Photo: Collected
A panel discussion titled ‘Improving the quality of technical education, professional recognition and increasing future employment opportunities’ was held on Sunday, the closing day of the three-day technical education and innovation fair organised by the Cumilla District Technical, Vocational Education and Training Institution Forum (TVET) at the Cumilla Town Hall ground.
Speakers at the discussion said it is impossible to survive in the present competitive job market with a conventional education system and an old curriculum. Industry linkage has to be increased in the education system to eliminate unemployment and turn the youth into skilled human resources.
PSC member and Dhaka University professor Dr Chowdhury Saima Ferdous, Cumilla University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr M M Shariful Karim, former secretary and Desco chairman Dr Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, and Dhaka Technical Teachers’ Training Institute Principal Dr Engr Md Shakhawat Ali spoke as panellists. The discussion was moderated by Prof Dr Md Tariqul Islam Chowdhury, founder and chairman of the CCN education family.
Dhaka University professor Dr Chowdhury Saima Ferdous said the gap between academia and the practical sector has to be bridged when preparing the curriculum. In this age of artificial intelligence (AI), the curriculum must be made technology-based. She proposed creating opportunities for students to have classes three days a week and hands-on work in industry on the remaining three days, so that students can gain the necessary experience before finishing their studies.
In his closing remarks, Cumilla University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr M M Shariful Karim said that besides changing the mindset of teachers and students, a time-befitting education policy combining technical and general education is needed. The existing gap between diploma and BSc degrees has to be removed and industry linkage with institutional education increased. He further said that in private-sector jobs, not just an institutional degree but rather the candidate’s competence, skills and creativity are the main key to success.
