The third batch of 31 students of the Certificate Course in Information Technology, held at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, has completed their 10-week training between October 21st and December 30th, 2023. This course was organized by the Health Data Science Unit of the Faculty of Medicine and conducted by its staff on Saturdays at the Health Data Science Unit of the Faculty in Ragama.

This course primarily serves the general public by enhancing ICT exposure to improve themselves, cater to the higher education requirements in ICT and assist school leavers in developing their prospects in the job market. Unlike traditional theoretical teaching methods, the program took a hands-on approach to ensure the students gained skills and confidence in ICT and MS Office applications, explicitly covering MS Word and MS Excel for their day-to-day functions.

The combination of being offered by a reputable academic institution with experienced staff in ICT and practical MS Office application use, as well as an affordable course fee, made this program particularly attractive to students. The availability of underutilized high-level computer lab facilities and qualified information technology teaching staff on weekends allowed the University of Kelaniya to generate additional income through this program. During the course duration, the teaching staff observed a remarkable interest and enthusiasm among the students to develop their skills. Hopefully, the participants have gained valuable knowledge, skills, and confidence from this program, which they can utilize in the future.