Develop curriculum with technological advancement: State Minister for ICT

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Wednesday urged the academicians to prepare curriculum to keep pace with rapid technological advancement.

“It’s a difficult task to update curriculum every year. In this case, universities can initiate top up training programmes to address the global needs,” he said while addressing a workshop entitled ‘Skills Development of ICT Engineers on IT Engineers Examination (ITEE) Targeting Japanese Market’ at UGC. He also said Japan is an important market for us. “A significant number of jobs will be created in IT sector through this initiative.”

University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) jointly organized the workshop to raise awareness and facilitate the IT Engineers Examination so that the Bangladeshi IT graduates can enhance their knowledge and skills.

The State Minister emphasized to adopt 4IR (4th Industrial Revolution) programmes replacing labor oriented jobs to get developed nation status by 2041. “We are working to create a pool of quality manpower, enhance graduates’ employability and meet objectives of Digital Bangladesh. Academicians need to carry out research on 4IR. ICT ministry in association with UGC will set up research and incubation centres, specialized labs in every university,” he added.

In his presidential speech UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Kazi Shaidullah said that last decades, skill requirements of jobs have changed enormously with the advancement of technology. “We need to take steps to prepare our youth force for the global markets,” he said adding our graduates needs to be trained well with the updated knowledge and skills. He also said Japan has opened up market for our IT graduates. “We have to take full advantage of the opportunity,” he said.

UGC Member and convener of the workshop committee Professor Dr. Md. Sazzad Hossain, in his welcome address, said that knowledge and technology will be exchanged through ITEE and it will also help to transform our graduates into human recourses.”

The programme was addressed, among others, by NM Zeaul Alam, Senior Secretary, ICT Division, Hiroyuki Yamaya, Minister, Embassy of Japan, Parthapratim Deb, Executive Director, BCC, and Yuji Ando, Country Representative, Japan External Trade Organisation spoke at the workshop. UGC Members, Vice Chancellors from different public and private universities, faculty members of engineering departments, IT industrialists, were also present.