National ICT Career Guidance Seminar at NICS ‘07
SEMINAR: For the ICT/BPO industry to grow, some of the key
enablers are infrastructure, human resources and the cost of utilities.
Initial concentration is being laid on enlarging and ensuring a quality
workforce to service this growing industry.
In this respect, many projects have been launched to educate school
leavers, parents, and teachers on the career opportunities available
within the ICT/BPO industry.
As part of this concerted effort, Sri Lanka’s apex body for ICT
policy and direction, the Information and Communication Technology
Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) in close association with industry leaders,
academia and the government, is slated to host the National ICT Capacity
Summit & National ICT Career Fair (NICS’07) from August 31 up to
September 2 this year.
The concerted effort led by the industry will focus on specialized
training, particularly human capital development to address the
potential talent shortage and issues that have to be overcome if Sri
Lanka is to be on par with regional counterparts.
As a build-up to the Summit, a number of events are being held
amongst various stakeholders in the country. One such event is the
Academia Career Guidance Pre Meet which was held last week.
It concentrates on the importance of the Academia’s involvement in
the strengthening of human capital across the ICT industry workforce,
enhancing the skills and competencies of those entering and those
already employed in the ICT industry.
Initiatives such as this under ICTA’s ICT Capacity Building Programme
(ICBP) will foster innovation, growth and will enhance the capacity of
companies and individuals to compete on a level playing field with
foreign competition within Sri Lanka, as well as in markets abroad; by
promoting activities aimed at ensuring that a national workforce with
the appropriate skill mix is available.
NICS, the first of its kind will be a one-day conference, bringing
together over 250 industry leaders and specialists with a focus on
identifying policies and actions to accelerate the growth of share of
Sri Lanka’s ICT potential.
A series of workshops covering a range of industry specific topics
will precede the summit while an awards night to felicitate top industry
professionals and entrepreneurs who have contributed towards the
industry will be the culmination of the event.
The objectives of this summit are broadly to review the current
ICT-BPO capacity in Sri Lanka, look at future capacity needs and to make
ICT a new professional career choice by improving teaching capabilities
and overall quality of ICT education. All of this requires increasing
investments in ICT education.
A highlight of the summit is the two-day National ICT Career Fair
targeted at advanced level students. |