Education

IIT offers degrees with job guarantee

The Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT- www.iit.ac.lk) is a firm believer in giving as many students as possible, an opportunity to obtain a quality education. If a student is keen and passionate to study, then IIT believes every possible avenue should be made open to that student.

With this in mind, IIT makes available a Foundation Programme designed for after O/L students, meaning who has only O/L's as an educational qualification as well as those who do not have adequate A/L results to sit for the degree programme. As IIT offers BEng (Hons) Software Engineering as well as BSc (Hons) Information Systems with Business Management internal degrees from the University of Westminster (UOW), the Foundation Programme's curriculum is structured to suit these undergraduate studies, not only the internal degree programmes of UOW UK but also many other UK universities and even other international universities have started to recognize this foundation qualification.

Once a student has successfully completed the Foundation Programme, switching over to one of the degree programmes is extremely easy - not only in an administrative sense but also in an academic sense. The limited intake for a class of 20 for the Foundation Programme ensures that students receive dedicated attention which is vital, hence that in any field the foundation must be solid for the entirety to be a success.

Students following the Foundation Programme are also required to complete a project in the form of a creative solution to a problem. This too gives the students a learning opportunity that equips them with the skills necessary for the degree programme. Students are taught and encouraged to think for themselves, give vent to their creativity, enhance communication skills, develop research and reference work ability, work in teams and build up group work. Above all, students following the Foundation Programme at IIT are assured of an appreciative and attentive audience for their queries and ideas.

BSc (Hons) Information Systems with Business Management

In this highly tech savvy society in which we live, it is increasingly important to learn how IT knowledge can be successfully combined and merged with other business disciplines in a manner that will benefit a large number of people who are seeking job opportunities. This is where the BSc (Hons) in Information Systems with Business Management (ISBM) Degree offered at IIT as a qualifying internal degree from the University of Westminster UK, becomes of vital importance. The ISBM degree is to develop multidisciplinary professionals who can understand the business challenges in functional units such as Marketing, Finance, Human Resources and Operations Management. Further, this degree is also designed to produce graduates who will be able to integrate their ICT skills with their knowledge of business operations and management to support an enterprise to achieve competitive advantage. Therefore ISBM students of IIT definitely enjoy an edge over other business graduates in their career advancement.

BEng (Hons) Software Engineering

The BEng (Hons) Software Engineering offered at the Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) too has vital global recognition. The very fact that IIT is the Institute to provide this degree is an added advantage for those looking at career growth options both in Sri Lanka and in an International arena, thus of it's repute for the past 22 years and also the IIT Software Engineering degree is not just taught but students are fully immersed in the practical aspects of the subject and industry through their lecturers who are industry experts as well as the placement year experience that is mandatory.

This course embodies the best ways to design, build, maintain and evaluate software systems. It makes use of many of the technical aspects of computer science, especially programming, and aims to develop the professional attitudes, interpersonal and technical skills that students would require in the software engineering industry.

Unique placement year of both degrees, sees students in industry related organizations experiencing practical manifestations of what they have been learning.

Being able to observe the practical application of their course and further enhance their knowledge on the same has been of invaluable experience and benefit to IIT students. And also the final year project encourages students to hone their thinking to develop innovative concepts. Therefore students are assured a job placement with the successful completion of the degree.

Apart from academic knowledge, IIT also places great importance in Soft Skill Development, Team work, Motivational projects, Presentation skills and other professional attitudes and attributes along with interpersonal skills.

SLIIT marks third installation ceremony

The third Installation ceremony of SLIIT Toastmasters Club was held recently, at the Malabe Campus.

The event witnessed many distinguished guests, notably Toastmaster Zameen M. Saleem, Past District Governor of District 82 as chief guest, Professor S. Karunaratne, Chairman, SLIIT as Guest of Honour, DTM Ms. Padmini Samarasinghe, DTM Sudash Liyanage, and Division Governor Ms. Noorul Munawwara CC.

Commenting on SLIIT's Toastmasters Club, Professor S. Karunaratne, Chairman of SLIIT, stated; “As a leading Higher Education Institute with the anticipated expansion and diversification of academic programs under faculties of Computing, Business and Engineering, we are aware that the academia and relevant human resources of SLIIT must develop excellent communication skills, including leadership skills and personality development.

It was with this in mind that the SLIIT Toastmasters Club was initiated and today it has proved to be a pathway to meet our staff development objectives”.

Moreover, dissemination of knowledge is the main objective of any higher education institute. Oral communication skills of academics are essential requirements to achieve that objective.

SLIIT identified the importance of enhancing oral communication skills of its academics and established SLIIT Toastmasters Club in May 2010.

Since then, academics from all faculties participate in Toastmasters meetings to sharpen their oral communication skills which facilitate dissemination of their knowledge” commented Professor Lalith Gamage, President and CEO of SLIIT.

“Toastmasters meetings provide a time tested learning environment which creates numerous opportunities for participants to learn oral communication skills and leadership skills by engaging in meeting roles and through attentive observation.

Evaluation sessions of the meetings promote reflective practice and critical analysis.

Toastmasters meetings promote mutual understanding and mutual help which aids other activities of the institute. Most of these values are being integrated into academic programmes conducted by SLIIT.”