The National University (NU) has undertaken extensive plans to make Bangladesh’s young generation skilled and future-ready to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the rapidly changing digital economy, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah has said.
He made the remarks as the guest of honour at a roundtable titled “Future-Ready Bangladesh: AI, Skills and Youth Employability in the Digital Economy” organised by The Daily Star and Grameenphone at The Daily Star Bhaban in the capital on Wednesday.
Dr Amanullah said, “National University oversees 70 per cent of higher education in Bangladesh. With nearly 4 million students and 2,500 colleges, it is the second-largest university in the world. The future of such a large number of students cannot be limited to academic certificates alone. The current and future job markets depend on artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and digital skills. Therefore, we are bringing a ‘paradigm shift’ or fundamental transformation to our curriculum so that every student can acquire at least one practical or technological skill before graduation and enter the workforce.”
He said the university was providing ICT training to teachers from different disciplines across the country due to a shortage of ICT instructors.
“We are creating master trainers from among them. We do not have ICT teachers of our own. Despite various limitations, we are working to move students forward. The education system of this university has long suffered from session delays and various challenges. Due to the politicisation of higher education, it has been difficult to break away from this cycle despite years of efforts. Strong policy support from the state is essential to overcome this crisis,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor said the current curriculum was so outdated that it would be difficult to address even the challenges of the First or Second Industrial Revolutions, while the world had already entered the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“We are talking about AI. Despite various limitations and obstacles, we have undertaken extensive initiatives to introduce modern and time-relevant subjects,” he said.
Highlighting various reform initiatives, Dr Amanullah said English and ICT education had been made compulsory to make students more employable.
“Alongside this, we have taken steps to introduce a third language. In line with the government’s policies, work is progressing rapidly to incorporate IT, coding, AI literacy and soft skills into the mainstream curriculum alongside traditional education,” he said.
He said the National University was establishing industry-academia linkages and launching apprenticeship programmes with renowned universities and institutions in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and China.
“Micro-learning and micro-credential courses have also been introduced to increase remittance earnings and equip dropout students with skills. Our youth are highly talented and technology-friendly. If we can provide them with the right skills at the right time, I hope they will lead global tech jobs,” he said.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam delivered the welcome speech at the event. The roundtable was moderated by Head of Strategic Partnerships Tanjim Ferdous. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Education and Labour-Employment Affairs Dr Mahdi Amin attended the event as the chief guest.
University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed was present as a special guest.
Specialist discussants included Grameenphone Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Otto Magne Rysbak, Bangladesh Open Source Network President Munir Hasan, The Asia Foundation Country Representative Kazi Faisal Bin Siraj, UNDP Project Manager Maruf Azam, Shikho CEO Shahir Chowdhury, Grameenphone Academy Head of Environment, Social and Governance Farhana Hossain Shammi, Grameenphone Academy’s Aman Ullah Aman and Maria Nawar.
North South University Assistant Professor Dr Zulkarin Jahangir and Grameenphone Head of Environment, Social and Governance Farhana Islam presented topic-based information at the event.
