“How IEEE WIE can lead you to a successful career”

About IEEE WIE

IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is a global network of IEEE members and volunteers dedicated to promoting women engineers and inspiring young females around the world to follow their academic interests in a career in Engineering.

About IEEE WIE SB AG of UoP

The IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Student Branch Affinity Group of the University of Peradeniya is one of the pre-eminent student branch affinity groups among universities in Sri Lanka. It dedicates to inspiring and empowering young females to use their diverse talents, in achieving technical eminence with the proper maintenance of work-life balance, and to innovate for the betterment of humanity.

IEEE WIE Student Branch Affinity Group of UoP has inspired young females in leadership roles. Career advancement for women in the profession has been advocated throughout the journey of IEEE WIE Student Branch Affinity Group of UoP

Furthermore, while inspiring young females WIE has encouraged many undergraduates by conducting percipient events. Also, these events absolutely stimulated the development of the social and professional skills of the participants.

What have we done so far

IEEE WIE Student Branch Affinity Group of UoP has been able to guide not only undergraduates but also the people in the community recently through many initiatives, such as TRIERVIEW and Herself which help them to build their soft skills while bridging the gap between academia and industry.

IEEE WIE SB AG of UoP has elevated its excellency by winning the award for Best Affinity Group Project Award for the project Trierview, in the special activities awards category at the IEEE Sri Lanka Section Awards Ceremony in 2022.

What’s new with the occasion

Throughout the endeavour of the WIE SB AG of UoP, the strength and energy of the society have to be purveyed to the future generation in order to dignify the society with its supremacy. The transfusion of the experience and the knowledge gained from the expedition was held on the 10th of November 2022. Though this event is conventionally famous as the introductory session of WIE, the session was far way beyond that of an introductory session. The theme title of this session “How IEEE WIE can lead you to a successful career” depicts that this is not an ordinary introductory session.

The session commenced at the DEEE Seminar room, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya from 3.00 p.m. with about 30 young enthusiastic female undergraduates from E19 and E18 batches who are interested in achieving their aspirations with IEEE WIE and who are eager to pull out all the stops for humanity.

The IEEE WIE was privileged to have Prof. Maheshi B. Dissanayake, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya as the event’s guest speaker. It is with great honour to mention that she was the founder, first and interim Chairperson of IEEE WIE Sri Lanka, Chairperson of IEEE Sri Lanka Section for the year 2021/22 as well as the advisor of IEEE WIE SB AG of UoP since 2011. Her experiences with IEEE WIE make her the ideal personage to precede an introductory session for female undergraduates who need proper guidance to enter the competitive world as female engineers.

Insights of the Guest Speaker

Over the length and breadth of Prof. Maheshi B. Dissanayake’s speech, she focused on the skills a young undergraduate should gain before approaching the community as an engineer, and the new windows of opportunities with WIE to enhance their proficiency and discover their potential. She also precisely mentioned the significance of work-life balance and how to maintain it appropriately. Furthermore, she encouraged the gathering to cultivate confidence and to overcome the challenges faced as females in the industry.

The fruitful conclusion of the event

The event was concluded successfully, motivating the young female undergraduates to identify their expertise and to hold hands with WIE. The event was a massive success thanks to the committee and all the contributors who gave their maximum. Undoubtedly, the session had given all the participants a memorable opportunity to develop their point of view on society and industry as female engineering undergraduates. Heretofore, another milestone in the grandiose journey of IEEE WIE SB AG of UoP! Through this gratification, we expect to write the name “IEEE WIE SB AG of UoP” in a glorious style and to achieve more accomplishments while serving the community.

Written by: N.B. Ashini Senara and Isuri Liyanage