A great edutainment opportunity for post-O/Ls and A/Ls

GCE ( O/ L) is over. GCE ( A/ L) results too are out. This twin effect makes a large number of students currently focusing on their future opportunities and careers. And, in a highly competitive environment, they look more for new avenues rather than treading the same old path of traditional education streams. The new breed of young brains continuously and frequently look for creative challenges that would mold them to be the future leaders in the twenty first century.

DESIGN FESTIVAL

NIBM- Limkokwing National Innovation Centre, the brave new player in the market of creative technology education is already setting up present industry standards. NIC present the DESIGN FESTIVAL exactly to cater the requirements of both group of the students – those who have completed their O/Ls and A/Ls.

The DESIGN FEST – a novel concept is an opportunity for all Sri Lankan students to learn more about creative technology education opportunities with international flavor but available locally. Integrated with right kind of entertainment to stimulate young brains looking for chal- lenge, it would be the ideal opportunity both for students waiting for their O/ L results and those who seek alternative paths after A/Ls.

NIC DESIGN FEST will offer educational workshops in three different streams – Media, Sound and Music technology and Fashion Design. All these workshops are aligned with Degree, Diploma and Foundation level educational programs offered by the NIBM- Limkokwing National Innovation Centre. In these workshops Industry specialists from the areas of media, sound and music technology and fashion design will interact with students and parents not just instructing them about the higher education opportunities but also presenting them the latest industry trends. All these in the backdrop of having enough entertainment.

Music Day with Sanuka Wickramasinghe

The climax of NIC DESIGN FEST will be on Jan 20, 2018 – a musical show that presents popular singer Sanuka Wi c k r a m a s i n g h e of ‘ Perawadanak’, ‘ Sansara Sihine’ and ‘Saragaye’ fame and Charitha Attalage, a young music composer who is in the process of trans- forming the Sri Lankan music industry combining music with technology. There will also be workshops available for Sound and Music students to learn about the industry trends and educational opportunities – especially about the Sound and Music Technology Professional Diploma of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology currently offered by NIBM- Limkokwing National Innovation Centre. Ravi Jay will conduct a workshop on motion graphics on the same day. Tickets for these workshops will be freely issued to students who get enrolled for the Sound and Music Technology Professional Diploma course.

Media and Fashion days

On the Media Day on January 19, a workshop on Media Management will be conducted by Asoka Dias, Director Stations Sirasa TV and Charitha Attalage will speak about the new developments in Sound and Music Technology. These workshops are intended for students who wish to follow Bachelor of Arts ( Hons) degrees on Broadcasting & Journalism and Digital Film & Television.

The Fashion Day will incorporate a Fashion Exhibition featur- ing the latest industry trends and commercial products show too will be available. These are accompanied by a workshop conducted by Ajay Singh of Colombo Fashion Week fame. Ajai with his experience in fashion industry for more than 15 years has unfolded his vision into a carefully crafted plan to revive and to enhance the fashion design industry of Sri Lanka. He has used the challenges and constraints of an underdeveloped fashion environment into opportunities that has served the industry well. The designer mentorship programs, the retail presentations and Ethical Fashion day are just some of the initiatives, which are used to differentiate Sri Lankan fashion designers. This workshop is aimed at giving an industry insight to students who intend to follow the popular Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Fashion Design offered by National Innovation Centre.

National Innovation Centre

The NIBM- Limko k w i n g National Innovation Centre (NIC) is NIBM’s unique contribution to the nation in its Golden Jubilee year. NIBM joined hands with Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Malaysia to establish this first such venture for creative technologies to be established in Sri Lanka. It is established as a part of the Sri Lankan government’s continuous efforts to propel Sri Lanka into a twenty first century digital nation.

National Innovation Centre was ceremonially inaugurated by His Excellency President Maithripala Sirisena on October 20, 2017 on the invitation of Hon. Chandima Weerakkody, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training and Hon. Karunaratne Paranawithana, Deputy Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training. Speaking at the event the minister highlighted the role NIC should play in creating more employment opportunities for the nation.

As a game- changer in Sri Lanka’s creative institution sector, NIC presents a range of programs from Multimedia, Fashion, Design, Interior Architecture, Communication, Journalism, Sound and Music and Information Technology, which will empower a new generation of graduates who will lead the creative industries.

The direct beneficiaries of this venture are the young men and women of Sri Lanka who want to be trained to meet the international standards but simultane- ously at an affordable cost locally. In addition, this initiative will also provide entrepreneurial skills for youth to start and run their own businesses. It aims to create a large number of job opportunities within a short period of time such as Graphic Designers, Interior Designers, Fashion Designers, Writers/ Authors, Artists, Art Directors, Multimedia Artists, Media E d i t o r s, Photographers, Commercial/Industrial Designers, Multimedia Engineers, Film Directors, Journalists and Creative IT professionals.

NIC DESIGN FEST will be held from Friday January 19, 2018 to Sunday January 21, 2018 at NIBM- Limkokwing National Innovation Centre premises, No. 24, Edmonton Road ( Baseline Road), Colombo 5 ( next to HNB Kirulapone Branch). All students who have completed their GCE ( O/ L) and GCE( A/ L) examinations are warmly welcome to attend the free musical event and career guidance workshops. More information about the NIC Fashion week is available at NIBM Facebook page https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / OfficialNIBM and through phone lines 011- 5650666 and 0112515212/ 3.