ABB to collaborate with Lankan universities to train engineers

From left: Jana Vasickova, Country HR Manager, Czech Republic, Dimuthu Abeysinghe, Manager Turbocharging, ABB Sri Lanka, Abhijit Dey, Managing Director, ABB Sri Lanka, Nihar Raj, Business Head, Power Consulting, Power Grid, Dr. A Atputharajah, Dean - Faculty of Engineering - University of Jaffna, Dr. Lilantha Samaranayake - Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Jari Kaija, Head of Service, ABB Group, Madhav Vemuri, President, Service and Industrial Automation, ABB India, Dr. R P S Chandrasena - Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Dr. W D Asanka S Rodrigo - Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa

ABB Sri Lanka formalized an engagement with the Universities of Moratuwa, Ruhuna and Peradeniya recently for software capacity building that will develop the next generation of electrical engineers for this country. 
The programme will train more than 50 postgraduate students at these leading universities, using a high-end power system analysis tool for applications across the power value chain.
„We are happy to partner with Sri Lankan universities to provide bridge training from campus to the corporate world. At a time when Sri Lanka has embarked on an ambitious journey in building its power infrastructure, this programme will support the development of future-ready power engineers,” said Abhijit Dey, Managing Director, ABB Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has recently set out its energy charter in the national energy policy formulated by a specialized taskforce. The policy will be effective for five years and will be reviewed after two years in a mid-term review. 
The policy entails reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels to below 50 percent of the primary energy supply and renders efficiency by halving the specific energy use for all end users by 2030.
„This partnership will help our students access knowledge on the latest digital tools and understand specific aspects of the energy value chain through practical case studies, using simulation modules. This is of great significance as Sri Lanka is revising its outlook to the energy sector with new technologies,” said Prof. Wickramarachchi, Head of Electrical Engineering Department, University of Moratuwa.
ABB has been present in Sri Lanka since early eighties and has been actively involved in various projects for energy development, access and reliability with next level technologies. It has also been working with Sri Lankan industries on various solutions for energy efficiency.
ABB is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the energy and fourth industrial revolution. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 132,000 employees.