Volume 1 Issue 11 Spring 2012 SL2College at MIGA Workshop & Skype Session @ UCSC World Earth Day A second information session via Skype Charitha Ratwatte Jr. conducted a seminar at the was held at the University of Colombo Make It Green Again (MIGA) Workshop under the School of Computing on May 15, 2012. topic of “Using Digital and Social Media to The audience included 17 final-year Address Sustainable Development” on April 22, undergraduate students and seven 2012, at the Royal College Skills Centre. The instructional staff members considering attendees were also educated about SL2College graduate studies. The panel of advisers and its activities. Great PR work by SLEF joining on Skype were Primal Wijesekera members at the event attracted several volunteers (MSc student in Computer Science, to the team. Well done Charitha and Team SLEF! University of British Columbia, Canada), Sujan Udayanga (Ph.D. student in Computer Science and Engineering, Wright State University, USA), and Kasun Perera (Masters Research Scholar, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi). Ravihansa Rajapakse, Temporary Assistant Lecturer at UCSC, organized this event. Viveka Kudaligama moderated the session from USA and Nuwanthika Fernando facilitated the event in Colombo. society. When I heard about the vision and mission of SL2C, I had no doubt that this would be the ideal platform for me to make Meet A Team Member…. a difference,” says Lakmal about his reasons for joining SL2C. When asked about what SL2C could do differently, Lakmal Padmakumara joined SL2College Lakmal shared his belief that we should be at the beginning of this year. He is our concentrating more resources on marketing project manager for the Sri Lanka SL2C towards a wider range of students, Education Forum (SLEF). The focus of his especially those who are not English- team is to educate students in Sri Lanka speakers, since we want them to know that about the services provided by SL2C, and higher education does not have language to promote our organization (by developing barriers. Lakmal also believes that five marketing campaigns and representing years from now, SL2C should be the SL2C at exhibitions, seminars, etc.). official information hub for higher Lakmal studied at Royal College, and then education in Sri Lanka. This is definitely went on to study at the University of achievable since SL2C is already filling a Moratuwa, where he is currently in his crucial gap between students and final year of studies. He heard about SL2C educational opportunities. It’s all about a by visiting us at the EDEX exhibitions and few Sri Lankans helping a few other Sri by talking to one of the administrative Lankans, without expecting anything in members of the team. “I was looking for return! opportunities to make a contribution to Editor Nimna Ranatunga Please visit us on the web at www.sl2college.org Or send us your suggestions & comments at [email protected] Page 2 Volume 1 Issue 11 Spring 2012 The Brain Gain Project creates awareness on Internships in Sri Lanka The Brain Gain project They are now working aims to bring expatriate on creating a portal on US Undergraduate Mentor Sri Lankans home to the SL2College site Program work and serve the which will include a The SL2College mentor program country. With this in variety of information now has a separate subdivision for mind the team leading such as listings of students applying to the US for this project is working internships and full- undergraduate studies. It is led by with large companies in time jobs available with Sabrina Ghouse, an undergraduate Sri Lanka to build a companies in Sri Lanka, student at Harvard University. partnership with their and a forum to post Sabrina has started a Facebook internship programmes, questions and encourage group “Sri Lankans Applying to the which will give foreign group discussions. The United States” as a platform to graduates a taste of portal will also feature publicise the mentor program, corporate life in Sri interviews with recent provide resources regarding the Lanka. The team has returnees sharing their application process, connect with been successful in experiences of working students, and answer their questions. getting approval for in Sri Lanka, challenges Please join the Facebook group listing internships at they faced, cost of living (http://www.facebook.com/groups/sa John Keells Holdings, and many other relevant us0/) and spread the word to high Hayleys and Unilever. information for people school students in Sri Lanka. If you returning to Sri Lanka. would like to become a mentor, email Sabrina at [email protected]. SLEF Team Updates The SLEF team is working on accumulating For Technical Education we received a information on four major pillars in Sri valuable database from “Nipunatha Piyasa”, Lankan higher education: (1) Undergraduate, Ministry of Vocational and Technical (2) Professional, (3) Post-Graduate, and (4) Training, which has information about many Technical Studies. For undergraduate and different technical qualification programmes postgraduate education we have created a list initiated by government institutes island-wide. of available programmes in Sri Lanka, and a The database is posted in the resources list of experts who can provide advice on such section and information on few selected programmes. We are in the process of programmes have been posted in the forum. preparing more articles on postgraduate SLEF team is planning a campaign to reach programmes offered in Sri Lanka. An article out to A-level students to talk to them about on the new MDP programme, offered by the their higher education options. University of Peradeniya, has been posted on the resources section of the website. SL2College @ Future Minds SL 2College participated at Future Minds, a premiere educational exhibition in Sri Lanka, from June 22nd - 24th. We had over 220 registrations and also made important contacts with the University of Kelaniya and University of Sri Jayawardenepura. Editor Continued on page 3 Nimna Ranatunga Please visit us on the web at www.sl2college.org Or send us your suggestions & comments at [email protected] Page 3 Volume 1 Issue 11 Spring 2012 Higher Education Institutes (HEI) Survey/Directory of Undergraduate Degree Programmes in Sri Lanka The HEI Survey conducted by SL2College and LIRNEasia has been completed, and the Directory of Undergraduate Degree Programmes in Sri Lanka is available in print and through our website. Dr. Sujata Gamage and Tilan Wijesooriya from LIRNEasia researched and compiled the data for the directory. Mevan Arosha from SL2College has done a great job in presenting the survey data through a searchable web interface Visit the survey online at that was launched on the 27th of June. http://www.sl2college.org/hei-survey Future Minds from page 2 The SL2College forum was introduced to SL2College Promotion through Nenasalas many people visiting the stall. They used the opportunity to log in and post We have entered into an agreement with ICTA, the questions on the forum while at the stall. single apex body involved in ICT policy and We had a number of volunteers present direction for Sri Lanka, to promote SL2College during all the 3 days of the exhibition. A through its network of 800 Nenasalas (or wisdom big “Thank You!” to all the volunteers! outlets) that are being set up around the country. A pilot project will be held at the Balangoda and Nivithigala Nenasalas, and thereafter the project will be expanded to the entire island, including the North and East. Future Fair University Of Moratuwa On June 13th, SL2College volunteers Editorial team update participated at the “Future Fair” organised by The team has published several interesting the Faculty of IT, University of Moratuwa. articles, ranging from an undergraduate's experience studying Economics at the University of Warwick, UK, to another student’s experience going to medical New Sri Lanka Country Director school at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. We have had a number Effective May 21st, Amila Wijesekera has of people fill out the undergraduate, been appointed as our Sri Lanka Country graduate and medical school surveys Director. Amila is SL2College’s full-time recently. Our editors are working on employee and will be responsible for developing the completed surveys into full overseeing day to day operations. Editor articles. Nimna Ranatunga Please visit us on the web at www.sl2college.org Or send us your suggestions & comments at [email protected] .