Alumni Associations help needy undergrads with Student Assistantships

During the recent economic crisis, at the request of the Vice Chancellor, the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya Colombo Chapter and Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association-Colombo came forward to financially assist 300 needy students for a period of six months with the help of donors.

The University suggested a Working Student Assistantship Program (WASP) to add more value to the generous contribution of the Alumni, a news release from the associations said.

This is a short-term placement, with external support, of undergraduates as trainees within the University. It aims to assist the students financially while developing their career skills creating practical work exposure within the university. This is the first time such a program has been launched in a University in Sri Lanka, the release explained.

Under the program jobs have been created in all nine Faculties and other entities of the University offering students flexible working hours to suit their academic timetable with part time employment such as translators, web designers, data analysts, graphic designers, aquarium assistants, event coordinators, legal assistants, HR assistants, Management Assistant , social media coordinators etc. This program is managed by the Career Guidance Unit of the University.

A ceremony to officially introduce the program was held last week at the University Grant Commission office under the patronage of UGC Chairman Prof Sampath Amaratunga. Vice Chancellor of University of Peradeniya Prof M.D Lamawansa and Director Career Guidance Unit of the University of Peradeniya Prof Dileep De Silva, The President of the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya Colombo Chapter and the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Engineering Colombo Chapter Eng. Vipula Jayampathi and 20 representatives including the official from the Alumni Associations participated at this event.