SLASSCOM launches industry career initiative ‘FutureCareers’ at EDEX

The Sri Lankan IT and BPO industry is projected to grow by 26% in 2011 with export earnings estimated at US$ 390 million for 2010. 

Sri Lanka has set a target of US$ 1 billion revenue with employment of 100,000 by 2015 in the IT/ BPO industry. One of the key prerequisite for this growth to be realised is the acceleration of human resource capacity development in the industry.

The SLASSCOM FutureCareers initiative is aimed at expanding the talent pool available to the industry as part of this capacity building program. SLASSCOM Future Careers initiative will focus on connecting Sri Lankan youth to the exciting job opportunities in the knowledge service industry for them to become truly global citizens.

The IT/BPO industry offers exciting work, fun atmosphere, global exposure, fast paced career progression and even an opportunity for one to become an entrepreneur.

At the EDEX expo SLASSCOM will launch a short documentary on the careers in the IT-BPO industry with the endorsement of the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and ICTA.

The FutureCareers documentary will highlight the work opportunities and experience from young people employed within the IT/BPO industry across a wide spectrum of jobs to give potential new entrants to the industry an overview of the opportunities.

Students would have the opportunity to meet with many leading IT-BPO companies at the SLASSCOM Future Careers pavilion. Walk in interviews would be conducted by some of the companies.

Dialog, HSBC, Providence, RRDonnelly, Innodata Isogen, MMBL Cyber Skills, Virtusa, IFS, Hsenid, Mphasis and Infomate will be some of the featured employers for students to discuss career opportunities and even have the possibility to gain employment.

At EDEX, SLASSCOM will educate both students and parents on the wide array of options available in both the IT and BPO sectors, and highlight the skills required that will empower them to enter this industry and increase their earning potential.

Students are invited to visit the SLASSCOM Future Careers pavilion to meet leading IT-BPO companies and how you can become part of this exciting industry. Students can also join online at www.FutureCareers.lk to learn about the industry. SLASSCOM invites the industry professionals to also join at www.FutureCareers.lk to encourage and offer their support and guidance to a new entrant to the industry.

“We aim to leverage the EDEX platform to primarily focus on creating awareness among youth about the benefits of selecting IT or BPO as a career path. Our aspiration is to attract large number of youth to join the fast growing IT-BPO industry in Sri Lanka” Madu Ratnayake, Vice President and Director of SLASSCOM said.

SLASSCOM entered into a strategic partnership with EDEX for the first time for the forthcoming EDEX-2011 Expo and has invited their member companies to participate within the SLASSCOM pavilion.

EDEX is the pioneering higher education and careers exhibition in Sri Lanka organized by Royal College Union attracting the largest and most diverse number of local and overseas participants held annually in Colombo and Kandy. The eighth EDEX expo will be held on 22, 23 and 24 January at BMICH Colombo and on 26 and 27 January at the Kandy City Centre respectively under its theme for 2011, “Be Wise, EDEX-Wise”.

SLASSCOM acts as the catalyst of growth for the Sri Lankan IT and BPO industry by facilitating trade and business, propagation of education and employment, encouragement of research and innovation, and by supporting the creation of a progressive national policy framework. Follow @SLASSCOM on twitter or visit www.slasscom.lk for more information.