SLASSCOM Academy launches Professional Skills Program for IT/BPM sector

From left: SLASSCOM Chairperson Sandra De Zoysa, Ministry of Technology Secretary Jayantha De Silva, SLASSCOM Board Director Nishan Mendis and PwC Digital Transformation Leader Haresh Perera

The Sri Lanka Association of Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has been a spearheading force in the development of the country’s IT/ BPM sector and has created and influenced several educational programmes that has greatly supported and benefitted the industry.

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 Program recently.

The program 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 Program 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 Program 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 Ministry of Technology Secretary Jayantha De Silva, SLASSCOM Chairperson Sandra De Zoysa and SLASSCOM Board Director and Head of the Capacity Forum Nishan Mendis, IFS World Operations Vice President and COO Ranil Rajapakse and University of Moratuwa former Vice Chancellor, Standing Committee of Computing for IT Chairman and University Grants Commission Member Prof. Ananda Jayawardana. 

PwC Digital Transformation Leader Haresh Perera 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 program benefits involving interactive training programs, where participants will experience real-world situations and be guided to be the best professional versions of themselves.

SLASSCOM Chairperson Sandra De Zoysa 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 and 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 program, 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.”

Ministry of Technology Secretary 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: “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 program therefore is a great initiative by SLASSCOM, launched in a timely manner.”

IFS World Operations Vice President and COO Ranil Rajapakse 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, which have become even more important during the post pandemic era. Therefore, this program is an opportune move and a step in the right direction.”

SLASSCOM enables any student or practitioner to follow the program by registering through the SLASSCOM Academy platform and a host of educational and developmental content and certified courses will be available through its platform, free of cost to participants.