Khosru urges universities to go job-ready
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has urged universities to align higher education with employment and entrepreneurship, saying academic programmes must reflect economic needs and labour market realities.
He made the remarks while addressing the ‘Vice-Chancellors’ Dialogue: Shaping the Future of Higher Education’, a two-day national policy dialogue organised under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project of the University Grants Commission (UGC) at BRAC CDM in Savar on Friday.
Bangladesh’s universities need to rethink their academic priorities to ensure higher education translates into employment, entrepreneurship and economic development, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said.
He urged authorities to consider priority sectors, employment prospects and entrepreneurial opportunities when establishing new universities and introducing faculties and subjects.
“Higher education subjects and curricula must be determined in line with the country’s economic needs and labour market realities. The goal of higher education should not be limited to obtaining certificates; it should also prepare students for employment and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Amir Khosru stressed the need for stronger collaboration between universities and industries, saying close links between the two sectors are common in many countries.
“Why can’t we develop industry-university interaction in Bangladesh? Around the world, universities and industries are seriously connected. We need to utilise this potential,” he said.
He called on universities to identify the reasons behind weak university-industry links and the mismatch between education and labour market requirements.
“Why can’t we change our education system in relation to the job market?” he asked, stressing the need to establish a stronger relationship between education and employment.
The minister also said national and international rankings of universities affect employment opportunities, global recognition and the overall image of the country.
Amir Khosru described research as a fundamental component of higher education and urged universities to connect research more closely with industry.
“Research is fundamental for education. We need to determine our priorities in research and explore how we can connect research with industry,” he said.
He urged universities to conduct research addressing real-life problems faced by industries and businesses, while calling on the private sector to finance university research and commercially utilise its findings.
“Research should not remain confined to publications; it must contribute to national development and people’s welfare,” he said.
Questioning the academic structures of newly established universities, the minister said faculties and academic programmes should be selected according to specific educational, regional and employment needs.
“I do not know under what consideration these faculties have been selected. I don’t see the reason,” he said.
Establishing new universities was a positive development, he said, but their programmes should address the needs of the regions where they are located.
“What target are we trying to fulfil through these universities? Do people in those areas have proper opportunities to enter the job market?” he asked.
He said newly established universities had an advantage because they could be designed from the outset to address existing challenges in higher education.
Amir Khosru said he would request the UGC to formulate guidelines on faculties and subjects at newly established universities, taking into account regional needs, priority sectors and employment opportunities.
Despite fiscal constraints, education received the government’s highest allocation, the minister said.
“Despite our fiscal deficit, we have given the highest allocation to education,” he said, adding that the allocation covers university education, skills development and other major education-related programmes.
The government remains committed to increasing investment in education, he said, mentioning a target of raising education expenditure to five percent of GDP as the economy grows.
On private universities, Amir Khosru said the government had addressed their tax-related issue and urged institutions to make their compliance with government requirements visible through annual reports.
“Doing is not enough; it should be seen. Present your compliance through your annual reports with facts and figures,” he said.
Transparent reporting of university activities, including research expenditure and outcomes, would help improve institutions’ reputation and rankings, he added.
Education and Primary and Mass Education Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Mahdi Amin, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek, UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, former UGC Chairman Professor Dr S M A Faiz, and vice-chancellors of public and private universities, among others, attended the programme.
The two-day dialogue brings together vice-chancellors of around 65 public and private universities, policymakers, academics and experts to discuss strategic leadership and governance, quality teaching and assessment, research and innovation, university-industry collaboration, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
Four sessions were held on the first day, with the remaining sessions scheduled for Saturday. Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon is scheduled to attend the concluding session.
