“Professional is not a label you give yourself – it’s a description you hope others will apply to you” – David Maister –

‘Be Professionally Equipped 3.0’ an initiative of the Professional Development Avenue of the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura was an achievement that brought out the true vision and ethics of a professional. It was mainly built on providing the background to many individuals including the undergraduates of our university and to help them equip their competent skills required for their future career. ‘Be Professionally Equipped 3.0’ was inaugurated under two phases – a webinar series followed by a physical workshop.

The five main overviews of Professional grooming, Etiquette for professionalism, Leadership and team building, Academia, and embracing Music as a profession was the backbone of the project throughout. The series of webinars that happened was built on providing knowledge and education, training, and practical laws on the above topics that are of great importance to the professional development of young minds shaping their future career.

The First Webinar on ‘Effective Etiquette for Professionalism’ took place on the 23rd of January 2021. It was conducted by Well known, experienced personality development & corporate etiquette trainer Mr. Kumar De Silva and with the participation of 131 participants. He addressed all matters on social etiquette that ranged from the handshake you uphold, the social presentation at an interview, the posture you acknowledge yourself with, time management, the responsible actions a professional should comprise, to the effective communication skills all in all needed for any individual entering a professional career.

The webinar on ‘Leadership and Team Building’ was held on 25th January 2021 with the participation of 82 participants. The session was conducted by an educator and coach famous for building resilient and result-driven leaders- Mr. Nalaka Hewamadduma.

He positioned out all aspects of becoming a true leader and the nature and background of being a team player. He pointed out that anyone could become a leader with dedication, hard work, and mindfulness. Furthermore, he also shared his experiences and presented the view on how important leadership is in one’s career and the challenges and standards a person should have to undergo to become a team player in the real world.

‘The path to your Ph.D.’ – a webinar for graduates moving ahead in academics was held on the 27th of January 2021 by Dr. Chamod Hettiarachchi- a postdoctoral Research scientist. He explained all aspects related to having a Ph.D., the knowledge level a person will gain during their education pathway, and the skills, qualifications, and sacrifices needed to complete a Ph.D. The webinar was joined by 102 participants.

Mr.Ranga Dasanayake -Award-winning Srilankan composer, Music Director, and Avid Certified Instructor conducted the webinar on ‘Embracing the Music Industry’ on 29th of January 2021. It was an important session for the creative and talented individuals planning to enter the music industry as a profession.

With over 50 participants the webinar was carried out with an overview of how important music is as an industry and as an art. He pointed out the aspects of how an individual can build a profession in the music industry and the issues related to copyright laws and the importance of understanding the obstacles and challenges faced by the musicians in the music industry.

Finally, Ms. Ludmila Bopitiya – a Corporate Coach on Professional grooming and effective Communication conducted a webinar on a common but very important topic –‘The art of self-presenting to make a lasting impression’. With over 65 participants the webinar was carried out on the 30th of January 2021. She presented the importance of making a good first impression as individuals entering the professional world. She also pointed out the importance of personal grooming and hygiene to make one self-presentable to society.

The session became a very interactive session overall and was acknowledged by many. At each of these webinars, all our participants were able to present their questions on all topics related to their professional development. The webinars took place via zoom and were also broadcasted live on Facebook.

The project came to an end with the first physical gathering after the second strike of the pandemic. ‘The Art of Leading and Following’ – a social dancing workshop was held on 31st of January 2021. It was conducted by renowned dancer Ms. Shashikala Harshani. With over 30 participants the workshop was carried out for two hours with fun, laughter, and enjoyment to all who became a part of it.

‘Be professionally Equipped 3.0 ‘ set the foundation and aligned a path for every young individual to excel in every aspect needed to succeed in a professional carrier. Project Be Professionally Equipped commenced for the third consecutive year and was regarded as an outstanding project by many and will uphold its place in the future as well.

With that said this initiative by the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura became a memorable and significant experience that helped mould the lives of many young individuals!

By Rtr. Minushi De Sliva