Mandatory Internships and Soft Skills Training Announced at IU Orientation
UGC to Build Digital Campuses Nationwide
- UGC announces plans for seamless Wi-Fi, digital classrooms, and full digital campuses across all universities
- Mandatory internship programs with financial stipends and soft skill modules to be launched soon
- Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon joined the IU orientation virtually as chief guest
In a bid to connect Bangladeshi students with global research, knowledge, and educational resources, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled plans to transform every university campus across the country into a fully digital ecosystem. The initiative will begin with high-speed, seamless Wi-Fi coverage to power 'Digital Classrooms', culminating in comprehensive 'Digital Campuses'.
UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed made the announcement today, Saturday (August 1), while addressing as a special guest at the central orientation ceremony for first-year undergraduate students (2025–26 session) at the Bir Shreshtha Hamidur Rahman Auditorium of Islamic University (IU), Kushtia.
Stressing the urgency of equipping students for the modern tech-driven global job market, the UGC Chairman highlighted that graduates must possess digital literacy, communication expertise, and critical thinking skills. To ensure this, the government and UGC will soon launch a nationwide 'Soft Skills Development Program'.
Connecting academia directly to employment, Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed announced a major policy initiative: Mandatory Internships. "We plan to integrate compulsory internships into higher education degree programs across public, private, and industrial sectors. Efforts are also underway to bring these internships under financial stipend schemes so that students gain real-world career experience before graduation," he stated.
Acknowledging the unique identity of Islamic University, the UGC Chairman noted that its integration of modern science, tech education, and Islamic values positions it uniquely in the country's academic landscape.
Presiding over the event, IU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A K M Matinur Rahman sought UGC's assistance for constructing boundary walls to enhance campus safety, building a permanent sports stadium, repairing access roads, and expediting recruitment allocations to resolve faculty shortages.
Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon joined the orientation virtually as the chief guest, while Mahdi Amin, Advisor for Education and Primary & Mass Education, participated as a special guest via video conference.
Professor Dr. S M Abdul Awal, Chief Coordinator for SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, delivered the keynote orientation address. Other notable attendees included UGC Member Prof. Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun, Meherpur University VC Prof. Dr. Tofazzal Hossain, IU Pro-VC Prof. Dr. Md. Emtaj Hossain, Treasurer Prof. Dr. Md. Idris Ali, and Registrar Prof. Dr. Monjurul Hoque.
//DBTech/SME/MIS//
