Sanali Kaushalya, Sri Lanka Country Director of Women in Tech exchanging the MOU with IIT.
Women in Tech Sri Lanka has strengthened its commitment to advancing technology education, research, innovation and women’s empowerment through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT Campus), in collaboration with LeapGen.
The agreement establishes a framework for long-term collaboration between academia and the technology community, with a shared focus on developing industry-ready talent, expanding educational opportunities and promoting innovation across Sri Lanka’s technology ecosystem.
The MoU was signed by Sanali Kaushalya, Sri Lanka Country Director of Women in Tech, alongside Dr. Hapugahage Thilak Chaminda, Associate Dean – Research, and Dr. Dinesh Arunatileka, Head of Research, representing IIT.
The partnership aims to facilitate collaborative research and publications, student internships and industry-based projects, knowledge exchange, professional events, expert lectures, faculty development, curriculum enhancement, entrepreneurship and community outreach initiatives. It also seeks to strengthen industry–academia connections and create opportunities for students and emerging professionals to gain practical skills, industry exposure and access to wider professional networks.
A key objective of the collaboration is to support the development of a more inclusive and future-ready technology workforce by connecting academic knowledge with real-world industry requirements. Through joint initiatives, the partners aim to encourage innovation, nurture emerging talent and expand opportunities for women and girls pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The partnership also aligns with Women in Tech’s global mission to empower five million women and girls in STEM by 2030. By building strong institutional partnerships and creating pathways to education, mentorship, skills development and professional advancement, Women in Tech Sri Lanka continues to work towards a more diverse and inclusive digital economy.
The MoU marks an important step towards fostering sustainable collaboration between education and industry, with the partners seeking to translate shared objectives into practical initiatives that benefit students, educators, professionals and the wider community.
Through this collaboration, Women in Tech Sri Lanka, IIT and LeapGen aim to contribute to a stronger innovation ecosystem while helping prepare the next generation of technology professionals and leaders for emerging opportunities in the digital economy.