Govt, UGC Prioritize Skill-Based and Career-Oriented Higher Education
Int'l Conference on Textile Science & Engineering Held at BUTEX
The government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are strictly prioritizing skill-based and career-oriented higher education. At the 4th International Conference on Textile Science and Engineering held at BUTEX, experts emphasized transforming universities into hubs of innovation, research, and industry-academia collaboration to tackle the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and AI.
The government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh are giving top priority to a skill-based and career-oriented education system. Higher education must be designed to produce high-quality, innovative, and technologically advanced graduates. Simultaneously, it must ensure they acquire the essential skills demanded by domestic and international job markets.
These observations were made at the "International Conference on Textile Science and Engineering 2026." The Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) organized this 4th international day-long conference at the university auditorium on Saturday, June 20.
Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milan spoke as the chief guest at the event. Chaired by BUTEX Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Julhas Uddin, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed attended as the special guest. Michael Kokken, Chairman of the Technical Working Group of the Jute and Cocoa Sector under the Ministry of Health of the Netherlands, was the conference speaker. Professor Dr. Bastian Quatgelbaum from Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, Germany, presented the keynote paper. Professor Dr. Md. Ahsan Habib, President of the organizing committee and Dean of the Faculty of Textile Management and Business Studies, delivered the welcome address.
UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed stated that the goal of higher education is not just awarding degrees but preparing students to contribute effectively to national development. UGC aims to establish a higher education model that fosters lifelong collaboration among students, educational institutions, industries, and society. He added that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and a rapidly changing global economy, skilled human resources will be the nation's greatest asset. Therefore, universities must adapt through updated curricula, innovation, and industry-academia cooperation. Graduates must also be enriched with strong moral values and social responsibilities.
A total of 48 research papers were presented orally and 20 research papers were displayed as posters at the conference. Local and foreign retailers, researchers, academics, industry experts, policymakers, and students participated in the event.
//DBTech/SI/EK//
