SLIIT, recognised for excellence in education, offers a range of postgraduate programmes that are designed to empower students with the competencies required and a competitive edge by focusing on their personal and professional development, autonomy & responsibility, and employability. Conducting an insightful interview with Prof. Rahula Attalage, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic), he elaborated further on SLIIT Postgraduate programmes.
What are the unique features of SLIIT’s postgraduate programmes that provide students with a competitive edge in the job market?
The postgraduate programmes we offer are in two modalities, and one is the thought-based program, structured by lectures and followed by a research project. Part of this programme is the Master of Science (MSc) in IT, which has six specialisations: Information Technology, Information Systems, Information Management, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Application Development and the newest addition Network Engineering offered by the Faculty of Computing. These thought-based programs are geared to the current industrial requirements and practices. The curricula and the research projects meet the current industry requirements, geared towards students gaining knowledge and skills with a high level of readiness to engage in global-level employment,
The other programme is the MBA, which is offered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies in collaboration with the SLIIT Business School. Additionally, with longer duration, the MPhil and PhD are also postgraduate programmes offered by SLIIT, which are entirely research based on specific topics that are well directed towards high-end knowledge creations and applications.
Our Staff members are well qualified with high academic qualifications, research experience acquired and industry exposure which is distinct compared to other available programmes. SLIIT also provides access to top-end research information through its subscribed e-information. Furthermore, students could join the trend of publishing in top-end journals jointly with relevant staff members.
SLIIT is stringent in its programme commencement and completion dates and has adhered to given schedules for the last two decades ensuring and maintaining compliance across its programmes.
How does SLIIT postgraduate programmes help students to achieve personal and professional development?
Our programmes comprise well-thought curricula, meeting the current industry requirements. Currently, we conduct programmes on a hybrid interactive online basis. Complementing the curricula, the assignments, relevant laboratory work and research projects are well thought out and structured. Upon completion, students are transformed into confident, independent and employable postgraduates who can gain pathways into chosen industries without much adjustment.
We offer mentoring and close guidance throughout the programme, and our students constantly interact with staff members who guide and monitor their progress. Even though it is in hybrid mode, especially when it comes to laboratory and project work, progress meetings are held through onsite interaction. However, sessions are conducted more on the interactive Learning Platform, which is hybrid with flexible learning offered to support students further.
How does SLIIT postgraduate programmes help students to become self-sustainable?
We have changed the teaching and learning technique from teacher-centred to more problem-based and challenge-based learning. As it is hybrid teaching, it develops self-learning, and two key attributes are responsibility and autonomy.
We envisage a postgraduate student will reach a level of autonomy and can make decisions based on experience in the industry and provide leadership. Responsibility is the other element, as it is important to take decisions in a responsible manner. These are two attributes that a student would acquire during the programme. We make a distinction through our programmes to ensure our students are equipped with these qualities which are recognised in worldwide universities, though unseen in the Sri Lankan context.
They are unique features, as students who are equipped with these qualities have the ability to become their own consultant or own job creator, even become self-employed with the potential to create a company and provide services on a global platform. We believe it is important, and through our programmes, we have targeted and geared towards this focus.
What kind of support do SLIIT postgraduate students receive from the university in terms of employability? Career growth?
While a majority of postgraduate students are employed, by obtaining the qualification, newly acquired knowledge and skills, they are able to evolve much faster professionally in their present employment. Others can even drift from their current employment and become self-employed.
For those who are employed, they will have the additional advantage of evolving into specific areas based on the programmes they enrolled in as they acquire their micro-credentials. Our programme offers cutting-edge areas in the industry, and students are provided with an additional advantage in easily securing foreign employment. We envisage that by the end of the programme, they will be equipped with employment readiness.
Importantly, we encourage and facilitate peer-to-peer interaction. Even though it is in online mode, we expect the cohort to interact. These mechanisms bring them together through a social media network integrated into the programme. SLIIT postgraduate programmes are not distance learning but are online and interactive, where we expect teacher and student interaction, and students benefit from peer learning through the programme.
SLIIT Postgraduate programmes offer a unique feature through its library or Information Center. The Center has subscribed to the most top-end relevant research information and provides access to information through the E-resource platform, which is especially vital for the research project and knowledge enhancement for the future. SLIIT also has international partnerships with many top-level universities, which provide added value.
The SLIIT honorary professor network is a key attribute of the postgraduate programme. The network comprises top academic researchers connected to SLIIT. Students have the opportunity to gain joint supervision and some level of mentoring. Especially vital when it comes to research-based programmes. We have the facility to incorporate these top-class researchers from other universities to undertake joint submission and supervision, especially for special research topic areas. Students who are dealing with cutting-edge research topics and who are enthusiastic and dedicated to their research work network could use the opportunity.
How does SLIIT ensure that its postgraduate programmes are up-to-date and relevant to the changing demands of the job market?
It is linked with global dynamics. We are able to understand cutting-edge area research work, trends in new areas of discipline and other development. Also, through top-level research publications, our academic staff members, who would be supervising and guiding the students, have first-hand information, and they will know what areas need to be focused on in meeting the current global dynamics.
Our partnerships with the honorary professor network ensure we have access to new frontiers in research, and we do not have to have a greater time lag until we see the results. I believe if you are completely disconnected from the current global world, then you would have to wait until the research is applied and results are seen subsequently. However, for SLIIT, our staff members acquire information on a faster scale which is beneficial. SLIIT’s advantage of access to high-end research information is a luxury for higher education institutes in Sri Lanka, as not many have avenues to it.
How does SLIIT foster a culture of collaboration and community among its postgraduate students?
The postgraduate programmes are specialised, and students are mostly matured and experienced individuals. We have a good balance of both hybrid and onsite sessions, enabling the optimum use of resources, and time, where students have every possible chance to interact with each other. Our sessions are structured to ensure conducive peer discussions take place through the online sessions and in addition, based on assignments, the ability to bring different peer group views expressing their own opinions on the work of others.
In terms of progress reviews, student presentations are also keenly viewed, ensuring those present can offer their opinions. We believe it is a good melting pot among the peer peers to have an exchange of ideas and to learn from others.
Any concluding thoughts?
The SLIIT Postgraduate programmes are conducted based on a well-structured mechanism. The high-end information system, honorary Professors network, fixed programme schedules, advanced hybrid flexible learning systems, offline services and support are a few features provided to ensure that it is a fulfilling experience for students.
Our programmes are interrelated but specific, based on the current industry requirement, and also our staff members are well informed and acquainted with the current topics, the techniques, and also the needs of the industry.
Additionally, our staff and students’ research publications have seen rapid growth and evolution recently in high-end journals such as Scopus-indexed journals. SLIIT is proud to have achieved above average and impressive growth of publications by both staff and students, showcasing the success of the selection of research topics, research areas, guidance by supervisors and dedication of the students and also dedicated efforts of management and proper planning.
We also offer a number of scholarships for our MPhil and PhD students. Scholarships and a fee waiver are offered for exceptional students depending on their academic performance. These students may select their research topics depending on areas of interest or even among the cutting-edge topics that are offered by the institute. Especially for individuals envisaging to go abroad, SLIIT offers an ideal environment for research-based studies. SLIIT has over 70 PhD qualified students, including those part of the supervision network. Thus, it is a good cradle for an individual seeking postgraduate work based on research.
The new intake for SLIIT’s Postgraduate programmes is scheduled for July 2023. We cordially extend an invitation to students to attend the Postgraduate Open Day on 17th of June at SLIIT Malabe campus. For more information, contact +94(0)11 7544801.