17 Nov, 2015
John Keells Soft Skills workshop was conducted for the Fifteenth successive time in a Sri Lankan University. Organised in collaboration with the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) of the Uva Wellassa University on the 17th and 18th of November 2015, more than 350 undergraduates were in attendance each day. Gayani Hemachandra, a student of the Faculty of Management said, “The workshop was a great opportunity to learn from expert business leaders. Their advice has laid the foundation for us to achieve our university’s vision of becoming the centre of excellence. I feel privileged to have been a part of this workshop and would like to express my gratitude to John Keells Foundation for organizing this event.”
The programme, aptly named- “The Final Step”- aims to enhance the employability of local graduates by preparing them for the demands of the private sector and giving them the knowledge to succeed in obtaining and maintaining a job in a competitive labour market. The 2 day programme consisted of a series of workshops which covered a wide range of topics including `Employer Expectations’, `Team Building and Leadership Skills’, `Adapting to the Corporate Environment’, `Personality Development and Confidence Building’, `Personal Grooming’ and `Corporate Hospitality’.
“As Sri Lanka’s largest listed conglomerate, we have a deep commitment to development- both social and economic. We are very committed to empowering our children and youth especially through education. Soft Skills help you find and keep a job, today we will be focusing on important personal qualities including initiative, curiosity, ethics, values, teamwork and motivation to name a few. I truly hope that these workshops will help you acquire a thirst for learning and developing your soft skills further” said Ms. Carmeline Jayasuriya, Head of Operations John Keells Foundation addressing the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G. Chandrasena, Vice Chancellor, Uva Wellassa University noted “Uva Wellassa University prides itself on being the knowledge centre for value addition in Sri Lanka. These workshops organised by John Keells Foundation are certainly in line with our strategic path for realising this vision. This is a valuable opportunity for you to make your career a success. Though your knowledge and skills are important to find employment, it is your soft skills that truly add value and make you stand out in the work force.”
The sessions on ‘Employer Expectations’ and ‘Team Building & Leadership Skills’ were conducted in the form of panel discussions involving senior management personnel representing diverse backgrounds and years of experience. The panel comprised Mr. Samantha Ranatunga, Managing Director/CEO, CIC Holdings PLC, Ms. Nisansala Paranayapa, Head of HR, Ceylon Cold Stores PLC, Dr. Muditha Senarath- Yapa, Head of Research, John Keells Group PLC, Mr. Jayamal Dias, Head of Sales, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts- City Sector and Mr. Rohan Amirthiah Director, Wurth Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. as the Chair/Moderator of the Panel.