SLIIT summer top-up students share experiences at SHU - UK
SLIIT students who followed the summer top up program for the completion of the degree at the institutes long-standing partner Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) - UK recently shared their experience during their time at the prestigious university in the UK. Another fourteen SLIIT students were also recently transferred to SHU to complete the final semester of their degrees in Information Technology and Business Administration.
SLIIT and Sheffield Hallam University have been in formal partnership for many years, and this collaboration allows students opportunities to continue their studies at SHU during the summer period for the semester top up programs in their area of study viz. Information Technology, Business Management and Electronic Engineering. SHU degree programs are also offered at SLIIT through this partnership in the fields of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Management, BSc. (Eng) in Electronic Engineering, Msc. Enterprise Applications Development, and Msc. in Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering thereby allowing students the opportunity to complete these degrees in Sri Lanka and gain world class UK Bachelors and Masters degrees.
SHU has been ranked as the number one university in the UK for teaching quality and student learning experience. The university is considered one of the most progressive and internationally recognized universities, possessing strong academic and industry links to provide students with optimum benefits to enhance their career prospects. SHU’s long-standing collaboration with SLIIT marks a high point in the arena of education in Sri Lanka, acting as a catalyst towards developing this sector and pro- viding multiple academic pathways for students in strategic areas of study.
Speaking of her experiences pursuing a degree in Software Engineering at SHU and living in the UK, Hasini Gamage says, “the knowledge I have gained from this course has enabled me to engage in my tasks easily and confidently. Studying Software Engineering has helped me immensely in my current job as an IT professional. I work in a global media company which involves e-marketing and brand awareness across a plethora of media platforms such as website and smart phone application development. Therefore, my manager highly valued the real client experience I gained in the projects I completed during my undergraduate years at SLIIT and SHU. The time at Sheffield Hallam University never slips my mind due to the fact that, although I was an international student, I was given the fullest support by the lecturers in my studies and in every other area”. Hasini is currently employed as an administrator and researcher at a leading global multimedia company located in the heart of London.
“SHU has a mixed culture and there are a significant number of Sri Lankans studying at the university, so we easily integrated into the academic curriculum and university life” enthuses Shanaka Gunasekara, who completed his Msc. in Games Software Development.
Sampath Gunarathne, who pursued a BSc. (Hons) in Information Technology recounts that his experiences at SHU prepared him well to deal with his career aspirations. “To me the most valuable thing was the very approachable and friendly staff who assisted me to improve my understanding of technical matters. The IT infrastructure and library systems are very impressive”. On graduation Sampath was hired as a Web Applications Developer for a leading company in London. “It is gratifying that so many of our students perform exceptionally well at SHU” states Professor S. Karunaratne, Chairman of SLIIT. “Our long-standing collaboration acts as a stepping stone for students’ academic journey. The summer top up program allows them to be involved in a number of projects, immersing students in real world working environments and exposing them to the challenges and dynamics of the business landscape”.
“SLIIT students also gain exposure to new academic ventures offered by such collaborations as with SLIIT and SHU” explains Professor Lalith Gamage, President and CEO of SLIIT. “The experience gained from such opportunities will no doubt give students an edge in their careers, enabling them to leverage the knowledge acquired to benefit relevant industries”.