Speakers at a discussion on Saturday stressed the need for an industry-academia linkage to reduce skill mismatch.
They also recommended better collaboration, coordination and synchronisation between the industry and academia to secure the country's future economic development as well as to reduce the existing skill mismatch.
The discussion titled "Industry-Academia Linkage: Employability of Graduates in the changing global context" was organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at the trade body's office.
DCCI President Barrister Sameer Sattar chaired the event.
He said the industry-academia linkage was instrumental in creating a skilled and industry-oriented workforce.
"It ensures a workforce -- ready with a specialised skills set for the relevant industries but the linkage has still not been fully developed due to our conventional educational system. The absence of an academia-industry harmony results in an increasing skills gap in the workforce," he said.
"So, it is very important to focus on industry-academia linkage in order to take full advantage of Bangladesh's demographic dividend," he said.
He called for conducting joint research and development activities, developing educational infrastructure, creating a national employment database, arranging need-based curriculum and skills trainings as well as strengthening the technical and vocational education system (TVET).
He said every year US $ 8-10 billion is remitted from Bangladesh as salary paid to foreign workers.
He stressed the need for creating skilled manpower in the country so that "We can save this valuable outward remittance".
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni speaking as the chief guest said the government was stressing commercialisation of research and development initiatives.
She said a transformation in "Our national curriculum system is already visible".
She reiterated the need for bringing in soft skills, re-skilling and up-skilling, team-work development, technology adaptation, changing mindset, demand mapping and expediting TVET education.
She said at present enrolment rate in the TVET is 17 per cent.
Diversification of education is more important, it will not be the right decision to attract students only to medical or engineering education, she said.
Nasreen Afroz, Executive Chairman (Secretary), National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), said the NSDA was keen to create skilled manpower for export.
She also said a 'Skills Qualification Framework' was formed under the chairmanship of the education minister.
Fourteen skills development councils have already been formed.
She expressed her hope that in future the relation between industry and academia would be more expedited.
She also requested industry leaders to arrange such workshops and seminars involving relevant stakeholders.
She further said the NSDA has been arranging funding from the Human Resource Development Fund of the Ministry of Finance for those who were involved in conducting skills development training.
Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Professor of Economics, University of Dhaka and Research Director, SANEM, while presenting the keynote paper has highlighted that one of the challenges of the labour market of Bangladesh is absence of strong linkage between the supply and demand sides- primarily between the academia and the industry.
She said that to address the skills mismatch, strong Industry-Academia linkage was needed.
She further said that by the year 2027 analytical thinking, creative thinking, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data would have more demand. In future technology would create more jobs, she added.
In the panel discussion session, Professor of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Mohammad Abdul Momen stressed need-based curriculum development, development of IT infrastructure, skills training and adopting industry-specific programmes.
Women's participation in "Our industry is very low", he added.
Moreover, he urged the authorities to reduce dependence on foreign workers working in different companies in Bangladesh.
Managing Director of Apex Footwear Limited Syed Nasim Manzur requested for private sector representation in the development process of curriculum to ensure quality education.
Vice Chancellor of BUET Prof. Satya Prasad Majumder underscored the importance of having joint collaboration and cooperation between industry and academia.
Industries should come forward with more research and development with their own investment, he said.
He suggested developing a fourth industrial revolution (4IR) policy.
Member of University Grants Commission (Commission) Prof. Dr. Md. Sazzad Hossain said that UGC was going to establish an industry-academia platform soon.
Former CFO of Snapchat Inc. Imran Khan said that ICT, innovation, digital marketing and IT outsourcing would create a big job opportunity for the graduates.
Country Director of ILO Tuomo Poutiainen and Shafquat Haider, member, governing board, NSDA, also spoke on the occasion.
DCCI Senior Vice President SM Golam Faruk Alamgir (Arman), members of the board of directors, among others, were also present during the seminar.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
© 2025 - All Rights with The Financial Express
