University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh Member Professor Dr Md Abdullah Al Mamun said, initiatives will be taken to enhance apprenticeship, internship, and industry-academia cooperation to make the country’s higher education system more practical and career-oriented.
He noted that these activities will commence by establishing formal relationships between universities located in divisional cities and local industrial and business enterprises. This approach aims to provide students with opportunities for hands-on learning, thereby facilitating a smoother transition into their professional careers.
UGC informed this in a press release issued on Thursday.
Professor Dr Md Abdullah Al Mamun made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at an open discussion titled ‘Harmony between Education and Industry, Solution for Employment’ (Sikkha-Shilper Oikotan, Kormosongsthaner Somadhan), held at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST).
The event was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of PUST, Professor Dr Abul Hasnat Md Shamim, while the Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University, Professor Dr AKM Motinur Rahman attended as the special guest.
Dr Md Abdullah Al Mamun remarked that the government is prioritising innovation, research, and the development of skilled human resources. To achieve this, initiatives will be undertaken to build effective cooperation between universities and the industrial sector. He further urged students to be more interested in acquiring skills and searching for new knowledge.
The UGC member also emphasised the importance of eliminating social and geographical disparities within the education sector. He asserted that education is not the exclusive right of the wealthy and that quality education must be ensured for all, regardless of financial status.
He added that the UGC would work to bring educational opportunities to the doorsteps of people in underprivileged regions and create a suitable environment for the development of latent talent.
In his presidential speech, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abul Hasnat Md Shamim stressed the necessity of reducing the gap between the education and industrial sectors. He stated that the problem of unemployment could be solved by providing practical education and developing a skilled workforce.
The programme was attended by representatives from various government and private industrial organisations, as well as teachers and students.
