“It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education.”
~ Nelson Mandela ~
Aligning with the IEEE Education Week Global Initiative, IEEE Education Week Sri Lanka 2023 was organized as a two-day celebration, highlighting the educational opportunities, programs and resources provided by IEEE. IEEE Education Week Sri Lanka 2023 was developed in collaboration with IEEE SLInspire, IEEE Techverse Sri Lanka, IEEE SL Students Activities Committee, IEEE Young Professionals Sri Lanka, IEEE WIE Sri Lanka Section, IEEE SL Section SIGHT and IEEE Computer Society Sri Lanka Chapter. Considering that the 2nd to 8th of April 2023 was recognized as the IEEE Education Week globally for this year, the Sri Lankan counterpart of the global phenomenon was conducted on 3rd and 4th of April 2023 at TRACE Expert City, Sri Lanka.
The two-day event harnessed an unexpected amount of participation including Students, Professionals, Educators, and Industry Experts for its exceptional line-up of programs including interactive Techtalks, Skill Development workshops, IEEE Awareness and Industry visits. Both days featured the STEM Expo, an exhibition offering attendees an opportunity to gain practical experience in their areas of interest. The stalls at STEM Expo covered various aspects such as Technology, Higher Education, School/University projects and IEEE Awareness.
The Day 01 of the event themed “Beyond the Classroom” was composed of Career Compass sessions powered by IEEE SLInspire. The Career Compass program consisted of a series of career guidance sessions aimed at inspiring and encouraging students to pursue education in a wide variety of fields. The Career Compass program was notably sought-after by students due to the insights it offered into the various fields of study and professional opportunities. One of the key highlights of the event was the launch of the Career Compass Website offering a comprehensive guide aimed at assisting the Sri Lankan community in selecting appropriate higher educational pathways.
During the program, the participants received a handbook interpretation of the website as well. The website features information on universities and courses, scholarships, career opportunities, and personal development among other valuable insights. This website is a crucial tool for Sri Lankan students seeking guidance in selecting a career path that aligns with their interests and aspirations.
The Day 02 featured the Techverse Forum with exclusive speaker sessions and panel discussions under the theme of “Navigating Tech Renaissance for Industrial Balance & Resilience”. The Techverse Forum sessions addressed topics as Artificial Intelligence, the Entertainment Industry and Personal Branding. The panel discussion on the theme of “Reimagining Sri Lanka’s Future – Harnessing Technological Innovations for Sustainable Economic Recovery and Resilience” was another highlight of the event, providing a platform for industry experts to discuss the potential for technological innovation to drive sustainable economic recovery and resilience in Sri Lanka.
The event demonstrated the significance of STEM education and the potential for technological innovation to drive sustainable economic recovery and resilience in Sri Lanka, meanwhile empowering the attendees to learn and enhance their skills. Along with that, the attendees were able to recognize the gravity of lifelong learning and the role of technology in shaping the future of our society. As for the IEEE volunteers, they were able to gain exposure to a wider network and develop their skills through volunteering for a large-scale event, building leadership skills and developing the ability to work collaboratively as a team towards a common goal.
In conclusion, IEEE Education Week Sri Lanka 2023 was a resounding success in promoting education and advancing technology and highlighting the role of IEEE in it. In addition to that, the event showcased the importance of collaboration and partnership in order to add meaningful value to the Sri lankan community. We look forward to organizing more of such empowering events which would promote education and innovation for a better future for all.
