The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), responsible for producing a large number of skilled IT graduates to the country’s IT sector, is affiliated with some of the most prestigious foreign universities to provide numerous academic pathways for the institutes students.
SLIIT’s close affiliation with Curtin University (Australia) spans many years. The establishment of the Curtin University Alumni Chapter of Sri Lanka (CUACSL) came into being through the efforts of the Computer Systems and Networking Batch of 2008 from SLIIT.
While pursuing their studies, the students felt the importance of consulting senior students who had completed their degree and were established in the industry, in order to gather valuable information and insights. A committee was subsequently formed in Sri Lanka with the intention of carrying out activities ranging from events to social service projects. At present, there are 175 members registered under the Sri Lanka Chapter. According to the Alumni Relations Office at Curtin University, there are around 750 Curtin University graduates and post graduates who live in Sri Lanka who are from SLIIT and other institutes. They have studied IT, computer science and networking, business administration, marketing and architecture.
The committee, with the assistance of the SLIIT management aims to provide assistance to students through academic and non-academic activities, career guidance, the establishment of a Job Bank and valuable consultation for budding entrepreneurs.
“The committee will steer the alumni towards strengthening its network, establishing partnerships with industrial and professional bodies and maintaining an alumni directory which will also include competencies, fields of expertise and other relevant information regarding members,” stated President of CUACSL Lakmal Embuldeniya.
The official launch of CUACSL took place recently at Galle Face Hotel – Colombo, with the patronage of many eminent individuals, including Professor Andris Stelbovics – Pro Vice Chancellor, Science and Engineering at Curtin University, Professor Lalith Gamage – President and CEO, SLIIT, Professor S. Karunaratne – Chairman, SLIIT and Sunimal Weerasooriya – CEO, Lanka Clear (Pvt) Ltd., who were the guests of honour at the event, which was attended by around 100 guests, including academics from SLIIT as well as graduates from around the country.
“We are very pleased at the tremendous response CUACSL has received from Curtin alumni in Sri Lanka. For many years SLIIT has been in partnership with Curtin University to offer the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, where students have the opportunity to follow their first two years of study at SLIIT, and transfer to Curtin University for the final year of graduation,” stated Professor Karunaratne.
“The establishment of CUACSL is indeed a necessary step towards strengthening ties with Curtin University and provides valuable insights for students who wish to pursue their studies at this prestigious university, helping to shape their future and mould skilled and committed individuals who will change the face of future development in Sri Lanka,” elaborates Professor Lalith Gamage.Amber Trewenack, Manager, Alumni Relations – Curtin University stated: “With over 160,000 alumni across the world, Curtin has a far reaching effect across the globe. These alumni are a critical part of our University’s community. They are the embodiment of what studying at Curtin can offer an individual, and the diverse and exciting places a Curtin degree can take graduates. “The Alumni Relations team works on fostering this connection between Curtin and the society around us, and we are in constant communication with our alumni, hosting events and encouraging collaboration and mentoring between alumni from different fields, and between former and current students. Each alumnus helps to shape and tell Curtin’s story, in their own unique and meaningful way. With the emergence of a united group of alumni in Sri Lanka, I am delighted to acknowledge this group as an official Curtin Alumni Chapter and wish everyone involved all the best in their future endeavours.”