The career landscape is always expanding and changing in today’s rapidly changing world. With the main aim of guiding aspiring professionals to navigate through the numerous options available, StudPro 6.0 organized a novel webinar on “Career Pathways”. This informative and enlightening session was held on 27th of July via the Zoom online platform. The session was carefully designed to provide participants with a thorough understanding of many job roles that are available in the engineering and computing industries. The webinar equipped its participants with knowledge required to pursue their careers in fields like software engineering, quality assurance engineering, electrical engineering, site reliability engineering and more. During the webinar, participants were given the opportunity to join either the Computing session or the Engineering session according to their field of interest. The workshop highlighted the diverse possibilities available within these sectors while featuring well-known experts who became a beacon of guidance to their future pathways.
The computing session, one of the main segments of the webinar, was a general session to individuals seeking career opportunities in the field of computing. This session recognized the persuasiveness of software and the crucial influence it has on shaping modern life. Software engineering was spotlighted offering participants an in-depth understanding on its diverse pathways that include designing, development, testing and maintenance. During this session, topics like quality assurance engineering, and an indispensable role in ensuring seamless performance of software systems were explored in detail. The collaboration between developers and quality assurance engineering was covered during the talk emphasizing how this combination improves the quality of software programs. During a survey done by the StudPro team to explore the fields of interest of undergraduates seeking internships and job seekers we were able to find out that the majority of the responses were towards the field of software engineering. Therefore, during this session more attention was given on discussing the employment opportunities for individuals graduating with a degree in software engineering.
While offering a broad overview of opportunities in engineering, the engineering session focused more closely on specific domains such as electrical engineering, electronic engineering, and biomedical engineering. These fields of specialization were thoroughly discussed highlighting the transformative power of technology within engineering. Attendees received illuminating insights into the diverse fields of engineering, and they were able to learn about distinct opportunities and difficulties embedded within each industry. The participants were given the chance to immerse in a deep dive into several engineering standards and numerous ethical practices. This session not only made clear what engineering entails but also illuminated the path to become a seasoned engineer. The attendees were advised on how to gather relevant experience and practical knowledge prior to entering the industry. This invaluable guidance aimed to equip aspiring engineers with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their careers.
The distinguished professionals who shared their insights, wisdom and invaluable experiences with the eager participants were essential to the webinar’s success. Mr. Selvaratnam Uthaiyashankar, SVP Engineering at WSO2 graced the virtual stage sharing about his remarkable journey which covered topics such as web services, security, and cloud-native architecture. This provided the participants with an idea of the variety of paths they can take when seeking a career in technology. Accompanying Mr. Uthaiyashankar was Mr. Harshan Nishantha, a Lead Consultant in Technology at Virtusa. His expertise in Microsoft technologies comes from his 13 years of experience in the software industry. Web APIs and cloud technologies are his fields of expertise. Participants benefited from his breadth of skills learning how software-based development and cloud-based solutions are ever evolving. These experts not only shared about their profound knowledge but also about the difficulties they had faced and the major accomplishments they had achieved. The discussions functioned as sources of motivation to the participants mainly because of the transformative potential of determination, innovation and resilience that lay within their words.
The expert voice in the engineering session was conducted by Mr. Lilantha Samaranayake, a professor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University of Peradeniya. Mr. Samaranayake enlightened the audience on the intricacies of engineering ethics, standards, and procedures. His stories shed light on the enormous duty that engineers must morally and responsibly shape the world of technology. He gave attendees a comprehensive knowledge of what it truly means to be an engineer by bridging the gap between theoretical principles and their real-world applications with practical examples during his discussion. Mr. Samaranayake’s views struck a chord with individuals desiring to establish a name for themselves in the electrical and electronic engineering field. From the tedious details involved in building electronic circuits to exploring the intricacies of electrical power distribution, his stories and experiences served as a guiding light for the enthusiastic participants.
The StudPro 6.0 webinar on “Career Pathways” emerged as a compass for aspirants in engineering and computing in the vast landscape of job options. The carefully and meticulously planned dual session format established a balance between inclusivity and specificity for a diverse audience. Expert opinions from the industrial and academic worlds enhanced the conversations with perspectives that spanned from theory to practical applications. While the webinar’s goal was to provide guidance to all participants, a subtle focus was placed on the highlighted fields to acknowledge their distinctive impact and potential. The computing session examined the dynamic and constantly increasing field of digital innovation whereas the engineering session demonstrated the fusion of physical and technological marvels. The event’s participants left the online platform with a thorough understanding of the complex world that awaits them, one that is brimming with opportunities for personal development and impact. The event’s resonance of shared knowledge and inspired aspirations lingered as the Questions and Answers (Q&A) segment brought the event to a close. “Career Pathways” represents the collective effort to guide the next generation of professionals as they set out on journeys that meld technology, innovation, and passion into transformative careers.