Tech One Sanje establishes another solid ground for digital transformation by empowering the educational sector in partnership with VTA and Microsoft’s Imagine Academy

Colombo, 19th May 2017 — Sanje Private Limited in partnership with Vocational Training Authority initiated an agreement to take advantage of the first waves of digital transformation with Microsoft’s Imagine Academy. The partnership’s goal is to launch a long-term commitment to deliver an enhanced digital learning environment to VTA and its students.  The Vocational Training Authority implemented the Imagine Academy for three centers around the nation in Colombo, Galle, and Kandy. The next step of this project has already been planned: to extend the Imagine Academy to centers in Ampara and Jaffna toward the end of this year
The Imagine Academy Program offers quality education training resources on Microsoft technologies to help the institutions’ educators, faculty, and staff to empower students for them to obtain the skills needed to reach their full academic and career potential.
The program enables institutions to offer quality technology curricula to help its students acquire skills on current Microsoft technologies. It provides rich online learning resources to its students and educators and it also ensure its students graduate with the Microsoft technology expertise required to be successful in today’s job market. Imagine Academy also aims to prepare its students and educators to earn Microsoft Certification credentials and provide professional development opportunities for its educators.
The Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA) was established on 16th August 1995 under the provisions of the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka Act No.12 of 1995. The VTA was made with the intent of training people for employment on the Manpower Division — the training arm of the Labor Department. It runs the technical and vocational training programs in many parts of Sri Lanka, which was converted to the newly constituted VTA making vocational training more accessible to rural youth and depressed segments of the country.
Sanje has been an active partner throughout the process to provide the best learning experience for the students and the staff at the VTA Authority while setting an example and making history to change the learning environment for the students in Sri Lanka.
The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) plays a big role in educating IT Institutes. In fact, by the invitation from VTA, FITIS is reviewing the syllabus of the ICT Courses conducted by VTA to increase the employability of students who are trained through the VTA.  The Microsoft Certification is one such recommendation made by FITIS.
VTA is proud to be a pioneer in taking the first steps to drive digital transformation throughout government institutes in Sri Lanka. It will continue to provide the best learning experiences for the students and teachers around the nation. Sanje believes that it’s their mission to inspire, motivate, and empower the students around the world and empower the future generations to be innovative and be creative.
A few quotes from the event:
 
“Our focus has been to ensure that students who go through the VTA programs find immediate employability through a staged approach which would see students start working part-time while undergoing the VTA programs and then later moving onto ICT companies for internships. We believe that through the realignment of course content and proper guidance from the industry, the 7000 plus students who follow the VTA programs each year can be channeled to meet shortfall in Human Resources at KPO / BPO, Software Solutions and Services Companies.
Prasad Hettiarachchi – Vice President FITIS Software Chapter
 
“Todays is a historical and important date for VTA. The reason is that even though there are hundreds of ICT training institutes around the country only few are fully recognized in the international market. Microsoft Professional Certification is one of the leading recognized qualification required by the ICT industry not only in national level but also in international level.
We are proud to state that from today onwards VTA trainees will have the opportunity to get that internationally recognized qualification which will be awarded by the Microsoft. Further we are happy to state that VTA has become only training institute which awards such an internationally recognized professional qualification in Tertiary and vocational Education Training (TVET) sector.”
Major General (Retd.) Gamini Hettiarachchi – VTA Chairman
 
“Our partnership with Sanje (Pvt) Ltd and Vocational Training Authority for the Microsoft Imagine Academy Program and certification will enhance the ability of Sri Lanka’s public institutions of higher learning to produce a knowledge workforce ready for the innovation economy”
Ms. Yashinka Jayasinghe – Education Lead, Microsoft Sri Lanka
 
“We have been pioneering digital transformation in the Asia Pacific region for over a decade and our skills and expertise in Microsoft solutions has been a key factor in digitally transforming VTA by implementing Microsoft Office 365 and deploying Microsoft Imagine academy has led to bring educational impact that is necessary for future generations.”
Mr. Daminda Fonseka – CFO, Sanje (Pvt) Ltd.