SLT-MOBITEL Pushes Boundaries in ICT & Telecom Education
View(s):SLT-MOBITEL has always been the pioneer held in high esteem when it comes to offering the nation with ICT and telecom solutions. Having achieved for itself a name within the telecom industry, SLT-MOBITEL identified the significance of elevating the nation’s young minds and empowering the growth of the industry by tapping into the education sector. This is when SLT Training Centre (SLTTC) came into being, and today can be hailed as an educational institute that is widely recognised for specialized education in the country.
SLTTC was initiated with the aim of developing the competency of the company’s staff members and the steps that were taken by the telecommunications service provider eventually paved the way to expand their educational services even further; working to uplift youth who were enthusiastic about entering the telecom industry in Sri Lanka. The educational arm of SLT-MOBITEL, SLTTC first began operations by offering engineering courses which extended up to degree level courses. Now, the training centre is looking forward to diversify on their course offerings and provide a range of courses for members of the public who seek to achieve a career pathway in the telecom sector.
Commenting on the role that the SLTTC plays in the country’s tertiary education landscape, Mr. Janaka Silva, General Manager of Talent Development Division, Sri Lanka Telecom stated, “Sri Lanka Telecom Training Centres have, over the years, maintained and continued to make a name as a premier provider of education services in the ICT and telecommunications disciplines. Being the training arm of SLT-MOBITEL, it also places the training centre on a higher standing where our students are guaranteed to receive the best in terms of higher education and training, during their time here with us. With our abundance of facilities, range of short and degree-level courses and the knowhow gained through easy access to industry-expertise, our students will be able to find their footing in the real world out there and confidently penetrate into the ICT and telecom industry, both locally and internationally.”
Amongst the many advantages that SLTTC has to offer, is their affiliation with world-recognized universities such as the University of Hertfordshire, UK, which offers Bachelor of Engineering Honours Degrees in a variety of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electronics & Computer Engineering streams and also is amongst the highest-ranking universities in the world. Another awarding body is the Pearson BTEC (UK), which offers Higher National Diploma courses in Computing and Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
Prospective students can choose from an array of short courses such as Certificate in Applied Information Technology (CAIT), Advanced Certificate in Contact Centre Profession (CCP), Data Communication (CCNA), Transmission and Telecommunication Technician (NVQ Levels 3/4), and some that cover areas including Optical Fibre, Power & AC,. Sri Lankan students can therefore, easily gain a world-class education from the comfort of their own country and that too, at a fraction of the cost it would take to seek education abroad.
Upon successful completion of their studies, students can also obtain IET membership. Students who graduate after completing their B.Eng. degree can also move forward with their study path and enrol in an MSc or MBA program that is being offered by universities in the UK, USA and Australia, to name a few. Students who complete a UK degree program may also be entitled to a two-year post work permit in the UK.
A major highlight from the training centre’s achievements is the recognition it received when 10 first-class honours holders graduated from two batches, in two consecutive years (2019 and 2020). This type of output is rarely witnessed and yet, the SLTTC has been successful in easily achieving this feat. This accomplishment is down to the dedication and industry-expertise displayed by the lecturer panel. What sets their lecturing approach apart is that students receive the utmost attention from their lecturers and many of the lecturers are also employed at SLT-MOBITEL. Therefore, they come equipped with a plethora of industry experience and knowhow which benefits their students and provides them with the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and experience.
Students being able to easily access their lecturers who are available to freely support their students at any time also helps in this process. Alternatively, students are also considered for internships at SLT-MOBITEL, thus providing them with an edge in terms of the fields they pursue and making the edification and career process ever more fulfilling. Many graduates have gone on to forge successful careers in their respective fields of study with their world-class qualifications being an extra stepping stone.
SLTTC has locations in Welisara, Moratuwa and Kandy. Amongst the many facilities made available to students, are lab facilities, sophisticated interactive classrooms, auditorium, recreation facilities, hostel facilities, library and canteen facilities. Extra-curricular activities are also a major part of the training centre’s learning experience and students are encouraged to take part in those proceedings.