The Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT) Sri Lanka recently made a significant leap in advancing the educational experience of its students and staff with a substantial investment in LinkedIn Learning, which officially launched on August 1, 2024. This initiative targets both students and staff, aiming to supplement their academic journeys with practical, skillbased learning opportunities. APIIT Sri Lanka has taken this step forward to make a substantial investment in this valuable resource with a goal to support lifelong learning and professional growth for both students and staff.

LinkedIn Learning, a well-known online learning platform, offers an extensive array of courses designed to equip students and staff with essential skills for their personal and professional development. The platform has now been integrated into the learning curriculum at APIIT, taking a step towards a more holistic educational approach. In promoting lifelong learning, APIIT Sri Lanka emphasises the importance of training students to take responsibility for their education. By tailoring these courses to the modules offered at the university, students at APIIT Sri Lanka can now smoothly integrate their online learning with their academic requirements.

Students and staff from APIIT Sri Lanka now have access to a wealth of courses covering a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from business and technology skills to function-specific competencies. This initiative provides students and staff with personalized recommendations, enabling just-intime learning in flexible formats. Learning will be a blend of class teaching and online courses, programmed based on the career goals of the students and staff. This integration makes the learning process flexible and adjusted to individual specifications, catering to different learning styles at different paces.

Since the launch, students and staff now have access to the most diverse library offered by LinkedIn Learning, with courses that cover technology, business, creative arts, and even personality development. This diversity in content allows learners to indulge in their interests and passions while gaining important skills to enhance employability. Upon completing courses, LinkedIn Learners will receive ‘badges’ that are automatically added to their LinkedIn profiles. These badges offer a credible way to showcase specific skills and competencies, speaking more effectively to potential employers than a traditional CV.

This instant recognition ensures that potential employers are immediately aware of the specific skills and competencies learners have acquired, thereby enhancing their employability prospects. Many of the courses provided on LinkedIn Learning offer certificates of completion, which can be showcased on students’ and staff members’ LinkedIn profiles, further enhancing their professional credibility. The benefits of the partnership between APIIT Sri Lanka and LinkedIn Learning extends beyond students to the faculty and staff, who will be trained under continuous professional development to improve their teaching methods and keep track of the current trends in the industry.

This investment in staff development is aimed at translating into improved educational outcomes for students. APIIT Sri Lanka’s vision in bridging the gap between academic learning and practical skills development and its commitment to upholding the value of ‘lifelong learning’ is evident in this large investment that would develop a culture where every person continues to grow and innovate. This initiative hopes to enrich the learning experience for all students and staff while preparing them to meet the evolving demands of the professional world with confidence and competence.