Jakarta:The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced plans to introduce three specialized skill-development courses at universities nationwide starting in January next year, aimed at better equipping students for the job market.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, UGC member Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun revealed this decision during a discussion on "Bridging Academia and Industry for Sustainable Development Research Excellence, Innovation and Industrialization," where he served as the chief guest.
The event was organized by the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Begum Rokeya University, chaired by the university's Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Shawkat Ali. Prof Mamun emphasized that academic knowledge alone is insufficient for success in the job market, highlighting the importance of additional professional skills.
He detailed that the new courses will focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), employability skills, ethics, and professionalism. These courses will be part of the UGC's Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project, designed to equip students with skills necessary for modern workplaces.
Prof Mamun also mentioned that the current government's election manifesto prioritizes modernizing the education sector, promoting third-language education, and enhancing industry-academia collaboration and internationalization of education. He encouraged students to develop soft skills and entrepreneurial abilities rather than depending solely on employment opportunities.
The discussion was attended by teachers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders of the university.