Virtusa to produce worldclass IT professionals
Ruwanthi ABEYAKOON
Virtusa will enhance its client led organization producing world
class software professionals, Vice President, Virtusa Sri Lanka, Shanil
Fernando said in an interview with Daily News Business.
“Our key focus is to produce world class software professionals. We
conduct training in three stages which is theoretical, on the job
training and continuous development of skills. At the end we produce
multi skilled professionals,” he said.
He added that Virtusa has a focused plan. “We have partnered with top
universities to provide theoretical knowledge. The students will have
internship at Virtusa where they work on sample projects.
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Shanil Fernando |
They get a good understanding of the business. We are also involved
in defining the curriculum of the universities. Our senior staff
lecturers in universities are moulding young minds to enter the IT
world,” Fernando added.
“They also get the opportunity to join the business world, working
with senior members in the business community. The difference between
education and business is blended. On the job training, make the
youngsters work on critical projects requiring different skills,” he
added.
“There is a good working environment. We provide international
exposure. They get to work with the best clients work and they also work
hand in hand with internationally renowned companies like CISCO and BT,”
Fernando said. He said Virtusa provides experience in financial hubs in
the world.
“We provide overseas training and have partnered with US based
companies. We focus on growth and have a world class evaluation system,”
Fernando explained. “In the future we are planning to enhance the client
led organisation. We have a lot of momentum with the local universities.
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Sri Lanka ICT companies are growing fast and many already
have international clients. However, for every company that
is already doing business abroad, there are many more who
are ready to serve the export market, but do not have the
necessary support and/or market knowledge to break into
lucrative outsourcing markets such as the United Kingdom. |
We are spreading our wings in creating well rounded individuals. We
influence people to master the business angle and on investing,” he
said. He also said 75 per cent of the people joining them are school
leavers.
“There is a very clear development track for these young people. We
are the only Nasdaq company here and have achieved CMMI level 4. We are
getting level five next year,” he said.
“IT population is very small in Sri Lanka. Our target is to enhance
the talent of the people. Global language is technology. English is not
a barrier in the IT field. Better codes are important than better
English,” he added.
“Virtusa is an umbrella for product and enterprise oriented
companies.
Thirty per cent of revenue comes from the product based companies and
the rest from enterprises. |
