The catalyst of growth in the nation’s knowledge economy, the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), recently launched a university-level skills development initiative, encompassing all state and private higher education institutes. This initiative was launched to promote collaboration between the industry and academia, with the aim of producing skilled and future ready IT talent that will help take the industry to the next level.
As a part of this initiative, SLASSCOM signed a University Cooperation Agreement with pioneering higher education provider NIBM. The University Cooperation Agreement is an important part of SLASSCOM’s journey of building Sri Lanka’s IT talent in tandem with universities and other tertiary education providers, to deliver the Island of Ingenuity (IOI) brand promise to local and international stakeholders, by embedding its value proposition, competencies, and capabilities through capacity building for both students and entrepreneurs. This agreement therefore is the beginning of SLASSCOM’s working relationship with NIBM and in exploring what both SLASSCOM and NIBM can creatively do together to empower the next generation including women entrepreneurs in the country.
As such, this pivotal partnership sees the advent of the Diploma for Women Entrepreneurs, to be conducted at the NIBM Digital Campus with contributions from IIM Visakapatnam, India. The curriculum, designed by NIBM & IIM experts, aims to equip its participants with the essential knowledge and skills required for an entrepreneurial journey from idea-generation to idea-implementation.
Additionally, SLASSCOM’s Women Technopreneurs forum will provide these entrepreneurs with the awareness and the opportunities they need to be future women leaders using technology and business. Both parties see this initiative as a crucial milestone, therefore will facilitate on-going programmes such as mentoring, webinars, hackathons and regional development for the participants of the diploma who will definitely need to incorporate technology in order to manage successful local and global Businesses.
Students participating in the Diploma for Women Entrepreneurs will be afforded the opportunity to hear from the illustrious members of the Women Technopreneurs forum and learn the importance of technology in entrepreneurship and be inspired by their journeys, so the students too could draw inspiration at the start of their own journey. Students that meet the requirement for being tech entrepreneurs will also be awarded free SLASSCOM memberships for 2 years, allowing them to network with Sri Lanka’s tech industry business magnates.
The Diploma for Women Entrepreneurship will be introduced as a one-year programme, spanning 4 out of 5 academic modules. The project component of the diploma will be designed by the IIM Institute, administered and evaluated jointly by the Institute and NIBM. The entire course will be offered virtually by NIBM Worldwide through their online learning platform to enable the busy lifestyle of working women and students.
SLASSCOM Chairperson Sandra De Zoysa stated, “technology is shaping the world we live in, yet women are currently under-represented in the tech workforce. At SLASSCOM, we strongly believe that digital transformation must be accompanied by human transformation if everyone is to reap the rewards. Therefore, increasing representation of women in tech is important, not only for the brilliant career opportunities it can offer but also for the ability of the technology industry to innovate and rise to meet the needs of society. This partnership with NIBM is a step in the right direction in achieving the aim and in creating greater diversity in the tech workforce in our country.’
Dr. D. M.A Kulasooriya – Director General of NIBM endorsed “our country urgently needs more women and girls in science, technology and engineering. We need their perspectives, skills, curiosity and ideas to design a more innovative and equal future. As such, we are very happy to work in collaboration with SLASSCOM on this diploma, that I believe will pave the pathway in encouraging and giving women the knowledge and confidence to take on key roles in technology and in their entrepreneurship journeys” .
