JICA wants to cooperate in the development of ICT Sector for creating skilled engineers
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is interested in effective cooperation in the real development of the country's information and communication technology sector, creating skilled manpower and reducing the 'knowledge gap' between students and professionals in this sector.
The proposal was made during a courtesy call on a six-member JICA delegation with the Bangladesh University Grants Commission Chairman (Additional Duties) Professor Dr. Muhammad Alamgir.
The meeting was held at UGC on Tuesday, February 13. The meeting was attended by Tasuku Yusida of JICA headquarters; Shoji Akihiro, chief advisor of JICA expert team; project coordinator Katsuki Naho; JICA expert team members Takeuchi Tomonari and Nakane Nozomu, and administrative officer Farzana Charlin.
In addition, UGC Director of Planning and Development Department Mohammad Maksudur Rahman Bhuiyan and the Project Director of Improving Computer and Software Engineering Tertiary Education Project (ICSETEP) Professor Dr. Md. Aminul Haque Akand was present.
Professor Alamgir said, there is a shortage of practical skills of graduates in the country. UGC is working to transform the quality of higher education in the country and enhance the skills of graduates. Outcome Based Education Curriculum has been introduced in universities.
He also said that to increase the skills of graduates, all universities have taken the initiative to introduce mandatory internship for undergraduate students. For this reason, universities have been advised to coordinate with various industrial institutions. Besides, he also said that initiatives will be taken to conduct various training and certificate courses to improve the skills of graduates through the National Skill Development Authority.
Prof. Alamgir urged the industrial institutions to communicate their need to the UGC and universities of the country and come forward to make the new graduates marketable through various trainings. He said that the ongoing ICSETEP project of UGC will work together to achieve the target.
Tasuku Yusida said, under the project, we want to play a role in creating skilled engineers in the information and communication technology sector, developing advanced training modules and curriculum. JIKA expects the cooperation of UGC for the development of ICT sector in the university.
Notably, Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services-BASIS, Bangladesh Computer Council and JICA have jointly undertaken a project called 'JICA-BCC-BASIS: Technical Cooperation Project (TCP)' to enhance the skills of IT engineers in Bangladesh.
This 3.5-year technical cooperation project has created a sustainable framework for human resource development to advance the IT industry in Bangladesh. Under this project, skilled human resource in ICT will be developed in the university.
