ICT as career

Continued from April 26

Exposure to this technology should be acquired with adequate hands on experience. At the initial stages one need not focus on the depth as it would be necessary only when applying technology for real life activities. In the modern society people use technology from home for activities such as education, banking, shopping and entertainment.

Educational Requirements for a Career in ICT

For all disciplines, the foundation is provided from the school education system. There is no exemption for ICT. As most ICT activities are still done in English, ability to work in English is essential.

The ICT industry functions mostly in English and hence one should possess good communication skills to survive in this field. A person who is currently weak in English need not give up this career path as even in fields like Engineering and Medicine, students adapt to it only during the learning process.

Acquiring Basic ICT skills

Some acquire basic ICT skills at school, mostly due to their own interest through informal education. As a formal educational qualification one could aim at the Computer Driving Licence which would require around six months fulltime training.

Most common among them is the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) which is a competency standard endorsed by the Computer Society of Sri Lanka and ICT Agency of Sri Lanka. There is also local version of this certification called the Sri Lanka Computer Driving Licence (SLCDL) which is administered by the National Apprentices and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA).

Most professional / degree programmes do cover the basic ICT skills prior to addressing other aspects of ICT. For instance the Semester I of the Diploma in IT of University of Colombo or IT user certification of the British Computer Society (BCS) Examinations. Many government/semi government organisations offer courses at similar levels or beyond that.

Career in ICT for Non-ICT Professional

A person who uses and applies ICT falls into this category. Office support staff nowadays requires ICT for day-to-day work. Such people would become Computer Application Assistants or a Junior Technicians with some basic ICT skills.

With experience they would be Staff Assistants and Senior Technicians. Future non-ICT professionals such as Junior Executives, Staff Trainee, Intern Doctor and Junior Architect would also need to have the basic ICT skills. There is no exception for current professionals like an Accountant, Engineer, Lawyer and Doctor.

Career in ICT for ICT Professional

A person who produces and delivers ICT falls into this category. This group would go few steps beyond the basic ICT skills. They at least need to hold a one year fulltime diploma in ICT. After the basic ICT skills another six months training on the correct sub-fields would help one to reach this level.

This group of people may start their carrer as a Trainee Programmer or IT Instructor or even an It teacher. They need to acquire technical skills in programming, systems analysis & design and database technology.

Entry level diploma programmes are available for such purposes. However, someone with good communication skills and some IT knowledge could avoid the ICT production path and move in the direction of Sales Executive or End User Support Analyst and finally become Business Analyst.

Entry Level Diploma’s in ICT

To produce ICT one should be able to design and develop computer programs for specified tasks. Traditional computer programming language such as Java or a visual programming language such as visual Basic is widely used for this purpose.

Computer programming languages do change with time and thus it is more important to learn the programming concepts than different languages. When you join an organisation you could be forced to use their programming environment and follow their ICT practices. You would be able to easily adapt to that only if you had mastered the concepts.

Prior to the production of information system one has to design such systems and ensure that it meets the needs of the organisation. This is achieved through the application of systems analysis and design methods. An exposure to apply such techniques and experiences in analysis and design of information systems is a skill one would acquire through a course in systems analysis and design.

Databases are used as back end systems to manage the organisation’s data and it is an integral part of most information systems. Thus the ability to design and develop a database using a commercial database product is a necessary skill to produce ICT solutions.

After acquiring an entry level diploma one could either proceed to a higher diploma to gain further knowledge or join the industry to get some hands on work experience. Before moving to the next level one should identify their career path so that they select the correct courses.

For instance a person who is weak in Mathematics or even in Science/Technical aspects may choose a career path in Internet/Ecommerce, Business Analysis or Project Management.

A person who is good in Mathematics may choose to strengthen programming and design skills and become a Software Developer, Systems Analyst/Designer or Project Manager. One may also choose a career in Network Support or Systems Engineer by strengthening technical skills.

Higher Diploma Programmes in ICT

Higher diplomas provide focused technical training in software development techniques, tools and technologies. The skills developed here are intended to supplement the knowledge already acquired at the diploma sage. At this stage one may broaden their knowledge as well as focus towards specialised sub-fields of interest.

For instance a Systems Analyst/Designer should enhance his system analysis and design skills through techniques such as Software Engineering and Object-Oriented Systems Development.

Software Developers should learn data structures, algorithms and other programming techniques that were not covered at the entry level. Internet/Commerce personnel should learn web development techniques, while Network Support personnel should learn about computer networks.

Degree in ICT

To reach high rank positions in ICT such as a Business Analyst/Systems Engineer/ Systems Analyst/ Software Engineer/ Network Manager, one needs to have a degree in Computer Science/ Computer Engineering/Information Technology or equivalent.

Some working experience is a must for these positions. Some degree programmes provides this opportunity through industrial placement during their degree while others will have to undergo such training after graduation.

Academic training in computing is not complete until one experience the software development life cycle through an individual or group project, which is the most important single piece of work in an ICT degree programme.

Ability to construct a project from initial ideas, to planning, scheduling, monitoring and controlling own work, and to be able to design and develop a prototype solution for a client are essential skills one should experience during a project. Such an experience would be complete only when you document and present the developed system.

Project ideas could be initiated during the industrial placement. Project could be carried out for your employer and many external degree students looks for employment to successfully carry out their final year project as well as to gain the industrial experience.

Technologies that were not covered at diploma levels should be addressed in the final year of degree programme. Security requirements of information systems/operating systems/databases/computer programs/computer networks should be covered at some point. Emerging technologies and other specialised topics such as computer vision and mobile technology may also be chosen as final year optional courses.

Almost all state universities offer computing in their degree programmes, especially in Physical and Biological streams. Computer Engineering, Computer, Science, IT and ICT degrees are offered in state universities such as University of Colombo, University of Moratuwa and University of Peradeniya. Although, admission to all internal degree programmes is limited the BIT External Degree programme of University of Colombo do not have such restrictions.

Organisations such as National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) and Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), and foreign professional bodies such as the British Computer Society (BCS), Australian computer Society (ACS) do offer courses and examinations leading to a degree in ICT. Many foreign degrees too can be obtained through some of the local institutions.

Those who have already done a degree in computing or any other discipline could proceed to post graduate studies to strengthen their knowledge in ICT. Such post graduate programmes are offered by the above mention state universities and some other institutions.

Certification Programmes

Education up to the degree is independent of a product or vendor. Those who wish to specialise vendor products could take product certification examinations. It is advisable to acquire such certification after formal ICT education.

With technology changes vendor products do change significantly and in few years some of the products may not be in use. Unless one targets employment at a specific organisation, acquiring product certification is relevant only after joining an organisation that uses such technology.

The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL)

The Computer Society of Sri Lanka (http://www.cssl.lk) is the professional body for ICT. All Sri Lanka ICT professionals have a part to play in the effective use of technology for the development of our country. Joining CSSL would definitely help towards achieving this goal.

Dr. Gihan Wikramanayake,
Student Counsellor,
CSSL

Questions and Answers

Construction of Houses in Kandy

Question:

Height restriction- (elevation for construction of houses in Kandy Municipal limits. What are the restrictions on elevation (above sea level) within the Kandy Municipality for the construction of a small house less than 1000 sq.ft.

H.P. Dharmasena-Kandy

Answer:

According to the UDA, Kandy Branch, an applicant for a building has to submit a contour survey plan to the land to be developed.

If the slope of the land is over 45 degrees then construction is not allowed. The size of the land permitted for building will vary according to the slope angle, as follows:

0-10 degrees -6 perches
11-20 degrees -12 perches
21-30 degrees -20 perches
31-45 degrees -40 perches

Any further particulars can be obtained from the UDA Office, Kandy - Tel. 081-2223851

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Re: Appointing Justice of Peace

Question

I am an elderly person and Sri Lankan citizen. I wish to become a Justice of Peace for all island or Western Province. What are the necessary qualifications required for this purpose?

K.K. Maniam - Wattala

Answer:

Any citizen of Sri Lanka can apply to the Ministry of Justice giving his or her credentials to be appointed as a Justice of Peace. However, the applicant should be one who has served the public and carries out social service and should be of good standing. The decision to appoint such persons as the Justice of Peace is in the hands of the Minister of Justice.

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Senior Citizen’s Plight

Question:

We are all aware of the current galloping state of the COL. Senior citizens are the worst affected as their monthly income is confined to a pension or poor pittance from Social welfare Institutions or the government. In this context can you direct the authorities concerned to inform the Pharmacies or Cargill’s or other private concerns to provide medicine at discounted rates to senior citizens.

(2) When would the identity cards with legal entitlement be issued to Senior Citizens?

(3) Most senior citizens have savings Accounts which carry an interest rate of 4-5%. Can the Central Bank be requested to increase the rate to 7% or 8% for this category of citizens?

Answer:

We forwarded your first question to the Consumer Affairs Authority and their response is that the State Pharmaceutical Co-operation through the “Rajya Osu Sala” at Colombo 7 and its branches offers a 5% discount to Senior Citizens on production of the NIC. No one can bind the Private Pharmacies to recognize Senior Citizens but we hope they will consider this favourably.

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon, through their Pharmacy at the Thummulla Junction (Reid Avenue Branch) offers a 7.5% discount to Senior Citizens who are having an account with any branch of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon.

(2) As the Government has still not arrived at or implemented any legal entitlement as yet to the best of our knowledge the issue of Senior Citizens Identity Card will not be a priority.

(3) The Central Bank cannot determine or direct Banks on Interest rates, although they can broadly set the pace through certain mechanism. Savings Accounts usually attract low interest as the balance can be withdrawn quite frequently. Best advice is to open fixed deposit accounts which attract 10-15% interest per annum. Also most Banks provide an additional 1-2% interest for Senior Citizens.

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Sewerage disposal in Colombo City

Question:

During the past few years there has been a proliferation of high rise buildings in Colombo and its suburbs. I wonder whether any of the authorities concerned such as the UDA, Colombo Municipality or the The NWSDB has made a proper assessment of the disposal of the sewage of these new buildings.

If the sewers of the new condominiums are connected to the Colombo City sewer lines then the occupants of these buildings do not have to worry much. What of the condominiums built outside the CMC sewer lines?

The Colombo Sewerage was designed and constructed several decades ago for a fraction of today’s population. Can the sewer lines accommodate the effluent of the these new buildings? Will some line burst in the near future and cause a big stink in the city?

Then in those areas where sewer lines are not present what arrangements have the “get rich quick developers made for sewage disposal? Surely septic tanks won’t be effective. People in their ignorance buy condo apartments either to live or as an investment little knowing the dangers that lie ahead.

I would be glad if any responsible official of the NWSDB informs the general public that the existing sewer lines can cope with the new connections from the high rise buildings under construction and that there is no danger of the city being made unlivable due to a breakdown of the system.

Furthermore, has the UDA/CMC set a limit to the growth of these high rise monstrosities as Colombo is getting to be no more a garden city for which it was much admired in the past?

M. Gooneratne- Colombo 5

Answer:

It would appear that the solution to the problem mentioned above is in the hands of three parties viz: the UDA, the CMC and the NWSDB. It is not possible for the Mayor of Colombo to discuss this problem with the other two parties and provide an answer to the worried citizens of Colombo.

If there is no proper co-ordinated planning in building construction the problem would affect other demurely populated urban areas as well. Information on the adequacy of electricity and water supply may have to be obtained by town planners. A co-ordinated effort rather than passing the buck would lead to a better public service.

The Departments concerned are not willing to commit or comment. We request the Minister in charge of the UDA to provide a response.

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Public Nuisance

Question:

Thank you for your prompt answer to my question. However, you answer does not provide me with a practical solution. Every year I have been speaking to the organizers of the dansala. This has been futile. As commonly known, these people are the thugs and drug addicts in the area.

They organise these thamashas in order to siphon off the bulk of the donations to themselves. I have not approached the Police as the consequences may result in myself and my family not being able to walk down the road, more so because of us being from a minority community.

It is for these reasons that I wrote to you hoping that you would take it up with the IGP as a common problem and provide some safeguards to the harassed residents. I am sure that many others are also in the same plight.

Manoharan, Colombo 06

Answer:

We quite understand your plight and it is a common problem to many city residents. As a common public nuisance we are requesting the IGP to respond.