Another success story of IIT from Jaffna

An Associate Software Architect at Virtusa, Nishakaran Mills, successful alumni of IIT aspires to initiate and head an organization which would be able to offer cost effective software systems that would offer benefits to the public sector functions.

A young individual with diverse talents, Nishakaran saw Information Technology as the stepping stone to a wide world of opportunity. Not only did he perceive the IT Industry to be a challenging one but also one that was fundamental to many other industries and therefore offered a wide choice in terms of career opportunities. As a medium of sharing information and innovative ideas that transcends global barriers; IT is an all pervasive force which helps increase the availability of information for everyone, this provides unprecedented opportunities to many. Having ascertained an area of study career, Nishakaran next gave thought as to which educational institution he would choose to further his education at. Not being content to follow a path simply due to peer pressure, he was greatly influenced by what the Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) had to offer. A fundamental difference he witnessed between IIT and other institutes was that IIT offered a well thought out programme structure and curriculum that included not only an extensive understanding of the theoretical subject matter but also the wide practical application of each subject. “The consistency of student placements following the degree courses and the impressive count of IIT alumni holding top positions in industry and leading organizations swung the balance very firmly towards choosing IIT to gain my qualification” said Nishakaran. Having begun studies at IIT, Nishakaran was quick to realize that the Institute truly lived up to its reputation. The course structure was exceedingly time specific and allocated a set time for completion of the various projects and assessments. This strict adherence helped discipline the students and prepare them for the work environment they would be exposed to following their qualification. The examinations placed an importance on the practical application of the subjects and not merely the theory involved, which geared students for situations they would face in the professional working environment. Although the course of study may have appeared daunting, students were never left to flounder. The lecturers afforded individual time for each student and helped them in their studies; their guidance as well as their experience in the industry gave valuable insights into the practical applications of many of the concepts that were being taught. The well equipped library contained every study aid that was needed. The other staff at IIT too was able to motivate and offer exam tips to the students. The Student Union at IIT also made sure that experience though educational was also a memorable experience by organizing various extra-curricular activities and events which the students could take part in. This included sports days, formals, commemorations of religious festivals, tournaments and talent shows. The student body participated in these events whole heartedly. At no point was any student left to feel uncertain or lost. Extracurricular activities, soft skill development, team work were all designed to bring students together and inculcate valuable qualities needed in the work place from early on. The placement year in the third year was therefore an intricate part of this process. Students were able to gain practical knowledge and witness their study courses come alive in real day to day work environments. Nishakaran himself interned at Virtusa and was able to obtain valuable knowledge that helped him in his final year studies as well as his final year project. Nishakaran’s final research project was to create a framework which would take a melody of a single line and harmonize it in multiple musical parts, taking into consideration such aspects as rhythm, style and harmony, much as a human composer would. It was a unique endeavor and the guidance he received helped him not only to achieve a successful outcome but the project was also awarded an honorary mention at the Cutting Edge Exhibition hosted by IIT. His natural born instincts, further honed at IIT; to think out of the box, think of the bigger picture and work tirelessly towards achieving his goals, would no doubt see Nishakaran achieving success in his endeavors in the future. Web: www.iit. ac.lk hotline: 0722 72 72 72