IIT Archives

February 13, 2023

“Bright girls are bold and confident. They’re not ashamed or scared of their period or their body.” – Demi Spaccavento

The Rotaract Club of Informatics Institute of Technology (RACIIT) is recognized for its initiatives aligned with Rotary International’s 7 focus areas and the UN’s 17 SDG goals. “WeCan” is a project by RACIIT to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene, which earned the club the Bronze award at the 31st Rotaract District Assembly and the Gold award at the 32nd Rotaract District Assembly.

In today’s society, the topic of menstruation in general is considered taboo, it is spoken of in hushed tones and due to the stigmatizing of this topic many individuals are often left uneducated on information regarding menstruation. We like to consider ourselves part of an evolved society, however, when it comes to menstruation and educating the youth on the subject, we fail to measure up to the standards of an evolved society. These gaps of information lead to further injustices occurring, such as the inability to supply proper sanitary products/ pad kits to the entirety of the female population.

As mentioned above, the gaps of information regarding menstruation stem from the skittishness of children, young adults and even matured adults alike to approach the subject. Children and young adults being hesitant to speak freely on the matter is understandable, however, the fact that even a majority of grown adults are somewhat afraid to speak aloud on menstruation is somewhat bizarre. There may be certain reasons for this, but it is believed that it is mainly due to misinformation and/or lack of information on the subject. When people do not know about a subject it usually leads to people not speaking about a subject and/or completely ignoring the subject and speaking publicly with others about the subject for fear of embarrassment. A terrible cycle emerges, the cycle being that lack of information leads to ignorance which leads to further lack of information and so on the cycle continues. Another reason that young girls in particular choose to stay away from the topic of menstruation is due to the financial burdens of their parents. Everyone does not have the same access to proper sanitary products, many parents find it difficult to provide the necessities for their families. Most young girls often realize the frustration of financial burdens on their parents and fear frustrating and burdening them further by asking them to purchase sanitary products. It truly is a sad state of affairs. When considering the aforementioned problems, “WeCan” provides somewhat of a solution.

The first two years, the club reached out to seven schools and made over 200 reusable pad kit donations, making a positive impact on the health and education of young women in their community.

This year, RACIIT is proud to have Momiji Naturals as its partner and receive sponsorship from Square Pharma and Sampath Bank. Digital Wire Global is also supporting the project as its digital PR partner. As the project “WeCan” progresses, 3 awareness sessions have been held in Matara and Kelaniya to date. These sessions were conducted by Ms. Nadeesha Paulis, a writer, journalist, and founder of Happy Bleeding. The sessions were attended by female and male students, as well as some parents. The attendees were taught about menstrual health and hygiene and how it is important to talk about periods openly because they are a normal occurrence and shouldn’t be considered taboo. The speakers educated the audience on the fact that menstruation is a natural process and encouraged the students to use words like “period”, which for some are considered embarrassing words, so they would familiarize themselves with such language. The familiarization and use of this language in the day-to-day lives of many of the students that were in attendance may go a long way in encouraging others to do the same and speak freely on matters regarding menstruation. Some of the other topics discussed were the importance of boys and men understanding menstruation and the role they must play in order to break the stigma surrounding the subject. Another topic addressed in the sessions were myths and urban legends surrounding menstruation, one of those myths being the question “Can women shower while on their period?” The proper use of pad kits and maintaining hygienic practices were also discussed, furthermore, upon the conclusion of each session a certain amount of pad kits were donated.

Reusable pads are an excellent option for women, providing numerous benefits over disposable pads. They are more comfortable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective in the long run. Disposable pads contain plastic and other harmful chemicals, making them an environmental hazard. They also contribute to the waste problem in the world.

The sessions also educated the male audience members on the burdens and pain women go through when on their periods and ways in which boys could help ease the burden and help the women in their lives. It’s essential for men to be informed about these issues because menstruation affects not just women but also the wider community. By having a better understanding of the subject, men can support the efforts to break the stigma and promote menstrual health and hygiene.

The time is ripe to break the silence on the topic of menstruation in Sri Lanka. It is evident that certain countries are taking the initiative and trying to evolve. The most recent example being Scotland becoming the first country in the world to make period products free. It only takes one match to start a fire and Scotland have announced to the world that they are that match. While it is unlikely that rapid changes would take place in all countries in a short period of time, the hope and belief is that it will happen to each country at their own pace and in their own time.

“WeCan” is an initiative that has the potential to benefit many young girls, boys and even society as a whole with its continuous implementation. Menstruation is a natural part of life and we should treat the process as such by being able to speak freely and without fear on the subject. The change will start from the youth but it is essential to spread awareness to the current generation of adults as well.

June 3, 2022

Menstruation, also defined as menses, menstrual period, cycle, or period is a significant, common change that all women undergo as their bodies develop. However, in today’s day and age the term ‘menstruation’ is redefined to be a term that is used to distinguish a woman and sometimes, even a reason for society to look down upon. As a result, most women find it uncomfortable, and some even hide in shame. But is a normal bodily change, which is beyond a woman’s control, really a reason for her to feel that way?

The answer is no — there are plenty of reasons why you should feel comfortable and confident as a woman, during your period. Firstly, menstruation is an indication of good health. For women, menstruation is a sign that your body is healthy and functioning properly. It is a natural bodily process that happens every month to millions of women, and it does not mean that you are ‘dirty’ or ‘unclean’.

The word ‘menstruation’ has been effortlessly stigmatized in society that even after all these years of evolution, the subject remains a taboo. Women are taught and obligated to keep this topic a secret, and the word is hardly mentioned out loud in public. This results in creating a world where women are uncomfortable with their own bodies, and they do not talk about menstruation openly with others. Nevertheless, it also creates an obstacle for women to discuss various challenges and issues they face during menstruation.

The Rotaract Club of IIT initiated ‘Project WeCan’ after recognizing the need to break the taboo surrounding the topic of ‘menstruation’ and to raise awareness to different concerns and challenges encountered by women. This project, which is being carried out for the second year, focuses on drawing the societies attention to normalizing the term ‘period’ by highlighting areas such as the taboo encompassing menstruation, the absence of awareness on various concerns and challenges faced by women, the lack of access to hygiene products, etc. The project has so far reached out to many women across the nation and provided them a platform to share their experiences and concerns.

The first phase of the project was an online PR campaign to raise awareness on topics related to menstruation. The campaign included articles, videos, and other content that were focused on reaching out to a large number of people. The goal of this campaign was to create awareness on different concerns and challenges encountered by women during their period, and to break the taboo surrounding menstruation in society. With significant beacons in Sri Lanka, such as Gangulee Walpola, Vishi, Pravin, Bavitra Sharma, Anisha Rajapaksa joining the campaign, the campaign managed to reach a larger audience, especially on tiktok under the hashtag of ‘#ProjectWeCan’. Additionally, there were several videos shared by DRR Rtn. Rtr. PP Akhila Wijethunga and DRRE Rtn. Rtr. PP Ahamed Husain and many other young men from within the Rotaract movement, with the objective of breaking gender inequality around menstruation and period talk.

One of the major focuses of the project was to promote the use of reusable menstrual products. Which is a major positive contributor to environmental pollution and waste, on the other hand, also helps in reducing the use of non-biodegradable products by conserving the environment. The Rotaract Club of IIT, in collaboration with Momiji Natural, was able to provide reusable pads to 125 girls from low-income homes across the country. The significance of these pads is that they can be used over and over again for up to 5 years. Not only does this help the environment by promoting reusable menstrual products, but it also assists people from low-income households in dealing with the high costs of sanitary napkins due to current taxes. Furthermore, a website has been built to promote the usage of reusable sanitary napkins and to make these facilities more available to the general public. Anyone in need of a reusable sanitary pad can request one from the Rotaract Club of IIT through the website. The club hopes that by doing so, it would be able to reach out to more people in need of sanitary napkins and other menstrual-related difficulties.

It is important that both girls and boys are educated on menstruation so that they can fully understand this masked topic and normalize it in daily conversation as talking about menstruation openly helps break the stigma around this topic. With this intention in mind, the Rotaract Club of IIT, together with Ms. Nadeesha Paulis, journalist, writer, period cup advocator and founder of ‘Happy Bleeding’, held awareness sessions in 5 schools across the country, educating both school boys and girls on the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and addressing the issues of menstrual hygiene. To date, this project has reached out to over 1000+ young girls and boys and contributed to menstrual hygiene education in schools across the country.

The second major focus of Project “WeCan” was to introduce the concept of female-friendly washrooms. Currently, there are very few female-friendly washrooms in public places such as public sector transport areas, offices and schools. The lack of female-friendly washrooms makes it difficult for women to utilize hygiene products such as sanitary pads and towels when the need arises. The project has so far succeeded in raising awareness on the need for female-friendly washrooms and has also succeeded in reconstructing female-friendly washrooms in 5 schools in Sri Lanka.

It is high time that we, together as individuals, break the stigma surrounding the topic ‘menstruation’ while it is our duty to take the necessary measures to make sure that the issues faced by women who are menstruating are addressed in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of women. Project “WeCan” was successfully concluded on May 28th, significantly known as Menstrual Hygiene Day, after reaching out to a massive audience, and making a positively substantial impact on society, by taking numerous measures to overcome the taboo around the topic of “menstruation.”

February 14, 2022

The Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British Higher Education and premier IT and Business campus, recently hosted its 27^th convocation. The event was held in partnership with the University of Westminster, London.

The convocation saw several degrees awarded including, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Software Engineering, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Busines Information Systems, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Management, Master of Arts in Fashion Business Management, Master of Science in Advanced Software Engineering and Master of Science in Cyber Security and Forensics.

Mr. Channa de Silva, Chairman of Sarvodaya Development Finance was the Chief Guest of the convocation. The Management and Board of Directors of IIT were also present at the event, this included Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the Informatics Group of Companies, and Mr. Mohan Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of Informatics Institute of Technology. Additionally, Dr. Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Westminster, London, attended the event via live streaming.

The convocation saw a graduating class of 407 students. The Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievements and the University of Westminster Awards for Best all-round performances and Best Final Year projects were presented by Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the Informatics Group of Companies.

Academics have always been the focal point of IIT, this has resulted in all graduates being highly employable both in Sri Lanka and abroad as well. Several of IIT’s alumni currently hold leading positions in Sri Lanka’s corporate sector while several others have gone on to become leading entrepreneurs.

About Informatics Institute of Technology:

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 5,000 graduates who are now based in many countries around the globe. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

July 28, 2021

Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the country’s premier IT and Business campus, recently celebrated its 30-year journey of educational excellence and successfully conducted their first-ever IIT Careers Week 2021 on an online platform in keeping with the need to conform to the health and safety regulations issued by the Government to curb of the spread of the pandemic in the country. While this is the second consecutive year that IIT has conducted this event on a virtual platform, this year the campus went a step further by extending the event across several days thereby providing the large number of IIT undergraduates and participating companies more time to interact with each other.

IIT Careers Week, which took place from 31st May to 8th June, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 500+ students seeking industrial placement in the 3rd year of their degree programme at IIT. IIT has incorporated this one-year mandatory industry placement as a part of its 4-year degree programme curriculum at it helps to facilitate the skills and knowledge necessary for workplace compatibility thereby helping students transition seamlessly to corporate work environment upon graduation. Over 80+ of Sri Lanka’s leading companies conducted online interactive discussions during the 9 days with each session comprising 100 to 200 students. Some of the leading companies that took part included MAS Active, MAS Twinery , MAS Linea Aqua, MAS Attune, IFS, Virtusa, WSO2, Dialog Ideamart, CodeGen International, hSenid Business Solutions, hSenid Mobile Solutions, 99x Technology, Zone 24/7 Aesturnum and represented a host of domains including, Game Design, Web Development, Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence.

As in previous years, IIT Careers Week was a platform for connecting IIT undergraduates with Sri Lanka’s leading ICT and non-ICT organisations, including local blue-chip and multinational companies. While presenting these organisations with the opportunity to meet and convince IIT graduates as to why they should join their organisation, it also provides the hundreds of IIT undergraduates with the chance to interact with these top companies, present themselves for interviews and secure their one-year internship. With the wide array of participating companies, IIT students are able to select the companies of their preference to commence their careers while it allows the companies to interview some of the best ICT and business graduates in the country and employ the candidates ideally-suited for their various job requirements in today’s fast-paced world.

Sharing her thoughts on IIT Careers Week, Naomi Krishnarajah – Dean of IIT stated, “The internship is an important feature for all undergraduate degree programmes at IIT. It provides real-life exposure to the world of work where students harness their classroom knowledge with practical application and skills developed in a professional setting. The internship has the added advantage of developing professional contacts in pursuing a career in the chosen field. Despite the pandemic lockdown, it was encouraging to witness over 80 companies participating in Careers Week and providing insights into internship opportunities and what it entails. In addition, the alumni of IIT working in these companies being present and sharing their experiences were valuable to the students. On the whole, it was a great success and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the companies, alumni, students, and the placement team at IIT for all the efforts rendered towards the success of this event.”

Thilan Perera – Lead Consultant HR of Virtusa stated, “I think this is a great initiative as it’s more convenient for students and relevant recruiters to connect with the students given the current pandemic situation. Also, it’s great to see 100+ students participating in this event during Virtusa’s presentation.”

Sabry Ashraff – Assistant Manager – HR of Aeturnum commented, “It was a fantastic occasion to meet over 180 undergrads. We were able to interact and share what we could offer during the internship and how they can best use this one year tenure to learn and grow. It’s been great working with IIT for over 12 years and looking forward to more of such events to further enhance our longstanding ties.”

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK and the Robert Gordon University, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 5,000 graduates who are now based in many countries around the globe. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

June 21, 2021

Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the country’s premier IT and Business campus, is celebrating its 30-year journey of educational excellence by launching the “IIT Achievers Scholarship Scheme”.

For 30 years, IIT has been consistently delivering qualifications and quality valued in Sri Lanka and around the world through its globally-recognized degree programmes. As a pioneer in Higher Education Sector, IIT has reshaped and revolutionized the sector by empowering graduates to become innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders who have made their mark across the globe. The IIT Achievers Scholarship Scheme is the latest in its long list of ground-breaking educational offerings for local students. It is a unique programme that is only open to the very best of the top-performing G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examination students who have managed to achieve results of a minimum of 3 As in their relevant study stream. This approach of providing scholarships to the brightest young minds of the country is in line with IIT’s general entrance criteria for all programmes that are widely-known to be one of the highest in the country.

The scholarship programme enables the selected students to fast-track their entry into a career in IT and Business by obtaining globally-recognized UK degrees. While their results will guarantee their place in a leading local university, by following one of the five degree programmes by IIT, the selected students have the opportunity to obtain a degree from a UK university that has a global ranking higher than any local university. Additionally, they will be able to commence the degree immediately and complete it in 4 years thereby saving them valuable time and giving them a head start in their careers.

Under this innovative scholarship scheme, London A/L students who have obtained a minimum of 3 As are presented with significant savings with those obtaining 3 A*s eligible to obtain a highest saving of 50%. In local A/Ls, all students who have obtained a minimum of 3As in the Tech, Science, Maths, Arts and Commerce are eligible to apply with those with an Island Ranking of Top 50 or 100 being eligible for highest savings. Additionally, students who have proven themselves in leadership positions or excelled in sports in roles such as Head Prefect, Deputy Head Prefect, National or School Colours and Games Captain are also eligible for these scholarships. In order to support students whose studies have been disrupted due to the pandemic in the country, IIT has ensured that these scholarships are effective for students who have joined IIT in the September 2020 and January 2021 intakes with pending results. These scholarships are applicable for the Year 1 (L4) of all 5 degree programmes currently offered at IIT. Year 2 and final year of the scholarship will be determined by their academic performances in Year 1.

IIT offers five full-time 4-year degree programmes for students. The School of Computing offers BSc (Hons) Computer Science and BEng (Hons) Software Engineering awarded by the University of Westminster UK as well as the BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence and Data Science awarded by the Robert Gordon University, UK. The School of Business offers the BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems and the BA (Hons) Business Management awarded by the University of Westminster UK. All 5 degree programmes are recognized by the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka.

CEO of IIT Mohan Fernando stated, “The IIT Achievers Scholarship Scheme is our latest innovation where we intend to recognize and reward the very best of the top-achieving students from both local and London Advanced Level examination by giving them scholarships to pursue one of the 5 world-class UK degrees that we have on offer here at IIT. IIT has always had a proud history of attracting only the best and brightest young minds to the campus and this programme is a continuation of that approach. Through this programme we can provide these outstanding students a launch pad to realize their dream of obtaining an internationally-recognized degree in ICT or Business so that they get a head start in their careers and are thereby well set to succeed in life.”

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK and the Robert Gordon University, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 5,000 graduates who are now based in many countries around the globe. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

For more information about IIT Achievers Scholarship Scheme, log on to www.iit.ac.lk or call on 0766 760 760.

March 24, 2021

Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the country’s premier IT and Business campus, successfully held its 26^th convocation where over 350 students received their University of Westminster – United Kingdom (UoW) degrees.

At the convocation ceremony held in accordance to strict health guidelines given out by the authorities, over 350 students of IIT received their globally-renowned undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the field of IT and Business offered by the UoW. Degrees were conferred to students who had successfully completed the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Software Engineering, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Business Information Systems, Master of Arts in Fashion Business Management, Master of Science in Advanced Software Engineering and Master of Science in Cyber Security and Forensics.

This is the first time that students of Cyber Security and Forensics as well as students of Fashion Business Management are graduating.

The Chief Guest at the ceremony was Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa Professor Kapila Perera. Chairman of Informatics Group of Companies Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, CEO of IIT Mohan Fernando, Vice-Chancellor and President of University of Westminster Dr. Peter Bonfield (connected via live stream) as well as a large number of IIT staff members, parents and well-wishers attended the event held at the Main Hall of BMICH.

During the event, a number of special awards were presented to students who performed exceptionally during their time at IIT.

Chairman of Informatics Group of Companies Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe commented, “As IIT celebrates 30 years of educational excellence with resounding success in computing and business, it is my pleasure to offer my heartiest congratulations to all our IIT graduates at our 26th Convocation ceremony. These new batch of graduates from IIT who have successfully completed their University of Westminster (UOW) undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have reached a key milestone in their journey towards success. The education our graduates have received during the time at our campus has empowered them with the ability to adapt to the dynamic changes in the industry and to also take on the challenges of the corporate world. One of the many unique features of IIT is the diversity of university life offered to our students, where taught academic study is interspersed with independent learning as well as a variety of extra-curricular activities. At IIT, we have always strived to produce graduates who are well rounded and of the highest calibre that will enter the industry. The blend of academic knowledge and industry exposure provided at IIT has helped our graduates to excel in their chosen career path while remaining in high demand in today’s competitive job market.”

Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Westminster Dr. Peter Bonfield stated, “The University of Westminster is a UK university with a determinedly global outlook, and a strong commitment to industry engagement and to preparing all our students for professional graduate life. IIT is our longstanding – and highly valued – partner in Sri Lanka. Our partnership was born out of a mutual will to nurture and develop the employability of our students and to support them in their engagement with leading edge technological advances and with a variety of professional practices and sectors. Our common work in information systems, informatics and software engineering, which represents the foundation of our partnership, makes a core contribution to our educational programmes in both institutions, and prepares our students for the world of graduate work. We are delighted now to be embarking upon a new phase of our partnership with IIT Colombo, with a continuingly expanding portfolio of professionally oriented subject areas. Our programmes at The University of Westminster and at IIT, embrace enterprise, innovation and creativity and aim to help students from all backgrounds unlock their skills and fulfil their potential. Educating students for the world of professional life and in the skills needed for the global employment arena is core to our values. The recognition accorded our students by Sri Lankan industry, reputed IT and business firms, and by accrediting bodies including the British Computing Society, brings us considerable pride.”

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK and the Robert Gordon University, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 5,000 graduates who are now based in many countries around the globe. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

February 9, 2021

Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the country’s premier IT and Business campus, won multiple awards including the first-ever BCS Chairman’s Award at the recently-concluded National ICT Awards (NBQSA) 2020 held at the BMICH, continuing its winning trend in this prestigious annual award ceremony.

The BCS Chairman’s Award was presented to IIT in recognition of having the highest number of award-winning students at the event as seven IIT students bagged awards for their outstanding IT and Business innovations. In the “IT” Category Stelan Bryan won Silver for Smart Shoe, Dilum De Silva won Bronze for DAugmentor while Nisal Sudil took home a Merit award for CadiaRhythm. In the “Business” Category, Irfan Ismath bagged the Gold award for Trustcredit with Kavishma Jayasinghe winning the Silver for Style Guide while Gayalie Jayawardhane and Hannah Natasha took home Merit Awards for their innovations TransAssist and Chain of Ownership respectively. IIT students have been winning awards at National ICT Awards for several years and a number of those winning innovations have gone on to receive international acclaim while also becoming successful business ventures.

Commenting on the award wins, Founder & Chairman of Informatics Group Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe stated, “We are proud to be the recipient of the first-ever BCS Chairman’s Award at the National ICT Awards (NBQSA) thanks to the remarkable achievements of our highly-talented IIT students. As a pioneering educational institute IIT has been able to revolutionize not only the higher education sector of Sri Lanka, but also the ICT industry as a whole. The rapid growth of IIT and its large alumni base is a clear indication of the institute being the most preferred choice of those who seek world-class quality educational qualifications right here in Sri Lanka.”

CEO of IIT Mohan Fernando commented, “Our students have always been a cut above the rest and this has been proven by the rich haul of awards they have been consistently winning at the National ICT Awards (NBQSA) over the years. Many of these students have taken their products to the next level by participating and winning at other local and international competitions thereby making all of us extremely proud. Some of them have also launched their products as successful business ventures by acquiring investors while others are on the road to do so.”

Dean of IIT Naomi Krishnarajah stated, “At IIT, we strive to transform the way our students learn to make them the most employable graduates and truly global citizens. The academic programmes and co-curricular activities facilitate not just making a student literate but also adds rationale thinking, knowledgeably and self-sufficiency. Creativity and innovation are also fostered through the diverse learning methods and experiences provided. The academic panel has been instrumental in inspiring and guiding students in achieving their full potential. While congratulating our students, we wish them success in their careers.”

December 15, 2020

Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the country’s premier IT and Business campus, successfully conducted “Business Beyond 2020”, an informative webinar which provided the audience comprising primarily of Advanced Level (A/L) students and parents a glimpse into the world of business in today’s pandemic-hit world.

Three experts with significant experience in different industries addressed the audience. They included Marketing Specialist Maneesha Keppetipola, Director Human Resources of AtLink Communications Ruvinika Siriwardene and Consultant and Head of Department Business of IIT Austen Mascranghe. The Moderator for the webinar was Havendra Gunawardena – Lecturer of IIT and Consultant and Project Manager.

Maneesha Keppetipola, who has served in many different industries including Telco, Retail and Apparel, addressed the issue of the most critical changes of COVID-19 for people today. “It is clear that various sectors and industries are undergoing drastic changes as the traditional way of doing things is not suitable in today’s pandemic world. While the COVID-19 pandemic may pass in a year or two the technological advances are here to stay. Among the industries that are undergoing major changes is the Retail industry where the general public has found it much more convenient, hassle-free and safer to carry out shopping online and get their orders delivered home. Supermarkets, even the smaller ones, have all gone online. FMCG companies have also started selling directly to customers through their online platforms.” She added that another industry that has changed significantly is the Telco industry. “Telco companies have come up with several advancements and are enjoying high growth and revenue. Many products have been launched, such as Work From Home and Online Study packages that are catered to the new requirements of today.” Touching upon the trending areas of focus in business, she stated that advertisers are increasingly turning to social media advertising to reach their target audience. “Less people are reading newspapers and watching TV. Youngsters are on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram. Social media allows for better measuring of results and outcomes through metrics such as Number of Views, Clickthrough Rates, Likes, Comments, Shares and many others. Since you can make a significant impact with a lesser budget, social media advertising is the future of advertising and organisations are increasingly giving it a high level of priority.”

Tapping into her experience in human resources, Ruvinika Siriwardene pointed out that the key is to stay positive in any bad situation and always see the good side of things, stating, “If you stay positive you give the mind the ability to create and be innovative.” She mentioned how companies must be ready to use technology to their advantage. “Data is the lifeblood of companies today and it is very important to have data when we work. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining industries by automating process and disrupting how organisations work so we must be prepared.” In relation to the employability in the future, Siriwardene said that it’s important to obtain a degree for greater job opportunities. “While it’s good to have a degree, it’s not enough but you need to be able to communicate clearly in English. If you’re not able to market yourself when you face an interview you will lose out. So, this is a good time to improve on your soft skills.”

Analysing the impact of COVID-19 on Education sector and IIT’s response, Austen Mascranghe stated that there has been a mixed impact with many challenges. He stated, “According to the Teachers’ Union, teachers and schools are not equipped to handle technology, students cannot afford the telecommunication costs and some areas of the country have poor network connectivity.” He added that there were positive reports as well from many parts of the country. “Some students really liked online education as they are tech savvy. They found online education to be better than physical education as they can do their studies at their own pace.” Looking at the area of Higher Education, he divulged that IIT had also faced similar issues when the first lockdown came but they were able to overcome them quickly. “We also had the problem of telecommunication cost for students so we spoke to the Telco partners and put together a good educational data package and offered it to our students. They don’t have to spend any extra costs for online education. For our lecturers we were able to provide 4G routers without any cost. Our university partners in the UK already have the Best in Class Learning Management System (LMS), one of the best in the world, so all they had to do was simply to increase the capacity of their systems. As a very tech savvy organisation, all our students are very comfortable with modern technology even in Business Management. I am happy to say that we didn’t miss a single lecture due to the transition. When it comes to the Foundation course that we run on our own without the help of our overseas university partners, we were already using an LMS so they continued smoothly.”

Looking into the future of the job market, Austen Mascranghe stated that the key factors for the future are adaptability and resilience. “By following the Business Management degree at IIT, brought in collaboration with the University of Westminster, students can be assured that they become critical and creative thinkers, literate and effective communicators, possess the entrepreneurial spirit, are global in outlook and community engaged and are also socially, ethically and environmentally aware.”

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK and the Robert Gordon University, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 5,000 graduates who are now based in many countries around the globe. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

December 1, 2020

Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT), the pioneer in British higher education in Sri Lanka and the country’s premier IT and Business campus, launched Sri Lanka’s first-ever BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence and Data Science awarded by Robert Gordon University (RGU) – UK at an Online Forum held recently.

The informative online forum was attended by Dr. John Isaacs – Head of School of Robert Gordon University – UK, Prof. Nirmalie Wiratunga – Professor Intelligent Systems Research of Robert Gordon University – UK, Shevan Goonetilleke – President and General Manager, Integration Business of WSO2 and Naomi Krishnarajah – Dean of IIT. The forum was moderated by Dr. Damitha Karunaratna – Head of Department Computing of IIT.

IIT’s BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence and Data Science course is designed to cater to the growing demand of ICT professionals with skills in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (AI and DS), as well as to provide the opportunity for students looking to pursue a rewarding career in AI and DS. Students will be able to gain practical understanding of contemporary AI and DS trends and technologies in developing cutting-edge solutions. The 4-year full-time degree adopts a methodical approach where modules are organised from general to specific ones as the student progresses through the years. Initially a range of modules are organised under key streams such as Systems, Mathematics, Programming and AI and DS. Subsequently, they are gradually specialised into AI and DS modules, as the student progress through Stages 1 to 4. These will include modules such as Programming, Database, Web, IoT, Algorithms, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Machine Vision, Mathematics and Statistics, where students are exposed to both theoretical principles and state-of-the-art technological advances. This will enable students to learn about the power of automation, analytics and AI, paving the way for innovation while following the course and after graduation as well. As with all IIT degrees, Year 3 will include a compulsory 12 month industrial placement period that will provide the student additional practical skills and a competitive edge in the job market. Some of the careers associated with this AI and DS degree include Data/Enterprise Architect, Application Architect, Data Scientist, Machine Learning Scientist/Engineer, Data Analyst, Data Science Consultant, Business Intelligence Engineer, Big Data Engineer/Application Developer and Software Engineer.

Addressing the online audience, Naomi Krishnarajah – Dean of IIT stated, “Today marks another significant milestone as IIT launches the BSc (Hons) Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in collaboration with Robert Gordon University (RGU), Scotland. The growing need for AI and Data Science Professionals by the industry locally, regionally and, internationally was the main justification for launching this degree. IIT has been extremely successful with its undergraduate ICT degrees and this is another degree adding to its growing portfolio of offerings. IIT has developed a strong partnership with RGU since 2016 and has been offering, namely MSc Big Data Analytics and MSc Business Analytics, which are highly sought by graduates working in industry. The AI and Data Science degree cover multiple streams (programming, systems and, artificial intelligence and data science) progressively moving towards specialization in AI and Data Science. IIT’s strong relationship with the ICT industry enables it to identify the skills required ahead of time and provide a pathway for students to get world-class qualifications in those areas.”

While providing an introduction to the university, Dr. John Isaacs – Head of School of Robert Gordon University – UK stated, “RGU has been awarded a Gold Rating, the highest rating, in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) review. This is a framework all universities in UK submit to. This reflects consistent delivery of outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. This places us in the top 20% of the best universities in the UK for the quality of its undergraduate teaching and learning. RGU has also been placed 2nd in Scotland and 2nd in the UK for Overall Student Satisfaction in the National Student Survey (NSS) results.”

Giving her insights to AI and Data Science, Prof. Nirmalie Wiratunga – ‘’We are very pleased to offer BSc (hons) Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in collaboration between RGU, Scotland and IIT, Sri Lanka. We have designed the course jointly which will be delivered by IIT; with RGU assuring quality and conferring of awards. Industries such as healthcare, life sciences, energy, financial services, automotive, manufacturing, and entertainment all benefit from reasoning from data. Technology giants such as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are opening their deep-learning platforms for all to use. We have designed this degree; with modules that are essential to meet industry demands. Hot applications like self-driving cars, personal assistants that can make reservations on your behalf or IoT sensing platforms that can manage smart homes, automated language translation or video captioning on mobile devices all rely on AI and data science technologies. This degree will impart strong conceptual understanding of technologies behind AI and Data Science, extend the reach and relevance for opportunities to gain employment and thrive in professional careers’’.

Shevan Goonetilleke – President and General Manager, Integration Business of WSO2 commented, “Advances in Artificial Intelligence technologies have proven to disrupt and improve how we work across all industries, globally. The AI and Data Science program launched by IIT is very timely as it will impart much needed skills and knowledge to budding technology professionals in the country who can leverage this to build Artificial Intelligence solutions to improve Sri Lankan industries as well as provide expertise to advance these technologies on a global scale.”

IIT was established in 1990 as the first private higher education institute that awards reputed British degrees in the field of ICT and Business. IIT is an award-winning campus offering internal postgraduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Westminster, UK and the Robert Gordon University, UK. IIT has played a pivotal role in strengthening the IT and Business sectors in Sri Lanka over the years by producing world-class graduates. Since its inception in 1990, IIT has produced over 5,000 graduates who are now based in many countries around the globe. These graduates have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and IT/Business professionals in both local and international corporate and government entities. They have played a pivotal role in empowering over 250 multinational and local blue-chip companies by holding key strategic positions while contributing immensely towards the growth of their respective organizations.

September 21, 2020

Fortude, a global technology solutions provider, recently held a felicitation ceremony to congratulate associates from the Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) upon the completion of their degree and four-year corporate internship with the company. The associates were identified and recruited to Fortude under the ‘InfoSchol’ scholarship program, a collaboration between the Informatics Group, the Ministry of Education Sri Lanka, and Information Technology corporates in Sri Lanka.

The InfoSchol program aims to provide undergraduates with an opportunity to be academically equipped in areas of Software Engineering, Computer Science, Business Information Systems or Business Management, whilst receiving the relevant work experience. The program has also been endorsed by the local ICT industry as a platform which launches quality candidates upon the completion of their degree.

At Fortude, the InfoSchol undergraduates were employed full-time, with exposure to working closely with global markets. Fortude currently operates across the Americas, UK, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand, with customers located in more than 20 global economies. Across the four-year stint, the associates were given experience in fields such as Project Management, Application Support, Enterprise Software Development and Enterprise Consulting.

Speaking at the felicitation ceremony, Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, Chairman, Informatics Group and brainchild of the InfoSchol program said, “We launched InfoSchol with the hope of grooming local talent to drive the ICT industry forward and position Sri Lanka as an emerging knowledge-based economy amongst the global business community. ‘InfoSchol,’ through its scholarship program, is aimed at supporting the Sri Lankan economy to meet and exceed local goals and challenges of over US$5 Billion IT exports in 2022.” He added, “I want to thank Fortude for partnering with us to provide our undergraduates a truly global experience which has prepared them to be highly employable talent, both locally and internationally.”

Also sharing his thoughts at the felicitation ceremony, Arjuna Sirinanda, Managing Director, Fortude said, “We’re grateful to have partnered with IIT in providing young talent an opportunity to experience ‘work culture’, ahead of completing their degree. The associates received more than four years of experience whilst completing their degree – a significant advantage over their peers who graduate at the same time. The quality and capability seen across the board has been no short of excellent – and it’s certainly a partnership opportunity we would like to continue, as Fortude grows.”

Andrea Devananda, Trainee Consultant, Application Support, Fortude and recent graduate, sharing her experience said, “I joined Fortude in 2016 as part of the first InfoSchol batch. At Fortude we learned to balance our academics, whilst playing key roles in delivering solutions to customers. The experience and exposure to global markets and customers, has prepared us for the future of work. It has also helped me build great relationships within the organization and the wider world.”

About Fortude

Fortude is an Infor Global Alliance Partner, delivering world class technology solutions to customers worldwide. We specialize in Infor M3 and M3 based CloudSuites across multiple industries, with capability to deliver end-to-end Projects, Upgrades and Migrations, provide Functional and Technical Consulting, Integrations and Custom Developments using Infor’s extensibility tools. We also have extensive expertise in Infor’s Business Intelligence and performance management tools including Infor BI, Birst and d/EPM.

Our consulting team’s expert knowledge in Fashion, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing and Distribution coupled with our unique delivery framework, enables customers to implement their Infor software successfully and benefit from continuous optimization and support, as their businesses grow.

Our Infor certified resources are based out of our offices in the US, UK, Australia, Sri Lanka and India, and have experience in implementing projects across many countries including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South East Asia and South Asia. At Fortude, our value proposition is to ‘Deliver Solutions That Matter’.

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