DHAKA, June 4, 2024 (BSS) - The government has appointed Ernst and

Young (EY) India to develop strategic initiatives for Smart Leadership
Academy (SLA) set up to create smart leaders and promoting a citizen-centric culture to navigate Fourth Industrial revolution.

To this end, the World Bank financed Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) of ICT Division recently signed a contract with EY India to develop strategic foresight covering tasks and initiatives for Smart Leadership Academy (SLA) in line with government's Smart Bangladesh vision and the world perspectives.

EY India today formally started their works by arranging a workshop held at the conference room of EDGE, Youth Tower, in the city, said a press release.

While speaking at the workshop, ICT Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin said
the strategic initiative should be developed keeping in mind the rapid technological shift and meticulously outlined the precise tasks
essential to effectively operate SLA for advancing the Smart Bangladesh vision.

Chaired by EDGE Project Director Md Shakhawat Hossain, the function
was addressed, among others by, BCC Executive Director Ranajit Kumar,
EDGE Policy Adviser Md Abdur Bari and EDGE Policy Development
Specialist Amdadul Huq.

People Consulting Director of the EY India Debarchana presented key
note on strategic initiative tools and methodologies for Smart
Leadership Academy.

Officials of ICT Division and representatives from industry and
academia participated in the workshop and shared their opinion about
the proposed strategic foresight for Smart Leadership Academy.

Shamsul Arefin emphasized the urgent need to adapt to the swift
technological transition reshaping our surroundings, cautioning that
failure to do so would result in falling behind.

He said there are apprehension of losing jobs with the emergence of
frontier technologies, but the reality is more jobs will be created
due to use more equipment in making robotics and AI tools.

"The potential for job creation through domestic robot manufacturing
is immense," he said.
Arefin asserted, advocating for the engagement of polytechnic students
in digital and hardware skills training initiatives to establish a hub
for hardware repair, thereby generating employment and curbing foreign
currency expenditure.

The strategic initiatives for Smart Leadership Academy to be developed
by EY India will cover four pivotal areas: designing strategic
foresight tools and methodologies, conducting thorough needs
assessment for all stakeholders, developing course curricula, and
transferring knowledge.

The strategic initiative tools and methodologies will be integrated
with Smart Leadership Academy, said People Consulting Senior Manager
of EY India M Surya Narayana Sasthry.

"Once SLA becomes operational, it will serve as a central hub,
collaborating with academic institutions that will function as the
spokes of a dynamic network. This partnership will enable a seamless
flow of knowledge and resources, cultivating an ecosystem designed to
create future leaders," he added.