APIIT signs MoU with Unilever Sri Lanka to Foster Industry-Academia collaboration
Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) Sri Lanka, one of the leading providers of transnational higher education in Sri Lanka, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies on 27th March 2023,. The signing ceremony was attended by senior representatives from Staffordshire University, UK and Unilever Sri Lanka.
The MoU aims to foster collaboration between APIIT Sri Lanka and Unilever in areas such as knowledge sharing, talent acquisition, and research and development. The partnership will enable APIIT Sri Lanka to leverage Unilever’s expertise and resources in the consumer goods industry and provide students with handson experience and exposure to realworld business challenges.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Hasuli Perera, Head of APIIT Business School, expressed delight in the coming together of two purpose-led organisations to nurture the future workforce. She said that Unilever with its strong emphasis on helping individuals discover their purpose is an ideal corporate partner that could be instrumental in helping APIIT students find passion and purpose in learning.
The HR Director of Unilever Sri Lanka, Ananya Sabharwal, also shared her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that it will enable the organisation to tap into APIIT Sri Lanka’s talent pool and contribute to the development of youth in the country. “We are delighted to partner with APIIT Sri Lanka to nurture young talent of
Generation Z by providing them with valuable industry insights and practical experience, that will enable a smoother transition to the workforce,” she said.
APIIT Sri Lanka conducts undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in Business, Computing, and Law, awarded by Staffordshire University, UK. With a current student population of over 2,000 students and an annual intake exceeding 1000 students,
APIIT Sri Lanka is the largest provider of British degree programmes in Sri Lanka. Over the past 22 years, APIIT has produced more than 4,000 resourceful and enterprising graduates and set a benchmark for quality and standards in private higher education in Sri Lanka.
Unilever Sri Lanka has been named one of Asia’s ‘Best Employer Brands’ in 2022 and is ranked among the top 50 companies for its exceptional Human Resources Management practices. Currently, the organization empowers over 30,000 Sri Lankan youth.
Overall, the MoU signing between APIIT Sri Lanka and Unilever is a significant milestone in the partnership between industry and academia in Sri Lanka with the potential to drive innovation, create new opportunities for students, and contribute to the growth of the Sri Lankan economy.