4 Nov, 2011
The Final Step is a five-day series of soft skills workshops, conducted by John Keells Foundation for the benefit of undergraduates of Sri Lankan universities. This year’s programme was held at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura from 31st October to 4th November 2011 in collaboration with the Career Guidance Unit (CGU) of at the University.
Conducted for the sixth year, the main objective of this programme was to enhance the employability of local graduates by changing their perspectives of employment in Sri Lanka and increasing their awareness of what the private sector expects of them.
The programme involves panel discussions by leading personalities drawn largely from the private sector as well as interactive workshops by professional trainers. A wide range of topics such as Employer Expectations, Team Building and Leadership Skills, Adapting to the Corporate Environment, Personality Development and Confidence Building, Personal Grooming and Corporate Hospitality, was covered through the workshops.
The eminent presenters at the workshops were Mr. Rienzie Wijetilleke, Former Chairman, Hatton National Bank, Ms. Neela Marikkar, Chairperson Grants McCann-Erickson, Mr. Roshan Gurusinghe, Senior Vice President & Head of HR – Leisure Group, John Keells Holdings PLC, Ms. Sandya Salgado, Senior External Affairs Officer, The World Bank, Mr. Sriyan de S. Wijeyeratne, Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Dr. Harsha Alles, Director, Gateway Group, Ms. Sharmini Ratwatte, Chairman, Environmental Foundation Limited, Mr. Failan Saleem, Chief Operating Officer, P C House PLC and MD/Principal Lecturer, The Knowledge Factory, Mr. Prasanna Perera, Director, Vishvaka Marketing (Pvt) Ltd and Ms. Nayana Karunaratne, Director, Image Consultants. The panel discussions were chaired/moderated by Dr Uditha Liyanage, Director, Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM) and Mr. Ranel T. Wijesinha, Independent International Consultant.
The first panel discussion focused on Employer Expectations, while the second dealt with Team Building and Leadership Skills. Three days of interactive workshops was followed, with undergraduates being guided on drawing up a winning CV, successfully face an interview and adapt to the corporate environment, important aspects of personality development and confidence building as well as practical tips on personal grooming and corporate hospitality including social etiquette.
Having held similar Workshops in the University of Kelaniya, the University of Moratuwa and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, this year’s ‘Final Step” is the 6th of its kind. Based on the overwhelming success of the past programmes and the growing demand for same, JKH promises more such programmes for the future.