Over 1,000 graduates conferred degrees at SLIIT Convocation 2014

Thursday, 20 March 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) the largest degree awarding Institute in Sri Lanka has graduated a further 1052 graduands with Bachelors and Masters degrees in Information Technology, Engineering and Business Management. Up until now SLIIT has produced over 8,000 graduates and 16,000 professionals over the last decade, which is an unprecedented achievement. At a colourful Convocation ceremony held at the SLIIT Malabe Campus Auditorium on 27 and 28 February the candidates were conferred their degrees over six sessions graced by eminent personalities. Professor Philip Jones, Vice Chancellor of the Sheffield Hallam University of the United Kingdom and Professor Andris Stelbovics Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Curtin University of Australia delivered the Convocation address at each of the sessions where foreign degrees were awarded. Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama, Chairperson of the University Grants Commission, Professor K.K.Y.W. Perera, Chancellor, University of Moratuwa, and Eng. Shavindranath Fernando, President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) were the Chief Guests for the sessions where SLIIT degrees were conferred. Professor Lalith Gamage, President/CEO of SLIIT presented awards to the graduates and Professor Sam Karunaratne, Chairman/Chancellor of SLIIT conferred the degrees. Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama, the Chairperson University Grants Commission in her address to the gathering said: “We are in a knowledge based era. Knowledge is power, strength and wealth. We need to be competent in our own field of study. I am happy to hear SLIIT graduates performing well in their chosen careers. Also I am extremely happy to note the strong standard of discipline instilled in students at SLIIT. “SLIIT has an internationally reputed and experienced Chairman and a President/CEO who have taken the institution to greater heights. I commend them and I am sure they will take the institution further up by introducing new degree programmes, which the country needs.” President of the Institution of Engineers of Sri Lanka (IESL) Eng. Shavindranath Fernando stated: “SLIIT has filled an important and necessary gap in higher education in the IT sector. SLIIT has truly come of age, branching out into many fields including Engineering.” Fernando also shared valuable life lessons and principles with the graduates. He advised the new graduates to love the work they embark on. Professor K.K.Y.W. Perera, Chancellor of University of Moratuwa in his convocation address said that the SLIIT degrees are locally and globally well recognised due to the continuous and untiring efforts of the Chairman/Chancellor, President/CEO and the academic and non academic staff. “The institute has immensely contributed to economic development of the country,” he further stated. Professor Andris Stelbovics, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Science and Engineering of Curtin University highlighted that ICT is and will continue to be an exciting area for many years to come and demand for good ICT graduates will continue to increase worldwide. “The new graduates have great prospects of practicing their skills in any part of the world and in any field of human endeavour,” Professor Stelbovics said. Professor Philip Jones, Vice Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University addressing the new graduates said: “The degree is a milestone in your life but it’s not the destination. In America graduation is known as commencement. It celebrates the achievement of all the work you have done and it also marks the new beginning as you move forward into the next stage of your life.” Professor Philip Jones highlighted the long-standing relationship between SLIIT and SHU and stated the collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University and SLIIT has borne fruit, with new study courses being introduced in the future. Professor S. Karunaratne, Chairman of SLIIT said: “We are extremely pleased about our students’ achievements, and take pride in their ability to excel on a competitive global platform, both in the classroom and within the work environment. We wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.” “We would like to congratulate our graduates and wish them all the best as they step into the world to explore new horizons,” President and CEO of SLIIT, Professor Lalith Gamage stated. SLIIT’s long-standing global academic partners and Industry partners were among the distinguished guests who attended this grand occasion. Industry sponsors for special awards at the convocation include IFS, Virtusa, EPIC Lanka, BOC, Dialog Axiata, Zone 24x7, and the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL). SLIIT is a degree awarding institute accredited by the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Higher Education for the award of Bachelor’s Degrees in Information Technology, Engineering and Business Administration and M.Sc. Degrees in Information Technology, Information Management and Information Systems. SLIIT is a Member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the International Association of Universities (IAU). SLIIT has the distinction of being the only Higher Educational Institute outside the state university system in Sri Lanka that has gained such recognition. SLIIT which was established initially for the purpose of producing large numbers of graduates in Information Technology has now diversified its educational programs to encompass Engineering, Business Management and Hospitality Management. Over the last decade or so SLIIT has produced nearly half the number of all high level Information Technology professionals in this country amounting to around 24,000 who are gainfully employed and serving the nation.