University of Peradeniya’s Talent Lab organized interactive online session "Graduate entrepreneurship- Is it a myth?"

The ILO shows a continued rise in the proportion of unemployed youth in Sri Lanka. Supporting youth to engage in an enterprise is one of the solutions to the problem of youth unemployment. Therefore, increasing the motivation of graduates and undergraduates to become entrepreneurs is a responsibility of the university system. It requires a more concrete effort to embed entrepreneurship education and the development of soft skills in learning. Although universities are trying hard to develop a culture auspicious to entrepreneurship, the social-political culture in the country is overhauling the process by proving unplanned public sector jobs for graduates. This does not support the country’s economy and suppress national development as well as human resources development.  The graduates in the fields of Science,Commerce, Agriculture, Veterinary medicine, Allied health sciences and Engineering disciplines have high potential to engage in an enterprise.  However, they are not confident of getting into this field.
This session was conducted with the assistance of a CEO of the leading consultancy firm PASS ASIA, Mr. Samantha Pathiratne, who is an agriculture graduate and an alumni of the University of Peradeniya. The training was designed as an eye opener for undergraduate and graduate students about the success of graduate business and about the myth that public sector jobs will be available for all graduates.27 students participated