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The Westminster Working Cultures (WWC) Professional event series gives international students and recent graduates a chance to learn from and network with a range of influential and successful Westminster alumni who left the UK after graduating to transition back and establish themselves professionally in their home countries. This programme was made possible by the generous funding support from the Quintin Hogg Trust and was organised by the WWC team within the Alumni Relations office.

On Saturday 20 February, 130 current students and recent graduates at the University of Westminster and Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT) attended the online session to learn about the professional landscape, career opportunities and working life in the Sri Lankan labour market.

IIT has been delivering Computing and Business undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in collaboration with the University of Westminster since 2005. The University of Westminster and IIT share a strong partnership, with regular collaboration across teaching and research.

This recent event gave attendees a chance to learn from and network with a range of successful Sri Lankan alumni from the University of Westminster in London and the Informatics Institute of Technology in Colombo, who have established themselves professionally in Sri Lanka after their studies. The event welcomed a panel of three speakers. The panellists shared an array of practical advice and insights on how to confidently navigate the Sri Lankan labour market with a university degree.

Highlights included some of the ways in which holding a degree from the University of Westminster and IIT has set them apart from other graduates, how to put the best foot forward in the new world of home working and the importance of building a strong online presence and personal brand in today’s virtual world.

Talking about the event, Head of Corporate Relations at the Informatics Institute of Technology Wilja Witcombe, said: “The organisation and execution of the event was an amazing experience, showing the professional hand-in-hand collaboration between the University of Westminster and the Informatics Institute of Technology, resulting in a high number of attendees who already asked us to plan more future webinars of this type. It was a great success!”

Professor Alex Hughes, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Employability and Global Engagement, said: “I am delighted with the inaugural Westminster Working Cultures Professional event, delivered in partnership with IIT. Westminster Working Cultures is a key employability initiative at Westminster and I am pleased that we were able to work together to link our Sri Lankan students and recent graduates with industry professionals who have shared the same university experience. This encourages our students to be work ready, highly employable graduates: a key priority for both institutions.”

Upcoming WWC #Professional events will take place in March 2021, focusing on the labour markets of the African and Latin American regions.

Learn more about Westminster Working Cultures Professional or email workingcultures@westminster.ac.uk.