National University’s Next Step: NUD and ICT Division to Drive Digital Transformation
The government’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division has pledged full technical and technological support to the National University (NU) to implement automated systems for examination results and other administrative activities.
The assurance came from Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, while attending a workshop on “Development of Online Training Content for Teachers to Implement ICT Curriculum of National University” held at a resort in Mawa, Gazipur, on Friday, October 10.
The three-day workshop, organized by the National University, was technically supported by the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Programme of the ICT Division and UNICEF Bangladesh. It focused on online training design, script writing, content validation, and finalization of online training materials.
Participants included ICT teachers from affiliated colleges under the National University, teacher trainers, content development experts, and representatives from UNICEF Bangladesh, a2i, and NU.
Joining the event virtually, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said, “The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology will work jointly with the National University to introduce automated systems for swift publication of examination results and to implement any technology-driven initiatives.”
In his keynote address, Taiyeb noted that the National University—being the largest higher education institution in the country—has 2,257 affiliated colleges with more than 3.5 million students, accounting for 70 percent of Bangladesh’s tertiary-level learners. “Most of these students come from middle- and lower-middle-class families. Unfortunately, many remain unemployed after graduation because of outdated syllabi and a lack of technical and English proficiency,” he observed.
He added, “To prepare this large student population for global challenges and growing competition, the National University has made ICT and English compulsory at the undergraduate level. The ICT Division will provide full support to ensure the successful implementation of this forward-looking initiative.”
Emphasizing the importance of online training in skill development, Taiyeb remarked, “Online teacher training is a timely and essential initiative. It allows students from remote areas to participate equally in the learning process.”
Presiding over the inaugural session, National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah said, “Due to inadequate investment in education after independence, our nation still lags behind its contemporaries. Now is the time to prioritize education. With the government’s a2i and UNICEF’s support, the development of ICT courses has already produced promising results. We hope to introduce this curriculum soon so that students can gain the skills necessary for both employment and entrepreneurship.”
UNICEF Chief of Education Deepa Sankar also addressed the event virtually. Other speakers included a2i Project Director Md. Abdur Rafiq, Policy Analyst Afzal Hossain Sarwar, Head of Programme Abdullah Al Fahim, and UNICEF Education Specialist Rafiqul Islam Sujon.
