SLIIT puts Sri Lanka in the Global Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities

SLIIT has become the first Sri Lankan member of the Global Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities, an international network convened by UK-based National Centre for Entrepreneurship Education (NCEE) to promote entrepreneurship, enterprise and innovation within higher education.

The milestone places SLIIT alongside globally recognised institutions, including the University of Edinburgh and the University of Warwick. The Alliance brings together universities from multiple continents to exchange knowledge, share best practices and explore new approaches to addressing the rapidly evolving needs of students, industries and society.

Established in 2004, NCEE is an international organisation focused on promoting and developing entrepreneurial universities. It brings together academic leaders, higher education professionals and policymakers to exchange expertise, strengthen institutional leadership and support innovation capable of generating economic growth and societal impact.

Commenting on the membership, Professor Lalith Gamage, Vice Chancellor and CEO of SLIIT, said, “Becoming the first Sri Lankan member of the Global Alliance of Entrepreneurial Universities marks an important step in SLIIT’s continued international engagement. Universities must play an increasingly active role in developing innovative thinkers, supporting enterprise and transforming knowledge into solutions that benefit society. This membership provides SLIIT with a valuable platform to learn from leading institutions worldwide while contributing our own experience and perspective to the global higher education community.”

Through the Alliance, SLIIT will be able to engage with an international community of universities working on shared priorities such as graduate employability, innovation, sustainability and the future of work. Membership also creates opportunities to participate in global projects, roundtable discussions, events and advisory groups while strengthening SLIIT’s international contribution.

The membership builds on SLIIT’s existing focus on research, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry engagement. Whereas SLIIT’s graduates report a 98% employment rate, this membership will support the university’s ongoing efforts to embed entrepreneurial thinking across its academic community. Home to three Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Electronics and Telematics, and Sustainability and Green Innovation, SLIIT’s involvement in the Global Alliance is expected to create stronger pathways through which students and researchers can develop ideas into practical solutions and impactful ventures.

Dr. Dilan Fernando, Director of SLIIT Innovate added, “Innovation becomes more meaningful when it is connected to international knowledge, diverse perspectives and practical collaboration. Joining the Global Alliance gives our academics, researchers and students new opportunities to engage with entrepreneurial universities around the world, exchange proven practices and explore collaborative initiatives. We also look forward to sharing the knowledge and experience emerging from Sri Lanka’s own innovation ecosystem with the wider network.”

The Alliance’s international interest groups provide participating institutions with platforms to share ideas and research, initiate collaborations, and contribute to discussions on strengthening university-led business support.

Through its participation, SLIIT aims to contribute a Sri Lankan perspective to the global dialogue on entrepreneurial higher education while bringing international insights, connections and opportunities into its academic and innovation ecosystem.