Making the mark in the international academia
View(s):The Dean International and Professor of ICT at Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Prof. Mahesha Kapurubandara has been nominated as a finalist for Western Sydney University (WSU) International Alumni Leadership Award 2022 that recognises and celebrates outstanding alumni who have demonstrated sustained excellence in their personal and professional achievements and are leaders in their field or have made a substantial impact on society. Today, we sit down with Prof. Kapurubandara to learn more about her winning journey.
Q What does it mean for you to be recognised as an outstanding individual among one of Australia’s leading institutions’ many affluent alumni?
A: As a university that continues to build upon a dynamic and innovative culture that secures success with regional, national and international impact, WSU considers alumni are a vital part of its story. I’m pleased to be recognised as the university’s among the top three international alumni in a worldwide network of over 200,000 professionals, thought leaders and trailblazers living and working in a country other than Australia, making a significant contribution to international society through community service and professional achievements.
I am very honoured and humbled. On so many different levels, the University helped enhance my professional career, and life. I’ve received numerous awards throughout my career, a number of them from prestigious organisations, but this one by far means the most to me.
A: That’s always a tough question as it takes a lot to reflect on oneself. I would like to say that I have never let gender determine what I can do. So, I like to be an inspiration for all young women and children out there to be fearless and everything they aspire to be.
I am self-sufficient and autonomous, in terms of maintaining high levels of motivation, ability and constantly avoiding negativity. I also foster relationships to promote teamwork, harmony and collaboration while minimising conflict.
To me these skills are important in business, in communities, in politics, in even at home with our families.
Q Could you bring us up to date on your educational and professional background as well?
A: I graduated with B.Sc.(Honours) from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and completed my MSc in Computer Science at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand (AIT). Upon joining the industry, I had occupied academic positions in many countries across the globe. I was employed at WSU for five years where I successfully completed my doctoral degree (Ph.D.) during my tenure. I have also served as a visiting professor at University of Uppsala while I was at SLIIT and at University of Nanjing, while I was at WSU.
I am proud to have had my university education in Sri Lanka while I believe I was fortunate to get my post graduate education leading to Ph.D at Western Sydney University. Soon after graduation I worked in the IT industry in various roles As Programmer, Software Engineer, Business Analyst etc. in Sri Lanka and overseas.
In 2000 I made a career change into education. It has been a rewarding journey. As an academic I had to update my skills and qualifications in order to teach, mentor and mould young students.
That paved the way for my other accomplishments, many accolades recognising my contributions to education and society. Having authored or co-authored many publications in relevant fields, my research interests lie primarily in the area of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs), Women Entrepreneurship and Business Process Management (BPM).
In 2016, I was recognised by Women in Management, Sri Lanka (WIM), with a silver medal in ‘Information Technology Category Award’ at the Professional and Career Women Awards 2016 while also receiving the ‘Female ICT Leader of the Year’ by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL) and being recognised as a finalist at the SEEARCC Awards held in Sydney, Australia in the category ‘ICT Educator of the Year – Southeast Asia Region Computer Confederation Awards, Australia’ in the same year. In addition, I’m honured to be the first woman in Sri Lanka to receive a Professorship for Information Communication Technologies (ICT).
Q What drives you in your professional life — and why have you chosen to pursue this line of work?
A: Selfulfilment is vital to me on a personal level. What motivates me to keep reaching higher is knowing that my hard work and perseverance will help me achieve greater professional success.
Knowledge is what I love about my role the most; I find being able to empower the next generation through continuous learning is very satisfying.
Q As a celebrated academic and academic and an educator, what is your assessment of the local academia?
A: The local academia has a very global outlook. Many people have the ambition to study for a globally recognised degree qualifications and develop a global alumni network. Whether or not they have the means or opportunities to do so remains moot.
Regardless, we have an ecosystem that only rewards research but accords no priority to teaching. Therefore, academics have no incentive to put time and effort into their teaching responsibilities. Despite the unprcedented circumstances, it is my belief that the local academia is in desperate need of a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to the inclusive delivery of education services.
Q And what motivated you into becoming Dean International and Professor of Information Technology, at SLIIT?
A: I am a proud member of the founding team of SLIIT that was established in 1999 with the aim to strengthen the country’s ICT talent pool. I was the first Head/Academic, Professor of ICT, and the founding Dean International of the institute in which I took providing strategy, leadership, administration and overseeing and developing high-value international partnerships through maintaining close strategic relationships with flagship universities and institutions across the world upon myself.
SLIIT’s degree programmes are praised for giving students a competitive edge to traverse personal and professional development, self-sustainability, and employability and are recognised for developing a distinctive learning and research environment with contemporary resources. As a founding member of this institute, I am proud to see how far the institute has come.
Q To conclude this discussion, what is your message to our readers who aspire to excel in their academic life and pursue their research studies?
A: We’re unique individuals; we have our motivations that can be different from other people, from our friends and our family members.
Yet, the impact of passion remains constant in all our lives. It drives and pushes you harder to achieve what you want in life. Living with purpose and passion is, after all, a significant and enduring motivation.
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