Universities should focus on building skilled workforce for employment: President
The president says universities should prioritise technical and technology-related education to produce graduates who meet labour market needs at home and abroad, while urging private universities to waive tuition fees for poor and meritorious students.
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (17 October) said the primary objective of public and private universities should be producing a skilled workforce suitable for employments at home and abroad.
"The higher education system must be developed through a coordinated and holistic approach so that it can produce a skilled workforce suitable for labour markets at home and abroad, ensuring that no one remains unemployed," he said.
The president made these remarks when a delegation of Southeast University Board of Trustees led by its Chairman Rezaul Karim paid a courtesy call on him at the Bangabhaban today.
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Southeast University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Yusuf Mahbubul Islam was present, among others, President's Press Secretary Sarwar Alam told BSS.
The president, also chancellor of the university, said, "We have to recruit workers from abroad to run various industries, factories, corporate organisations and specialised institutions, as well as different private organisations, despite having a large number of unemployed university graduates."
He urged universities to focus on modern and high-quality education in technical, engineering and technology-related fields.
He also advised industrial and corporate organisations to develop suitable and competent workers through proper training.
The president called on private universities to waive tuition fees for poor and meritorious students.
During the meeting, the Board of Trustees chairman briefed the president on the university's overall academic activities.
"The university provides tuition fee waivers or scholarships at varying rates, amounting to an average of around Tk 32 crore annually, for meritorious, financially disadvantaged and special-quota students," he said.
He invited the president to attend the university's upcoming convocation. The president accepted the invitation and assured the delegation that he would attend the event.
President's military secretary and press secretary, as well as the university's Board of Trustees member secretary, members, pro-vice-chancellor, registrar and adviser, were present at the meeting.
