Empower Future Tech Leaders: Department of Computer Engineering is Hosting Successful Portfolio Building Awareness Events
A portfolio can showcase the unique strengths, talents, and skills of someone and help them stand out in a competitive job market. A series of programs related to Portfolio-building awareness were introduced to the Department of Computer Engineering starting from 2015. The industry demands not only technical expertise but also emphasizes the significance of soft skills. Fresh graduates and interns lacked awareness regarding this aspect, resulting in insufficient soft skill proficiency. And also they overlooked and missed out on valuable opportunities to develop their soft skills.
The industry feedback regarding their expectations of the quality of the fresh graduates and interns highlighted that there’s a significant deficiency in soft skills. Therefore, the Department rekindled the Softskill Development Workshop, which had been introduced in 2004 to the department by the Head of the Department, Prof. K. Walgama. This workshop was aimed to support students by not only making them understand the importance of soft skills but also identifying the opportunities to develop them.
While the soft-skill development workshop was intended to provide a bottom-up approach to student development, the top-down approach was also expected through the senior-junior knowledge transfer, especially in terms of industry experience after their training. However, the Department faced difficulties there, as only a few students were readily providing feedback on their training experience. Also, their perspectives on the industry varied, making it challenging to provide a holistic idea of the industry. As a solution, the department organised a "Mid-Training Reflection Workshop," aimed at all the undergraduates in their internship period. It aimed not only to provide a clear idea about the industry to junior batches but also to get updates on the ongoing training programs.
In addition, students were provided with soft skills development programs as a part of their orientation program. Then, CV writing and interview preparation workshops were organised for 3rd-year undergraduates, and a career fair was organised for final-year undergraduates by the Department. Since discussing skills with artefacts is more effective, the department provided opportunities for students to participate in various projects, such as the Third Year Project, aka 3YP and the Sixth Semester Project, aka 6SP. Through them, students could develop their presentation skills, time management skills, writing skills, innovation, creativity etc. With this structured approach, students could manage their workload effectively, develop essential skills, and create a polished portfolio that showcases their unique strengths and achievements.
The workshop series evolves yearly, adapting to the times, but the main idea and objective remain the same. The last year’s workshop, aimed at the E18 and E19 batches, was successfully held on the 16th of October 2022 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offered diverse programs to foster team spirit, leadership skills, logical thinking, and public speaking abilities. Attendees engaged in lively idea-sharing sessions focused on their interests, life goals, and discussions about interview preparation and industry expectations. Also, students could participate in exciting activities such as debates, treasure hunts, etc. The support and guidance received from staff facilitators for every event were immense. This workshop was a great success, sparking hope for offering similar programs in the upcoming years.
This initiative has proven to be a resounding success, with remarkable student performance improvements. Now they’re leaving a lasting impression on potential employers and securing better career prospects.
Piyumali Sandunika Third year, Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya.
