OCTAVE, the Data and Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence of the John Keells Group, formalised its strategic partnership with the Department of Statistics within the Faculty of Science of the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka with the signing of an MoU on 15th August 2024. The MoU was signed by Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group and Senior Professor H D Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo. With successful ongoing existing partnerships with the University of Moratuwa and the University of Peradeniya, this collaboration strengthens ties between OCTAVE and leading academic institutions.
Through this partnership, OCTAVE will collaborate closely with the University of Colombo to enhance its data analytics curriculum. The focus will be on key areas such as Data Science, Machine Learning, and Data Engineering. By integrating industry best practices and the latest advancements, this partnership aims to equip students with cutting-edge knowledge. Additionally, OCTAVE’s seasoned professionals will serve as supervisors for final year projects and guest lecturers, sharing their expertise and real-world experiences with students.
Additionally, OCTAVE is committed to providing internship opportunities for the university’s talented and motivated undergraduates. These internships will offer students hands-on experience working alongside experienced professionals, allowing them to gain practical skills in Data Science, Machine Learning Engineering, Data Engineering, BI Engineering, and the execution of advanced analytics projects. Moreover, OCTAVE will actively participate in university career fairs, offering students a glimpse into the exciting world of data analytics and the career paths it offers. By giving students, the exposure to the opportunities that this field holds in Sri Lanka, OCTAVE hopes to curb the talent attrition and provide viable and promising prospects, locally. Where opportunities align, OCTAVE and the university will collaborate on research and development projects, aiming to drive innovation and advance the field of data analytics in Sri Lanka.
This latest partnership highlights OCTAVE’s dedication to nurturing the future generation of data and analytics experts while fostering a vibrant data analytics community in Sri Lanka.
John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), is the largest conglomerate listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange, operating with over 80+ companies in 7 diverse industry sectors. With a history of over 150 years, John Keells Group provides employment to over 15,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected Entity’ for the last 19 Years by LMD magazine. John Keells Holdings PLC was ranked first for the fourth consecutive year in the ‘Transparency in Corporate Reporting Assessment’ by Transparency International Sri Lanka. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a participant of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its CSR vision of “Empowering the Nation for Tomorrow” through John Keells Foundation and through the social entrepreneurship initiative, ‘Plasticcycle’, which is a catalyst in significantly reducing plastic pollution in Sri Lanka.
Image Caption – Krishan Balendra, Chairperson of the John Keells Group with Senior Professor H D Karunaratne, Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo.
