Girls in STEM: How is Sri Lanka Faring?
Sri Lanka appears to do relatively well in terms of gender representation in the broad field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. However, significant gender differences in enrollments exist within STEM fields. In the context of an upcoming technology-driven Fourth Industrial Revolution, being equipped with STEM-related skills will be increasingly important to survive in the future labour market, argues Ashani Abayasekara.
The New Oil of the 21st Century: Sri Lanka’s Need for Data Scientists
The term ‘data scientist’ did not exist a little more than a decade ago. However, with the increasing rate of technological progress, the term “data scientist” is now casually thrown around in the tech realm. This blog argues that developing more data scientists can help Sri Lanka not only develop local businesses, but also earn foreign exchange.
Meeting Challenges in a New World of Work: How Prepared is South Asia for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
One of the plenary sessions at the 12th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES XII), organised by the IPS, deliberated on how best to meet emerging challenges in a technology-led, new world of work, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The panellists discussed how South Asian labour markets will be impacted by the 4IR and what the required policy responses should be in this new reality.
In the 4IR, are Smart Classrooms the Future of Sri Lanka’s Education?
In response to changing skills requirements in the 4IR, new and effective forms of e-learning are being adopted worldwide. Sri Lanka has launched an initiative to develop smart classrooms (SCs) in several schools across the country. Such technologies allow for the installation of interactive tools or applications, uploading homegrown content, and downloading interactive content online, and encourage more critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary in a digital economy. Ashani Abayasekara takes a look at current SC projects in Sri Lanka, with the aim of assessing their role in driving the education sector forward in a 4IR era.
Where have all the Typists Gone? Technology and Changing Job Profiles in Sri Lanka
Innovation and technology are rapidly transforming production in a variety of industries and reshaping occupation profiles. Some jobs are being made obsolete while there are new types of work emerging. Is Sri Lanka’s job market ready to face the challenges and leverage the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution? Nisha Arunatilake and Chathurga Karunanayake explore.
Demystifying Hawala/Undiyal – The Not So Dismal Science:[…] believed that informal fund transfer operations in Sri Lanka have expanded considerably due to the wide gap between the…