Academy, envisaged to be the central hub for the educating IT/BPM professionals of Sri Lanka, launched the Professional Skills programme recently.
The programme focuses on developing soft skills and life skills which are perquisites for professionals working within the IT/BPM Industry. Guided by PwC’s professional skills developmental regimes, the Professional Skills Programme by SLASSCOM is developed with feedback from IT/ BPM Industry professionals to accelerate interpersonal and leadership skills within the workplace.
The launch of the SLASSCOM Academy Professional Skills Programme was attended by some of the top professionals and educators within the IT/ BPM industry. The session was aptly moderated by SLASSCOM member Ruwini Kumarasinghe with more than 350 individuals including IT students, academia, entrepreneurs, and Industry professionals in attendance. Among its distinguished speakers were Jayantha De Silva the Secretary to the Ministry of Technology, Chairperson of SLASSCOM Sandra De Zoysa and Board Director and Head of the Capacity Forum at SLASSCOM Nishan Mendis, Ranil Rajapakse Vice President and COO of IFS World Operations and Prof. Ananda Jayawardana, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Computing for IT and Commission Member at the University Grants Commission.
Haresh Perera, the Digital Transformation Leader at PwC laid out the structure of the programme with its modular breakdown and explained the process of each section. Vidusha Nathavitharana and Fahad Farook, leadership trainers and transformative coach presented the programme benefits involving interactive training programmes, where participants will experience real-world situations and be guided to be the best professional versions of themselves.
Sandra De Zoysa, Chairperson of SLASSCOM welcomed all participants to the event and stated, ‘’The objective of this initiative is based on the need to groom our students in schools, universities and vocational institutions and employees in our current workforce, to enhance their knowledge, soft skills, build their professional & technical competencies and life skills that are critical to employability.”
SLASSCOM’s Board Director, Nishan Mendis added, “A key preposition within our ‘Island of Ingenuity’ branding relates to the high quality Sri Lankan talent with the requisite competencies and capabilities, that entails both technical and professional skills. Designed and endorsed by the industry this programme, is a major step towards ensuring the talent we produce are of high quality. Participants will be guided to sharpen their skills to help accelerate their growth leading to career advancement.
Secretary to the Ministry of Technology, Jayantha De Silva spoke passionately about the progress of the nation’s IT/ BPM industry and lauded the steps taken by SLASSCOM to launch the professional skills programme and pledged his support through his Ministry and Information and Communication Technology Agency to accelerate the growth of the IT/BPM industry.
Providing an academic perspective on the programme, Prof. Ananda Jayawardane stated that “we have a diversity of students coming from all parts of Sri Lanka and it is essential that we provide them the necessary skills required for today and into the future. This programme therefore is a great initiative by SLASSCOM, launched in a timely manner.”
Ranil Rajapakse, Vice President and COO of IFS World Operations providing his insights said, “Soft skills are now very relevant; along with the ability to be creative, think innovatively and possess analytical and good communication skills, that has become even more important during the post pandemic era. Therefore, this programme is an opportune move and a step in the right direction.”
