Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA)'s Programme Manager, Private Sector Development, Fayaz Hudah addressing the audience at the ceremony for the inauguration of the first IT - Business Process Outsourcing fair in the Provinces was held in Galle on 13th March 2009. |
The IT - Business Process Outsourcing Career fairs conducted by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka and the Education Ministry at Mahinda College, Galle Friday (13) and Saturday (14) and Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matatara on Saturday (21) have evinced remarkable enthusiasm.
The first two of its kind to be conducted jointly by the Information and Communication Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Ministry of Education outside Colombo these two career fairs held in Galle and Matara drew large crowds consisting mostly in students, teachers and parents from the two districts.
Responding to a call for cooperation for conducting fairs in eight districts namely Anuradhapura, Badulla, Galle, Hambanthota, Kandy, Kurunegala, Matara and Ratnapura extended at the IT Business Process Outsourcing Career Guidance Fairs launch held last November the IT-BPO industry too supported the fair. During the two-day fair in Galle this support was articulated, inter alia, by 22 volunteers from 18 IT-BPO firms attending the fair at their own expense. Counselling to implicit or explicit IT-BPO career enthusiasts was given by a Ministry of Education career counsellor along with a representative from the IT-BPO industry and taking a role in counseling along with a Ministry of Education career counsellor. In addition, several IT-BPO companies also had set up stalls at the fair which with their presentations and videos gave an awareness of the industry and enabled the students to get an understanding of what companies were in the industry and what kind of training they should possess to launch into this sector.
Referring to the Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing career guidance fairs being held in the districts, ICTA's Chief Operating Officer Reshan Dewapura said: "In the case of well-known careers like those of doctors, engineers, accountants there are many groups to advise the children but in the case of careers in Information Technology Business Process Outsourcing there is no one to provide the necessary guidance. So it is up to the Government to do so. ICTA as the apex body for national ICT policy and direction has taken up the responsibility of creating this awareness among the villagers as part of its effort to bring ICT solutions under 'e-SriLanka' to make the people's lives more comfortable. We are grateful that many have contributed to this effort, the lion's share in this contribution being from the Ministry of Education".
Programme Manager, Private Sector Development, ICTA, Fayaz Hudah said that there was positive feedback from the students and teachers who accompanied them at the fair.
Speaking in reference to the remaining six similar fairs Fayaz said many IT-BPO industry volunteers are needed to make presentations and provide career counselling. ICTA invites the IT-BPO industry to join hands in taking IT-BPO awareness around the country by visiting the regional career fairs website, www.futureisit.lk where they can pledge their support. |
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