Skills, AI, and Innovation: Tarique Rahman Unveils Higher Education Reform Agenda
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized the importance of ethics, mental health, social inclusion, and environmental awareness alongside technological competence, while urging students to learn a third language in addition to Bangla and English.
Announcing sweeping reforms in higher education aimed at building a democratic Bangladesh founded on knowledge and merit after the end of authoritarian rule, he said that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence (AI), the country must move beyond certificate-based education and establish a technology- and skills-oriented education system.
The Prime Minister made these remarks on Sunday, June 7, while inaugurating a teacher training program on skills-based education within the curriculum of National University.
He stated that one and a half decades of authoritarian governance had severely damaged the country’s education system. Restoring it and building a knowledge-based society, he said, is essential to honoring the sacrifices of martyrs and pro-democracy citizens.
Highlighting the need to make education more practical and industry-oriented to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Tarique Rahman noted that while AI and automation are eliminating many traditional occupations, they are simultaneously creating new employment opportunities. In response, the government is incorporating subjects such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, programming, digital entrepreneurship, financial literacy, genetic engineering, quantum computing, nanotechnology, and 5G technology into academic curricula.
He observed that many educated young people continue to face unemployment despite possessing advanced academic qualifications due to a lack of practical skills. To address this issue, the government is making university-industry collaboration, internships, and industry-academia linkages mandatory.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that the institution established in 1992 by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia now plays a significant role in shaping the future of more than 2,000 colleges and nearly four million students across the country.
He further announced initiatives to connect universities in divisional cities with local industries and business enterprises so that students can develop professional competencies alongside their academic studies.
To encourage youth entrepreneurship, the government has decided to introduce seed funding and innovation grants. This initiative will enable students to launch their own business ventures while pursuing their education.
Describing teachers as catalysts for social transformation, the Prime Minister said that national development cannot be achieved by any single individual or institution. Rather, it requires a collective effort involving universities, teachers, students, parents, civil society, and industry stakeholders working together to build a skilled, knowledge-driven Bangladesh.
//DBTech/BMBU/IH/OR//
