VTA, SLASSCOM partner to enhance student employability in ICT sector

Thursday, 25 August 2011 00:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s largest state owned training body Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) today announced the first project under the partnership formed last month to enhance the IT skills of graduates in the country.

Virtusa Corporation, a global IT services company that offers a broad spectrum of business consulting and outsourcing services, has volunteered to share the company’s training curricular with the VTA. Virtusa has a strong foot hold in the IT industry locally and globally and the comprehensive curricular is uniquely designed keeping in mind the global trends and the ever changing global market.

“As a result of the MOU singed between VTA and SLASSCOM, we appreciate Virtusa Cooperation’s interest in providing industry visits to our NDICT students and also sharing of Quality Assurance curricula to give awareness and exposure about the modern IT working environment,” VTA Chairman and CEO Dhammika Hewapathirana said.

The partnership between VTA and SLASSCOM was a result of a mutual agreement between the two parties aligning industry standards and curricular which will result in a talent pool equipped with not only in depth industry knowledge but also with an enhanced soft skills focus preparing human resource to the knowledge economy.

“Virtusa is delighted be part of this VTA-SLASSCOM initiative to expand the workforce. We will share our global expertise and support VTA in developing industry aligned curriculum to meet global standards,” Virtusa Sri Lanka Vice President and General Manager Madu Ratnayake said.

VTA will use the curriculum to provide training for over 3,000 students in 270 Vocational Training Centers (VTC) located island wide. The training ensures that a graduate is equipped with much more than a degree when they start a career.