What is entrepreneurship? What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? How do you convert an innovative idea into a successful business? Why should an engineering undergraduate who has a secure path of employment be interested in venturing out on his own to become his own boss?
These are a few of the many questions that were aimed at and discussed by a panel of eminent industry experts and academics with undergraduates at the IDEAS forum 2011 held this week at the University of Moratuwa.
The Rotaract club of the University of Moratuwa which strives to empower young Sri Lankans has been in the forefront of bringing to life novel and innovative projects. The IDEAS forum 2011 was yet another venture and is an extension of IDEAS which was awarded the Rotaract District award for best professional development project in the Rotary district 3220 last year.
The IDEAS forum 2011 aims encourage a dialogue among university students and industry experts about creating their own enterprise.
The event was organized under the guidance of Professor Ananda Jayawardene, Nations Development Bank Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship of University of Moratuwa who was also a panelist in the discussion. He is the former Dean, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Moratuwa and also the present President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. Other panelists included Mr. Ariyaseela Wickramanayake, Managing Director – Master Divers Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Manjula Dissanayake, Vice President – Global Operations – Zone 24x7 and Mr. Sameera Ganegoda, Project Manager – LTL Holdings.
The evening provided undergraduates with an opportunity to find out the many traits and skills required to become a winning entrepreneur. Professor Jayawardene explained how entrepreneurship is now being integrated into the university’s curriculum while youngsters are being encouraged to come forward with their innovative ideas as the university is ever more ready to provide the required support for them. Mr. Wickramanayake stressed the importance of the ability of the entrepreneur to stand up against ridicule towards a new idea and went onto say that the opportunities available for entreprenuers in Sri Lanka are immense, unlike anywhere else.
Mr. Dissanayake expressed the necessity of creating an ecosystem which allowed for entrepreneurship and the significance of preventing Sri Lankan brainpower being abused by other nations. “Think out of the box and not from the book while focusing on practical aspects of an application,” were the final words of advice given by Mr. Ganegoda to budding entrepreneurs. |
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