Industry-academia linkage to reduce skill mismatch urged
City Desk :
Speakers at a seminar stressed on industry-academia linkage to reduce skills mismatch in various sectors in the country. They said this while addressing a seminar on “Industry-Academia Linkage: Employability of Graduates in changing the global context” held in the capital organized recently by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni spoke at the seminar as chief guest while Executive Chairman (Secretary), National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) Nasreen Afroz spoke as guest of honour that was presided over by DCCI president Barrister Sameer Sattar.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Dipu Moni stressed for commercialization of research and development initiatives, reports BSS.
She opined that a transformation in the national curriculum system is already visible. She also reiterated for bringing in soft skills, re-skilling and up-skilling, team-work development, technology adaptation, changing of mindset, demand mapping and expediting the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Dr Dipu Moni informed that at present the enrollment rate in the TVET is 17%.
She said diversification of education is more important as it will not be the right decision to attract the students only to medical or engineering education system.
Rather, she said the students should have a mentality to come into nursing, modern farming, freelancing and other jobs since these sectors have also created a huge demand now a days.
In this regard, the Education Minister urged to change the mindset because no occupation is superior to the others. Nasreen Afroz, Executive Chairman (Secretary) of the NSDA said that the NSDA is keen to create skilled manpower.
She also informed that a ‘Skills Qualification Framework’ has been formed under the Chairmanship of the Education Minister. Fourteen (14) skills development councils have already been formed, she informed.
Nasreen expressed her hope that in future the relation between the industry and the academia will be more expedited. She also requested the industry leaders to arrange such workshops and seminars incorporating relevant stakeholders.
