SL needs new initiatives to use ICT in higher education

• Intel joins ESOFT Metro Campus to produce new wave of undergraduates Sri Lanka

From left: Corporate Training Consultant Harris Dissanayake, ESOFT Metro Campus CEO Nishan Sembacuttiaratchy, ESOFT Metro Campus Managing Director Dr. Dayan Rajapakse, Intel Sri Lanka Country Business Manager Indika De Zoysa, Dulip Gunasekara and ESOFT Metro Campus General Manager Upul Dassanayake 

Sri Lanka needs to implement new programs to properly use ICT in higher education institutions, which can improve quality, widen access and reduce the cost of learning, ESOFT Metro Campus Managing Director Dr. Dayan Rajapakse said.

ESOFT Metro Campus recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intel Sri Lanka to adopt ‘Intel Learn Easy Steps’.

“Technology can strengthen three critical elements of higher education institutions: research, service to the community and teaching,” he noted.

This program addresses the needs of adults and youth around the world who seek to learn basic digital literacy skills. The MoU was signed by ESOFT Metro Campus Managing Director Dr. Dayan Rajapakse and Intel Sri Lanka Country Business Manager Indika De Zoysa, in the presence of several ESOFT Metro Campus and Intel Sri Lanka officials. 

While commending the great work done by Intel Sri Lanka to develop education in the country through technology, Dr. Rajapakse said: “This is a platform that we can take to the grassroots level to promote interest of, and use of ICT and we will be promoting this extensively via our branch network to further enhance ICT literacy among our youth.”

Intel Sri Lanka Country Business Manager Indika De Zoysa said: “The integration of ICT in higher education is imperative. Sri Lankan higher education institutes need to move to integrate new technologies into their curriculums and educational programs and the partnership with ESOFT Metro Campus through Intel Learn will help us to educate students and academia and work towards that goal.”

Under this MoU, Intel and ESOFT Metro Campus will create a platform to implement Intel Learn Easy Steps as a primary instruction module for fundamental technology education at the ESOFT Metro Campus branch network, to accelerate access and effective use of technology to increase and improve opportunities for education. 

Intel will provide a no-fee license to use and replicate Intel Learn materials, access to the Intel Education Help Guide, services of a senior trainer to conduct a ‘Train-the-Trainer’ program and no-fee license to use and replicate Intel Entrepreneurship Basics materials.

ESOFT Metro Campus will be using this as a primary instruction module for fundamental technology education at its branch network.

The Intel Learn Easy Steps program is currently deployed in more than 20 countries. Its simple instructional approach teaches basic computer literacy, which is a key 21st Century skill, enabling enhanced social and economic self-sufficiency. 

Intel Learn Easy Steps content is simple, practical and relevant, and is based on adult learning research. Participants acquire basic computer skills that are locally relevant and support multiple hardware and software solutions. Intel provides the content free of charge to governments and NGOs who manage local implementation.