The University of Kelaniya has always been committed towards its task of producing well-rounded graduates capable of contributing towards a positive change in society with their knowledge cum skills. In achieving this objective, guidance needs to be of vital importance.
In this regard the role played by the Career Guidance Unit of the University of Kelaniya is critical in determining its success. The University of Kelaniya is fortunate enough to have an extremely active Career Guidance Unit, dedicated to serve this purpose to its students.
There is no better evidence to prove this fact than the Career Fair organized by the Career Guidance Unit of the University of Kelaniya.
In 2007, this event first came into existence as the brainchild of the Career Guidance Unit in collaboration with a few students. The event proved to be an instant success with more than three hundred undergraduates along with thirty corporations including some of the industry heavy weights such as MAS Holdings, CTC & many more.
Interviews were conducted on the day of the career fair by companies, who were given the choice of either filtering applicants themselves prior to the event date or conducting walk in interviews.
Following the enthusiastic feedback provided by both; the companies & the participants, the event was conducted for a second consecutive year in 2008, only to exceed its previous success by leaps & bounds. This was an event which saw the participation of more than eighty companies & over four hundred graduates. It was after the 2008 Career Fair that the Career Guidance Unit of the university made a conscious decision to make this event an annual saga, owing to its increasing popularity & success.
Since then, it has been a continuous forward march with absolutely no looking back. From 2008 onwards, the Career Guidance unit of the University of Kelaniya has hosted two Career Fairs, both of which have turned out to be fruitful.
Today, it has become the trade mark of the Career Guidance Unit in the University with the Career Fair being given the status of an annual mega festival held in the university.
The speciality in this year’s event is that the committee was able to put up a show even better with its splendour and magnificence within such a short period of five weeks.
Preparations for the event commenced with a lineup of 7 teams comprising of Interview Panel Raising, Sponsorship Raising, Media, Workshops, CV Sorting and Database Management, Marketing and Promotions & Logistics.
Workshops organized by the Career Fair Work shop committee, worth a special mention in this write up, as this is a feature unique to the University of Kelaniya Career Fair. Under this, a total of four workshops were held in follow up to the final day. These workshops were conducted by industry professionals such as Mr.Neminda Karunarathne ( HR Singer Sri Lanka ), Mr. Angelo De Silva ( Managing Director at Technics Intermedia (Pvt) Ltd ), Mr.Kumar Galhenage (HRM, Fairway Holdings (Pvt) Ltd ) & Mr.Nuwan Samarapathi (Renowned Corporate and Personality Development Trainer & Founding Director and Master Trainer of ProMinds (Pvt) Ltd)
As mentioned earlier, student involvement in organizing this event was commendable , with more than thirty students from different departments covering all four faculties worked under the leadership of Maneesha Jayasuriya & Yashika Dissanayake whom were the Co-Chairpersons of Inspiring the Next -Career Fair 2011. Every student who played a role in organizing this event, have given a positive feedback about the experience they gained from the entire event.
Just after a week’s time when looking back at the event,it was a mammoth task, more or less deemed to be quite a challenging one more than those prior year’s projects as for the given time line of 5 weeks.But the committee’s dedication, hard work, determination & the proper guidance and support extended by the Director Career Guidance Unit Dr.M.P.Deeyamulla has finally enabled the putting up of the show with so much of elegance.
The opening ceremony was graced by Mr.Ravi Jayawardena ( CEO - Sales and Marketing : House of Maliban ) with a spectacular speech delivered to boost up the pro minds of young budding professionals- .
Inspiring the Next - Career Fair 2011 Organizing Committee extend their heartiest appreciation and well wishes for all participated organizations & their representatives , Wijeya Newspapers Limited for being their continuous print media partner since 2008 and also a special word of thanks is extended to Ms.Umadevi Jayarathne from Swedish Trading Audio Visual Private Limited being the event coordinator . Before depart “The greatest oak was once a little nut which held its ground - It’s just a single thought of courage ,a proper plan of work and task driven team you need, the rest will do wonders !!! |
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