DCCI focuses on R&D to produce skilled grads

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has suggested that universities prioritise research and development to produce skilled and industry-smart graduates to meet today's market demand.
The trade body made the observations at a roundtable styled 'Strengthening Collaboration between the Private Sector and Academia: The Way Forward' hosted at its Motijheel office in Dhaka on Saturday.
Academicians from different renowned public and private universities took part in the forum to identify the challenges of industry-academia collaboration.

DCCI president Ashraf Ahmed says an estimated 2.0-million graduates are coming into the job market every year, but it cannot accommodate all of them.
According to the BIDS (Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies), unemployment among graduates in the country is 66 per cent, he adds.
Mr Ashraf cited a World Bank survey that shows 46 per cent of employers struggle to find job-seekers with skills, while 69-per cent report shortages of skilled manpower for technical and managerial roles.
"Experts are being hired from outside for key positions to run the industry and billions of dollars are flowing out of the country. But our manpower is not getting highly paid jobs abroad for lack of skills."
The DCCI chief stressed the need for industry-academia link to develop both soft and hard skills of graduates.
"Besides, shared efforts and contributions by universities and private sector on research of contemporary matters can enrich and create new learning on macroeconomic matters."
According to ULAB vice-chancellor Prof Imran Rahman, an estimated 40 per cent of young graduates are still unemployed in Bangladesh.
"In our country," he said, "university students through their internship actually learn a little."
He suggested that students serve apprenticeship for better learning out of the theoretical background.
"Still, many of our subjects or curricula studied in the universities don't have much demand even in the global market."
Prof Imran urged for popularising ICT and science-based education more and more to compete with the rapidly moving world.
He called for private funding in the universities' R&D or students' projects should get tax benefit.
Prof Dr Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder of BUET stressed the need for solid trust between the industry and the education sector.
"In Bangladesh," he said, "our university curriculum is quite good but, in some cases, few good things can be included."
Frequent changes in curriculum will not bring any good result for students, according to the engineer.
The speakers at the roundtable suggested utilising CSR fund for university research and development work.
If skilled and meritorious graduates in the industry do not get paid better, they might lose hope to work and try to explore better opportunities abroad.
The speakers, therefore, recommended a faster approval process of new curriculum by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
They wanted to know actual research-based data of the exact demand for skills required by the industry in the next 10 years, requesting the private sector to fund students' projects.
Prof Dr AKM Waresul Karim of NSU, Brig Gen Mohammad Saadat Hossain, dean of Bangladesh University of Professionals, Lt Col (retd) Khondoker Zahirul Alam, BUP director (international affairs), Prof Dr Mohammad Zahedul Alam of BUP, assistant director Md Yeashir Arafat, Prof Dr Mohammed Masum Iqbal, dean of DIU, Dr Md Abdur Rahman, pro-VC of AIUB, Prof Dr Partha P Chowdhury of AIUB, Prof Dr Salma Karim of UIU, Associate Prof Dr Md Quamruzzaman of UIU, Prof Nazmul Ahsan Khan, dean of NUB, Asst Prof Khairul Alam of NUB and Prof Dr Khaled Mahmud of IBA also attended the event.
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