University of Cambridge spreads the spirit of enterprise

Thursday, 20 October 2011 00:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Aspirations Edu-cation’s General Manager Deepamala Abeysekera became the only Sri Lankan to represent a group of 30 entrepreneurs in the world from, USA, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa, to read for her postgraduate studies in entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge has acquired an international reputation as an excellent location for start-ups. It facilitates networking by providing access to the Cambridge entrepreneurial network and bringing together highly experienced entrepreneurs, as Innovation rarely happens in a vacuum and social networks are crucial for success.

Abeysekera said: “I am moved by how the Cambridge Cluster spreads the spirit of enterprise through nurturing new talents, Sri Lanka can be inspired by how such networks build the entrepreneurial and innovative base that is crucial for a country’s economic growth. It’s about fast-tracking innovations to commercial readiness.”

The intensive programme is designed specifically for entrepreneurs to nurture their entrepreneurial ambitions and enable new ventures through an academically rigorous, directly relevant and highly practical learning experience, over a period of 12 months where the selected entrepreneurs will travel between University of Cambridge and destination their enterprise project is in implementation. Abeysekera attains significant undergraduate and graduate level academic credentials, holding a Master of Laws (LLM) in Public International Law from the University of Nottingham, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London, Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism/Documentary film-making from Asian College of Journalism, India with training from BBC and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics and Management from London School of Economics (LSE). Abeysekera’s extensive academic and professional engagement at the both national and international level, in education, human rights issues, international law, development, global issues demonstrates her capabilities in leadership, international business and organizational relationships building.

A Co- Founder/Director of Aspirations Education, the career guidance, counselling and placement centre representing leading universities in UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, China, Singapore, Malaysia and India, she was a TV Presenter in ITN Network and had also interned at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Recently she was invited to the Global Compact Ceylon Network Board as a Director, the Sri Lankan arm of the UN Global Compact (UNGC). Abeysekera’s current focus is on channelling the best from Cambridge’s enterprise sprit with the focus on ‘How to turn ideas into reality’ and the ‘Art of the start-up’.