The Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) struck gold for the third consecutive year at the National Best Quality Software Awards 2011. The event, hosted at Galadari hotel, Colombo saw the participation of distinguished IT professionals and reputed academics from both Sri Lanka and overseas. The National Best Quality Software Awards (NBQSA) competition is an annual event organised by the BCS The Chartered Institute for IT - Sri Lanka Section. The competition serves to showcase and benchmark Sri Lankan ICT products.
|
Mr Sheran Corera receiving the Gold Award in the tertiary category at NBQSA 2011 |
|
Ms Naomi Krishnaraja, Dr Gamini Wickramasinghe, Sheran Corera, Prof Alfred Perera all of IIT |
Sheran Corera - a student of IIT, won gold in the tertiary category as well as the special award for the best product using Microsoft technologies. The project topped submissions by a prominent set of finalists including acclaimed state and private education institutions. It received due recognition after being scrutinised by a reputed panel of judges with vast experience and expert technical knowledge.
His project, the winning entry titled 'Freewave' aims to develop a framework capable of integrating multiple devices, recognition algorithms and end-user applications in a decentralised manner so that you can plug in any device that has an accelerometer, send data to a PC and use it to control virtually any application using gestures or tilt.
Award winners of NBQSA are chosen to represent Sri Lanka in the APICTA competition. The Asia Pacific ICT Awards (APICTA) is an annual international awards programme which aims to increase ICT awareness in the region. Sheran Corera will represent Sri Lanka as well as IIT at APICTA 2011 which is scheduled to be held in Thailand.
The achievement is a true reflection of the strong foundation IIT provides its students. The Institute and its well tailored degree programmes have succeeded in stimulating creative thinking in resolving issues as well as developing new trends in a fast changing IT landscape. Students at IIT are tasked with a final year project which assesses a need or a problem, defines it and resolves it utilising technology.
This has helped spawn some of Sri Lanka's best IT projects like 'Freewave' and also better equips IIT graduates to be more balanced and professional in their outlook. Students also have the opportunity to participate in 'Cutting Edge' a competition which selects the best software and business solutions for a given academic year.
Interestingly, 'Freewave' was also adjudged best software project at 'Cutting Edge' 2011.
All these factors have contributed in creating a balanced academic environment that enhances young minds to conceptualise and execute something fresh and different.
Hence, it is no surprise that any resulting innovation is accepted, recognised and publicised through programmes such as NBQSA. IIT will undoubtedly continue its reach for excellence in the years ahead.
We owe are gratitude to Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe whose vision saw the birth of the first tertiary private institution which offered British degrees in IT since 1990.
|