IEEE WIE Affinity Group of University of Peradeniya hosts the Best WIE Activity of 2016
In the premises of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, with the participation of over 200 delegates from all around the island, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering) Sri Lanka Section organized the first ever awards night to recognize the effort of its members who live up to the mission of IEEE of advancing technology for the betterment of humanity. As the inaugural awards night of IEEE Sri Lanka Section, this event was held to recognize three streams, namely: Best Young Professionals Activity, Best Student Branch Activity and Best Women in Engineering (WIE) Activity for the year of 2016.
IEEE is the world’s largest professional organization which cater for the needs of the humanity through technological advancements, which takes the face of standardization, technical conferences, financial and technical assistance, networking opportunities and many more initiatives to shape the world with technology. WIE is an Affinity Group of IEEE which is a community of women and enthusiastic men that takes initiative in bringing out the passion for technology in women. For this initiative, they conduct workshops and gatherings to strengthen women in technology. Young students are also operating as a part of this affinity group under their respective Student Branches.
The award for the Best WIE Activity was phrased as : This is presented annually, under the domain of IEEE Sri Lanka section, to recognize an initiative taken by a student branch affinity group of IEEE WIE that proved to be of strategic importance to IEEE’s goals and development objectives of IEEE Sri Lanka. Purpose of the award is to increase the quality of events organized by affinity groups of IEEE WIE in Sri Lanka and to encourage young women to come up with more creative ideas with a significant impact.
September 21st, 2016 was a date in which the creativity of IEEE WIE Affinity Group of University of Peradeniya came to life to host a Technical Skill Development Program which was aimed at enhancing the technical skills of women to shape their lives in the future. Hence the affinity group took a step outside the norm and conducted this event focusing the female students from non-engineering background. The workshop was on troubleshooting household electrical problems, which will be most valuable for anyone, in their future.
This unique initiative aimed at enforcing women through technology was recognized as the Best WIE Activity for the year 2017, in the evening of November 26th, 2016. These recognitions by IEEE Sri Lanka Section shall give rise to lot more enthusiasm in the upcoming years and the trend set by IEEE WIE Affinity Group of University of Peradeniya to pursue unique ways to achieve the objectives of WIE shall be the benchmark for everybody in the future.
Reported by: Chanaka Hettige
