Huawei opens ICT Academy Innovation Lab at UoM

From left: Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera, University of Moratuwa Vice Chancellor Prof. N.D. Gunawardena and Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Liang Yi open Huawei ICT Academy Innovation Lab at University of Moratuwa

As the information communication technology (ICT) industry transforms, in an effort to make progress in the new era treating talent as the industry’s most important resource, Huawei Sri Lanka recently opened the Huawei ICT Academy Innovation Lab in collaboration with the University of Moratuwa (UoM). 

The official opening ceremony of the Huawei ICT Academy Innovation Lab was held at the UoM with the participation of Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera, UoM Vice Chancellor Prof. N.D. Gunawardena, Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Liang Yi, with other UoM and Huawei officials. 

This will be the largest Huawei ICT Academy and Innovation Lab in the country, themed on ‘Cultivating a Talent Ecosystem for Digitally Inclusive Sri Lanka’, contributing to digital ecosystem and digital transformation, as digital talent cultivation has become a key for unleashing social energy and hope. 

The aim of the Huawei ICT Academy Innovation Lab is to train individuals in real environment using Huawei equipment to acquire high-level Huawei Certifications, support university research programmes providing the cutting-edge technology and platforms and inspire innovations by conducting industry and university collaborative projects and research. 

Speaking at the event, Prof. Perera said, “Education and talent development is a universal need. So our government has prioritised and envisions to build a technology-based society and to achieve the same, ICT and digital talent with global recognition and internationally acclaimed qualifications is a must. Therefore, I believe this initiative of UoM and Huawei will immensely support Sri Lanka’s vision of becoming a smart nation.”

“We being the leading technological university of Sri Lanka, UoM has educated talented youth from diverse backgrounds and transformed them to high-quality professionals, academics and leaders over the years. Part of our vision is to steer the university to be responsive and adaptive in making Sri Lanka a knowledge-based economy. This Huawei ICT Academy Innovation Lab will go beyond knowledge generation to apply knowledge and skills to build future talent required to meet ICT talent demand and we are indeed glad to have Huawei contributing to establish this academy that will largely bridge the digital talent in the country,” Prof. Gunawardena said. 

“With this initiative we are extending our ICT talent cultivation initiative to a larger scale, titled Huawei ICT Academy Innovation Lab. We are focusing on key three domains: public awareness, ICT vocational training and joint innovation with Sri Lankan universities, to enhance knowledge transfer, promote a greater understanding and interest in the telecommunications sector, also to improve and encourage regional building and participation in the digital community,” Yi said.