National University updates ICT curriculum

National University will publish its revised information and communication technology syllabus online within a week, while new professional and skills-based courses are being planned to better prepare students for the changing labour market, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A S M Amanullah said.

He made the remarks while chairing the opening ceremony of the National University Inter-College Sports Competition 2026 at the Rangpur Division level at Dinajpur Government College on Saturday.

The Vice-Chancellor said the country could not achieve its desired progress by remaining confined to a conventional education system. The changing global environment and labour-market demands require greater dynamism in education, he said.

He said the university had already begun updating its courses and curricula and that the reform process had made significant progress. Professional and skills-based courses would be introduced in the future based on the needs of students and the government.

Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain said students and young people should receive appropriate institutional guidance and training to benefit from freelancing and modern technology.

Speaking as chief guest at the opening ceremony, he praised National University initiatives aimed at connecting students with sports, technology, language education and employment-oriented training beyond textbooks.

He said the university could use its extensive network of affiliated colleges across the country to rapidly deliver technology and skills training to a large number of students.

The minister stressed the importance of life-oriented and skills-based education in preparing young people for future challenges.

He said educational institutions should become campuses for developing people rather than platforms for partisan activities. Students should be given opportunities in sports, technology and employment-oriented skills while learning in a positive environment.

He also highlighted the government’s “Learning with Happiness” programme, under which students are being encouraged to participate in cultural and sporting activities alongside academic studies.

The Vice-Chancellor said students’ physical and mental wellbeing should receive equal attention alongside higher education. He said the university wanted students to develop as healthy, confident and responsible citizens.

He also announced plans to establish a National University regional campus in Dinajpur, saying regional expansion would make education and skills-development opportunities more accessible to students.

Youth and Sports State Minister Md Aminul Haque said the government was implementing long-term plans to increase youth skills. He said two training sessions had been successfully completed during his first seven months in office, with participants able to earn foreign currency through freelancing after three months of training.

He said the programmes would continue until employment opportunities were ensured.

The state minister also highlighted government initiatives in sports, including sports allowances for talented athletes, completion of the first round of the “Notun Kuri Sports” programme and plans to establish sports villages in every district and stadiums at the upazila level.

A total of 1,154 student-athletes who won first place and gold medals at the district level are participating in the Rangpur Division competition. They include 754 male and 400 female athletes competing in 72 events, including football, cricket, volleyball, kabaddi, swimming and athletics.

The competition was organised by the university’s Directorate of Physical Education and Cultural Affairs as part of the “Learning with Happiness” programme. The three-day competition will conclude with the finals on 6 October. Gold medal winners at the divisional level will later have the opportunity to compete in the national final sports competition.

The competition was formally inaugurated by raising the national and university flags and releasing balloons at Dinajpur Government College.

The event was attended by university officials, local administration representatives, teachers, students, athletes and other stakeholders.

//DBTech/SPMC/MVNO/BPC//