OpenArc ‘Navodaya’ scholarship programme
OpenArc School of Business and Technology (OSBT), under it’s
‘Navodaya’ Scholarship Programme, this year also had made arrangements
to offer four year full scholarships, consisting of one year Diploma in
Industrial Software Development course (IDSD) and three year BIT Degree
Programme of the University of Colombo with employment to 25 students
who have born talents in IT and aptitude for computer software
development. The scholars are selected from school leavers who have
passed the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination with minimum of three
simple passes. Students from any part of the island who have passed
their G.C.E. (Advanced Level) are eligible to apply for these
scholarships.
OpenArc ‘Navodaya’ Scholarship Programme is a Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) Project of the OpenArc School of Business and
Technology aiming at generating world class Software Engineers demanded
by the software industry worldwide.
The ‘Navodaya’ Scholarship Programme was launched six years ago
according to a memorandum of understanding the OpenArc School of
Business and Technology signed with the Ministry of Education and it is
a government approved scholarship project.
Speaking about the ‘Navodaya’ Scholarship Project, the Chairman of
the OpenArc Group, Daya Hettiarachchi said, “The local software industry
cannot be developed without truly talented software engineers. Most of
the IT graduates coming out of conventional study programs in the
universities haven’t got the born talents and hands on excellence in
proper practice of software writing. Therefore, in order to produce our
own human resources, we introduced our “work first, degree next” concept
which is the standard practice of ‘Navodaya’ scholarship programme.
Initially, we provide scholarship recipients the opportunity to follow
one year Computer Software Development Diploma Course. After imparting
the necessary theoretical knowledge for a period of about nine months,
we direct them to hands on software development work at the software
development arm of our Group, the OpenArc Systems Management (Pvt) Ltd.
After three months of successful practical training and project work,
we employ them as Computer Software Developers at OpenArc Systems where
we develop world class software for many industries such as Banking &
Finance, Manufacturing, and Security markets. While engaging them in
practical software development, we give them the necessary education and
further training to complete the BIT Degree Course of the University of
Colombo and we bear the total cost including examination fees to be paid
to University.
“Initially, we are giving complete education in basics of computer
science in the one year Computer Software Development Diploma Course by
covering London Advanced Level Syllabus of the UK.
Furthermore, students are given essential knowledge of the usage of
English language and soft skills as well. We teach most popular
programming languages for computer software writing such as Java, PHP,
and .Net from the beginning.
The Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) Degree of the University
of Colombo is an internationally recognized degree which covers a broad
spectrum of computing, information and communication technology subject
matter. The balance three years of the four-year scholarship is
dedicated to teach the content of that degree”
Daya Hettiarachchi further said, “The specialty of this OpenArc
“Navodaya” Scholarship Project is that students are getting a
theoretical knowledge of the most modern technology pertaining to
computer software development and the opportunity to practically apply
that knowledge simultaneously which is unique to OpenArc because we are
the only institution running a software development company and a IT
school within the same building.
This is what we call “IT Industrial Campus” At the end of four years
the students of OpenArc who obtain the BIT Degree become Software
Developers with broad theoretical knowledge, sound practical experience
of three years in software development a methodical training and
professional experience.
Om top of all these we are maintaining a methodical programme to
develop their innovative ideas, leadership qualities, positive
attitudes, discipline and behavior as well. Students of no other
internal or external degree programme in any university of Sri Lanka
will give the students a marvelous opportunity such as this.”
The primary objective of the OpenArc “Navodaya” Scholarship Programme
is to identify students with an inborn talent and aptitude for software
development and helping them to develop into world-class Software
Development Engineers. The biggest problem in this sphere in Sri Lanka
is the lack of human resources. Only by developing the necessary human
resource can Sri Lanka lead in global information technology.
OpenArc is a pioneer educational institution that has been conducting
lectures for the University of Colombo’s BIT Degree Programme from its’
inception in the year 2000 and it has shown best of results throughout
the history. OpenArc that had been involved in IT higher education
continuously for a period of over 20 years, has produced over 2000
Software Professional who are presently working for leading companies in
Sri Lanka and overseas holding very high positions.
The software arm of the OpenArc Group, OpenArc Systems Management, is
a reputed software company providing software solutions for banks,
financial institutions and stock broking firms. OpenArc Systems
Management is the market leader in Banking & Finance software with a
market share of over 75%. OpenArc Systems Management has computerized
the leasing operations of a large number of leading state and private
sector financial institutions such as DFCC Bank, Bank of Ceylon, DFCC
Vardhana bank, Seylan Bank and Peoples Leasing Limited.
More information could be obtained by emailing [email protected].
www.openarc.edu.lk and www.openarc.lk |