The National Higher Education and Careers Exposition will be held for the fourth consecutive time at the BMICH from January 19 -21, 2007 and at Queens Hotel, Kandy on January 23 – 24, 2007.
With a vision to empower Sri Lankan youth to be globally competitive, EDEX offers the ideal platform with the most diverse options, opportunities and freedom within which both students and service providers alike can achieve this objective.
Speaking on the significance of having this event, Kamal Abeysinghe, Project Chairman, EDEX said, “Only 17,000 students gain acceptance to local universities. The rest will have to look for higher education opportunities, vocational training opportunities or they have to find employment. To find employment, one has to have certain skills and aptitude’s required among those who provide employment. The changes have become so rapid in terms of competition the employers face; they too need to adapt to meet such changes. The standards of human resources they get are not compatible with and are not geared to meet that type of a rapid change. That was the background in which we thought of apprising the job seekers as well as those who seek opportunities in higher education.” The exposition will have a variety of service providers with professional educational institutions, government institution, local and private university affiliates, corporate establishments, and off shore recruitment companies participating.
There will be a seminar programme offering short lecture e -sions on topics ranging from preparing a CV, facing an interviews and career aptitudes as well as industry focused sessions which “ill present the new opportunities available in the hospitality industry, IT, commercial shipping, etc. The highlight of the entire seminar programme will be the CEO’s forum entitled ‘How to empower Sri Lankan youth to be globally competitive.’
“We want to take away the focus of youngsters and parents on traditional careers. We have invited Sri Lankans who have attained international recognition in areas such as business, professional sports, the music industry and the culinary industry, to give their insights on what they think would be the changes that the system should provide,” he said.
“‘We will also have two renowned CEO’ ,, ho will bring the required expertise to come up with a comprehensive paper – a summary of what wa discussed and present it to the relevant policy makers,” he added. The CEO’s forum promises to be an interactive session, with the audience consisting of the relevant authorities from the line ministries, entities such as the Chamber of Commerce, principals of schools and other likeminded individuals as well as senior high school students. ®
