A Tk 935-million project to strengthen Bangladesh's entrepreneurial ecosystem by enhancing entrepreneurship-education infrastructure and curricula at universities is awaiting the final nod from the government.
With a theme of creative Bangladesh, the project was proposed by the Secondary and Higher Education Division. The Planning Commission has done the preparatory work to place the project proposal for final approval during Monday's (November 25) meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will provide $7.5 million (Tk825 million), about 90 per cent of the cost, as grants to implement the project. Economic Relations Division (ERD) officials said KOICA had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in January 2021 to provide the grants.
The project titled "Capacity Building of Universities in Bangladesh to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship (CREATIVE Bangladesh)" will be jointly implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Dhaka University by June 2027.
The initiative will enhance Bangladesh's entrepreneurial ecosystem through capacity building, fostering collaboration among key stakeholders, and creating a comprehensive roadmap for entrepreneurship education at universities, revealed the project documents.
It will develop infrastructure like spaces and equipment to impart entrepreneurship education at Dhaka University as well as modules for the Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP).
Besides, it will facilitate training and higher studies to enhance the capacity of teachers, professionals, and potential young entrepreneurs in the field of entrepreneurship education.
The project will develop a roadmap for promoting effective entrepreneurship education by highlighting the roles, responsibilities, and action plans of universities in Bangladesh through research and advocacy, the documents further revealed.
It involves constructing 1,248 square metres of vertical space equipped with a 3D lab and computer lab. It also includes the renovation of a 700-square-metre auditorium, curriculum development, and the introduction of new entrepreneurship education programmes.
Additionally, the project will offer training to teachers, professionals, students, and alumni as well as host hackathons, thematic sessions, boot camps, entrepreneurship competitions, stakeholder workshops, and entrepreneurial community mapping.
The education ministry proposed Tk75.9 million, about 8.11 per cent of the project cost, to spend on Korea trips of 80 individuals comprising teachers, government officials, and winners of competitions. Tk372.23 million, 40 per cent of the cost, will be spent to remunerate the Korean experts engaged in the initiative.
Furthermore, the project will have an allocation of Tk33.3 million for conducting research and advocacy on entrepreneurship education at universities, publishing at least 40 articles on innovation and entrepreneurship in international journals, and awarding at least seven funded PhDs and eight fellowships.
Planning Commission officials said six project proposals would be placed during Monday's ECNEC meeting. Four are revised proposals for old projects and two are for fresh ones.
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