Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin has outlined what he described as a transformative and long-term vision for the National University, saying the institution is being repositioned to play a central role in Bangladesh’s future workforce development, skills training and higher education reform.
Speaking at the inauguration of a teacher training programme on skill-based education at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Sunday, Mahdi Amin said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has developed a comprehensive roadmap aimed at modernising the National University and aligning it with the demands of a rapidly changing economy.
According to the adviser, the government’s goal is to transform the university from a traditional degree-granting institution into a dynamic centre for research, innovation, vocational training and civic education. He said the reforms are rooted in the Prime Minister’s long-term development vision and commitments outlined in the BNP’s election manifesto.
Mahdi Amin highlighted several initiatives already introduced during the past three and a half months. These include expanding technical and vocational education, creating career and job placement centres, strengthening collaboration between industries and educational institutions, increasing internship and apprenticeship opportunities, and establishing language learning centres to encourage proficiency in additional languages.
Other programmes include the “Learning with Happiness” initiative, the “One Student, One Tree” campaign and environmental projects such as canal excavation activities. He said these measures are designed to produce skilled, responsible and self-reliant graduates capable of contributing to national development.
Emphasising the significance of the institution, Mahdi Amin noted that the National University oversees more than 2,285 affiliated colleges and serves over three million students, making it one of the largest higher education networks in the world. He said reforms at the university would have a far-reaching impact on education quality, employment prospects and human resource development across the country.
The adviser also announced efforts to eliminate session backlogs and improve academic efficiency through the digitisation of examinations and result management systems. He said the government wants to build an education framework that promotes employability, social responsibility and patriotism while preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman formally inaugurated the programme, which was attended by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek, National University Vice-Chancellor Professor ASM Amanullah and other senior officials.
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