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Stronger collaboration between academia and industry will improve the quality of higher education, expand research opportunities and produce a more employment-oriented skilled workforce, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh Member Professor Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun said on Wednesday.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a seminar on “Industry-Academia Collaboration” and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) and five industrial and business organisations.
Dr Mamun said establishing effective partnerships between universities and industry is one of the government’s priorities. Such collaboration would enable students to receive practical education, strengthen research and acquire skills aligned with labour market demands.
He said the agreements signed by JUST would help modernise teaching and research while improving graduates’ employment prospects.
Highlighting future initiatives, the UGC member said the government plans to establish AI Cities in every divisional headquarters to expand opportunities for young people to develop artificial intelligence-related skills.
He also said Sports Villages are planned at the district level to promote sports as a viable profession and create new employment opportunities for students of sports science.
Earlier, while addressing a separate seminar titled “July 2024: Mass Uprising, Struggle and the Dream of a New Bangladesh,” Dr Mamun said the 2024 uprising was not solely a student movement but a broader public movement involving people from different walks of life seeking an inclusive and discrimination-free society.
He said the movement was driven by aspirations for freedom of expression, the promotion of free thinking and an end to authoritarianism.
The seminar was chaired by JUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iyarul Kabir. Among others, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan, Treasurer Professor Dr Mohammad Faruk Hasan, and July movement participant Md Ismail Hossain addressed the programme.
The event, moderated by Dr Md Rafiul Hasan, Director of the Student Counselling and Guidance Office, was attended by deans, department heads, teachers, students, officers and employees of the university.
Later, Dr Mamun joined a tree plantation programme on the university campus aimed at protecting the environment and mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change.
