Webinar 01
About the Webinar
The Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering at KIU University hosted its first free online webinar on 15th March 2025 — an evening session delivered via Microsoft Teams and targeted specifically at Advanced Level students exploring their future in computing, technology, and data-driven careers.
Titled “Why AI & Data Science?”, the webinar was designed to answer one of the most common questions that A/L students face when considering higher education options: why does artificial intelligence and data science matter, and is it the right path for me? With two experienced speakers combining industry practice and academic research, students received both a ground-level view of what working in AI looks like and a broader perspective on how the field is evolving globally.
Resource Persons
Mr. Hansa Perera — Principal Engineer, NAGARRO
Mr. Hansa Perera brings over 13 years of industry experience in building data science and machine learning solutions, leading data teams, and consulting in the design of high-performance, scalable enterprise data applications and platforms. He is currently working as a Principal Engineer at Nagarro, a global technology company known for its work across digital transformation, cloud, and AI engineering. Mr. Perera has previously spoken on OpenAI APIs, prompt engineering, and applied AI at industry events — making him a particularly relevant voice for students curious about how AI is actually being built and deployed in the real world.
Prof. Anuradhi Hapuarachchi — Director of Research and Innovation, KIU
Prof. Anuradhi Hapuarachchi currently serves as Director of Research and Innovation and Advisor at KIU University, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and decision-making across research, healthcare, and technology domains. Her research at KIU spans AI applications in healthcare diagnostics, data mining, and machine learning — areas directly connected to the webinar topic. Her participation grounded the session within KIU’s own growing research agenda, giving students a clear sense of how AI and Data Science connect to academic research opportunities available to them at the university.
What the Webinar Covered
The session addressed the “why” before the “how” — a deliberate choice that makes these fields more approachable for students who may be hearing terms like machine learning, data pipelines, or predictive modelling for the first time. Students were introduced to the scale at which AI and data science are now being applied across industries including healthcare, finance, logistics, and government — and why professionals with these skills are in high demand both in Sri Lanka and internationally.
The webinar also gave students a realistic picture of what studying and working in these areas looks like day-to-day, helping them connect the academic programmes available through KIU’s Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering to genuine career opportunities after graduation.
By hosting the session online via MS Teams at 7:00 PM, the faculty ensured that A/L students across Sri Lanka — regardless of location — could attend without barriers. The evening timing also accommodated students balancing school commitments, making the session genuinely accessible to those it was designed to serve.
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Objectives:
We conducted Free online Webinar sessions specifically designed for Advanced Level (A/L) students, aimed at helping them explore knowledge in IT field and future career pathways, make informed decisions, and Understand the various opportunities available after completing their A/Ls.
In addition, this session will include an awareness program about KIU University, where students will be introduced to the academic programs, campus life, scholarship opportunities, and admission procedures offered by KIU.