Sarvodaya-Fusion Education Academy launched

CISCO Networks Academy Social Innovation Group Program Manager for Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan Kalhari Kaluarachchi exchanging the MoU with Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya General Secretary Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne. Sarvodaya-Fusion Chairman Madu Ratnayake,  Sarvodaya-Fusion General Manager Isura Silva and Sarvodaya-Fusion Deputy General Manager Maithree Malwattegoda are also present

Microsoft Sri Lanka Senior Education Program Manager Yashinka Jayasinghe Alles exchanging the MoU with Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya General Secretary Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne. Microsoft Sri Lanka Community Affairs Manager Janakie Karunarathne , Sarvodaya-Fusion Chariman Madu Rathnayake Sarvodaya-Fusion General Manager Isura Silva and Sarvodaya-Fusion Deputy General Manager Maithree Malwattegoda are also present

By Sarah Hannan

“There is a $ 350 billion demand for ICT-related services in the world. To cater to this demand it is important that we share the ICT knowledge with the rural youth, creating prospective candidates to join the country’s workforce,” Sarvodaya-Fusion Chairman Madu Ratnayake stated at the launch of Fusion Education Academy recently.

Microsoft IT Academy and CISCO Networking Academy announced their strategic partnership with Sarvodaya-Fusion and exchanged MoUs at the occasion. This joint collaboration will enable the youth across the country to access world class technology and know-hows in order to broaden their opportunities in the knowledge economy.

Elaborating on Sarvodaya’s efforts in reaching out to the rural youth in ICT education, General Secretary Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne noted: “Sarvodaya-Fusion took up the challenge in 1996 to reach out to the rural youth and educate them on ICT. Through the launch of this academy we will upgrade our facilities and equip the training centres with the latest technology and have a better training module in place.”

Fusion-Education Academy aims to increase the ICT literacy rate among rural youth. A curriculum developed under the guidelines of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and a national examination supported by a resource pool from the University of Moratuwa will be delivered through a network of 75 IT centres. These centres are managed by qualified social entrepreneurs spread across 22 districts; enabling students to access high quality learning within their own communities.