University of Moratuwa to join drive to enhance young entrepreneur education

Tuesday, 25 October 2011 01:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

As one of the flagship activities of the University of Moratuwa Entrepreneurship initiative under the NDB Bank Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship, Prof. Ananda Jayawardane, the University with the collaboration of Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) has initiated entrepreneurship training for university students for the first time in the Sri Lankan higher education system.

The first session of this highly prospective program is now ready to expose the newly bred young ventures into real world experiences.

The nine companies formed by around 300 students of the University of Moratuwa will officially launch their businesses and introduce their products, services and business ideas to the public.

The Company Launch is to take place at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on 27 October in the presence of eminent guests including the Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayaka as the Chief Guest, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Nandimithra Ekanayake as the Guest of Honour, Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne – Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Chairman, Prof. Gamini Samaranayake – University Grants Commission and Prof. Malik Ranasinghe – Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, Vice Chancellors of Other Universities, business leaders, media personalities, renowned engineers and several other distinguished guests. The Principal Sponsor for the event is Etisalat.

Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) is a Member/Franchise Holder of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide commenced in 1919 in USA, spans the globe with a variety of learning experience for young people between 5-25. JA is the world’s largest and fastest growing programme around the world empowering young people to own their economic success through programmes in three core areas of: financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness.

YESL initiated the programmes in school since 1998.

The programme is conducted by YESL personnel headed by its President, Patrick Amarasinghe, Department of Management of Technology of UoM and also Guest Lecturers and experts. It focuses on giving practical knowledge on true to life businesses, functionality, operations and also related topics such as legal background and safeguarding intellectual property rights.