Future Technologists in the making
Published 7 January 2025Future Technologists in the making
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On the 4th of January 2025, 22 Advanced Level students from St Benedict’s College and Good Shepherd Convent, Colombo along with four ICT teachers, participated in a full-day software certification program.
The program was jointly offered by Umbraco HQ in Denmark and Luminary Digital in Melbourne, Australia.
Old Ben Emmanuel Tissera who is the Technical Director at Luminary and an Umbraco MVP (Most Valuable Person) organised this training with the support of St Benedict’s College Old Boys Union (OBU), Victoria; Good Shepherd Convent Past Pupils Association (PPA), Victoria; St Benedict’s College OBU, Colombo; and Good Shepherd Convent PPA, Colombo.
The feedback on the day was very positive and the students had the following to say.
"It provided invaluable skills that are highly relevant to today's technology-driven world."
"It provided invaluable skills that are highly relevant to today's technology-driven world."
Sandriya Fernando
Good Shepherd Convent"The program motivated me to develop more interest in website development."
"The program motivated me to develop more interest in website development."
Chavishka Perera
St Benedict's College"The instructor's passion for coding was truly contagious, and their enthusiasm made the learning process all the more enjoyable."
"The instructor's passion for coding was truly contagious, and their enthusiasm made the learning process all the more enjoyable."
Dilon Himanga
St Benedict's College"It reinforced the importance of structured learning."
"It reinforced the importance of structured learning."
Lerina Lucas
Good Shepherd Convent"The program was very informative, and I developed a website for the first time, even though it was new and kind of hard."
"The program was very informative, and I developed a website for the first time, even though it was new and kind of hard."
Kreshanya David
Good Shepherd Convent"The trainers were kind and patient, corrected a ton of our mistakes, and taught us well."
"The trainers were kind and patient, corrected a ton of our mistakes, and taught us well."
Nesara Perera
St Benedict's CollegeWith a cost of over 13.5 Million Sri Lankan rupees, this Umbraco Education Program empowered A/L students who are interested in technology and digital see a path forward. Each certification course was worth 0.5 Million rupees per participant and was given free of charge by Umbraco HQ, while Luminary sponsored another 1.4 Million rupees on flights, t-shirts and volunteer time. The Bens OBU in Victoria and the Shepherdian PPA in Melbourne also contributed in cash towards course workbooks and a buffet lunch for the participants. The Bens OBU and the Shepherdian PPA in Colombo were the lynchpins in organising refreshments and logistics on the ground to make this program a success.
The organisation and execution of this program was five months in the making. The initial idea was floated in August 2024. Once the four alumni associations were onboard, regular meetings were held fortnightly to firm up plans for a perfect execution of the program on the 4th of January 2025. The collaboration between the alumni associations, the staff at St Benedict's College and Good Shepherd Convent, Luminary and Umbraco made this program a reality.
The list of certified developers from this program can be found on the Umbraco website and is a testament of the success of this program. Luminary has also published a blog post titled "Shaping future generations of developers through the Umbraco Education Program".
Karen Johnpillai, one of the Good Shepherd Convent students who participated in the Umbraco Education Program gives a personal recollection of her experience on the day here.
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