Unilever offers hands-on learning to Moratuwa University engineering undergrads
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Moratuwa University undergraduates selected for the LEaD programme by Unilever Sri Lanka
Unilever Sri Lanka recently completed its inaugural LEaD (Learn, Explore, Develop) training programme at their head office. The event saw 18 second year engineering undergraduate students from the University of Moratuwa take part in this 7- month programme which was launched in October 2016.
“Unilever embarked on this initiative with the aim of ensuring that the nation’s future engineers are able to meet the high global standards brought on by rapid development and shifting technology landscapes. Within this framework one main area of focus was soft skills which were developed to meet corporate e1xpectations,” according to a company media release.
The programme exposed candidates to the inner workings of the Unilever supply chain where they learned about the FMCG giant through its various processes, explored the factories and were able to develop their careers through formal training. Applications for positions in the programme are called for each year on the Unilever Careers’ Facebook page. Once enrolled, candidates needed to commit two half days or one full day each month to participate in interactive learning sessions. Managers from Unilever were assigned to mentor individual students through the course of the program.
“We are happy that our undergraduates were able to receive first-hand experience from a company like Unilever which has a wealth of knowledge and expertise from across the globe. These lessons will be invaluable in shaping their young minds and help them determine their future. They are now armed with a firmer understanding of the industry and a set of experiences that will set them apart from their peers in the job market,” said Nihal Wijeyewickrema, Director – Industrial Training Division, University of Moratuwa.
Noman Lutfi, Supply Chain Director, Unilever Sri Lanka, noted that, “With the LEaD programme, we have gone the extra mile to create that talent pool by constantly nurturing the resources at an early stage. By opening our business to these undergraduates, we are providing them with practical experience to supplement their theoretical knowledge”.
This latest programme is in keeping with Unilever’s HR strategy of enabling opportunities for undergraduates. Similar programmes include the Leadership Internship Programme and Unilever Sparks, both of which empowered the business leaders of tomorrow by giving them firsthand corporate experience at a reputed multinational.