“When we advertise for IT graduates for our software development company, OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd, we receive hundreds of applications. However, even to select one person is so difficult due to their poor knowledge, zero industrial exposure and negative attitudes” said Mr. Daya Hettiarachchi, Chairman/CEO of OpenArc. He said that there is a wide [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

OpenArc offers IT Degrees with Software Development Experience and Guaranteed Jobs

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“When we advertise for IT graduates for our software development company, OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd, we receive hundreds of applications. However, even to select one person is so difficult due to their poor knowledge, zero industrial exposure and negative attitudes” said Mr. Daya Hettiarachchi, Chairman/CEO of OpenArc. He said that there is a wide gap between what the industry needs and what is given to students by the academic programmes.

With twenty one years of experience in large scale software development and implementation projects in the Banking and Finance Industry and in educating school leavers on industry oriented IT study programmes, OpenArc has designed and subsequently improved year by year, a comprehensive study programme coupled with IT practices to bridge this gap. In the year 2007, they designed a four year programme which helps a school leaver with a minimum of three passes in GCE (A/L) to be developed as a ‘Industry-fit graduate”. Under this programme, in the first year, the school leaver follows a comprehensive, industry-oriented, full time Diploma programme, called ‘Industrial Diploma in Software Development’ (IDSD). Throughout the programme, they have to practice various ICT theories that they learn, by doing an industry oriented project. “The teaching is done by qualified teachers who are involved in our software development company. OpenArc is a ‘CMMI level 3’ assessed software company; the standard set by Carnegie Mellon University and Software Engineering Institute, USA. Therefore, our teachers know exactly what is needed in practical software development. Hence, these Diploma graduates can develop software from day one and easily fill the Middle level technicians’ jobs in the ICT industry” added Mr. Hettiarachchi.

Getting involved in the conversation, the Managing Director of OpenArc School of Business & Technology Ltd, Mr. Vijith Sinhabahu said “We, not only empower them with industry oriented technical knowledge, but also improve their soft skills and help them to build positive attitudes as well. They are mentored and guided to develop a career in ICT, by following the IT degree (external) of University of Colombo, either on part-time or full-time basis while giving the other skills required by the employers”

Since the year 2007, OpenArc has offered ninety two (92) scholarships (more than Rs.50 million worth) to deserving school leavers to follow the Diploma and then the BIT degree programme. After completing the Diploma the scholars are absorbed as trainees to OpenArc software development company. Mr. Hettiarachchi said “we provide them comprehensive training on practical software development process during the first year of their degree programme. They study during one day of the week-end and practice during the week-days and receive a training allowance too. From the second year, they are absorbed to the software company as “Software Developers” and paid an industry average salary. They complete the degree while receiving the all important software development experiences. Hence, they are very capable on completion of the degree than a graduate, who pass out after completion of a pure academic course. Mr. Hettiarachchi further added that some of these graduates are the live wires of most important projects undertaken by the software company, such as computerization of 310 branches of Bank of Ceylon with “OpenArc SkyLease” software system. Since our school and the software development company are housed together, we are equipped better, to provide industrial training to our students within a very synergic atmosphere, said Mr. Hettiarachchi.

From this academic year starting in October 2012, OpenArc has introduced another new full time degree programme named “Industrial BIT”. Mr. Sinhabahu reinforced that the school has added many industrial components to the BIT external degree programme of the University of Colombo and offer triple benefits to the student. We not only ensure a very high pass rate, and offer them “OpenArc certificate of industrial training” for the training received by them, but also guarantee a Job at the end of the degree programme.

Both these programmes are very cost effective, even if a student does not receive a scholarship. OpenArc, with its twenty one years of experience in computerizing all Merchant Banks of Sri Lanka and having the market leadership for financial software, would like to guide the parents and students on right ICT education and practice. They sincerely request parents not to spend a lot of money unnecessarily, on ICT degree programmes. Both the above programmes are priced very much lower than the equivalent programmes, enabling parents to get maximum value for their money.

Further details of this diploma and degree programmes could be obtained from the OpenArc School of Business and Technology, First floor, No. 120, High Level Road, Kirulapone, Colombo 06 or info@openarc.edu.lk. Their Web site is www.openarc.edu.lk.




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