DHAKA, July 6, 2024 (BSS) - Speakers at a roundtable today said Research and
Development (R&D) should get more priority both in the public and private
universities to get skilled graduates for meeting both the local and global
market demand.

Moreover, they also stressed the need to focus on how to mitigate the
requirements and the skill gap.

Academicians and industry owners said this at a roundtable discussion titled
"Strengthening Collaboration between the Private Sector & Academia: The Way
Forward" organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in the
capital today.

Academicians from different renowned public and private universities took
part in the discussion to identify the challenges of industry-academia
collaboration.

DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed said every year around two million graduates are
entering into the job market, but it is not possible to accommodate all of
them. "According to BIDS, unemployment among graduates in the country is 66
percent," he said.
 
Furthermore, he said a World Bank (WB) survey reveals that 46 percent of
employers struggle to find job seekers with the necessary skills while 69
percent report shortages of skilled manpower for technical and managerial
roles.

Ashraf said experts are being hired from outside for key positions to run the
industry and billions of dollars are flowing out of the country. "On the
other hand, due to lack of skills, our manpower is not getting highly paid
jobs abroad."

Industry-academia needs to work together to develop both soft and hard skills
of the graduates, he added.

Besides, shared efforts and contributions by universities and private sector
on research of contemporary matters can enrich and create new learning on
macroeconomic matters, the DCCI president continued.

Dr. Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder, Professor of BUET, said there should have
been a strong trust between the industry and academia sector.

In Bangladesh, the university curriculum is quite good, but in some cases few
good things can be included, he said, adding: "But frequent changes in
curriculum will not bring any good result for the students."

Vice-Chancellor (VC) of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB),
Professor Imran Rahman said around 40 percent of young graduates are still
unemployed while there is a need to do something for them.

He therefore suggested for apprenticeship for better learning out of the
theoretical background.

Imran also urged for popularizing ICT and science-based education more to
compete with the rapidly moving world. Moreover, he said private funding in
the university Research and Development or students' projects should get tax
benefits.

Prof of North South University (NSU) Dr. AKM Waresul Karim, Dean of
Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Brigadier General Mohammad
Saadat Hossain, its Director of International Affairs Lieutenant colonel
(retd) Khondoker Zahirul alam, Prof Dr. Mohammad Zahedul Alam, Assistant
Director of FBS Md. Yeashir Arafat, Dean of Dhaka International University
(DIU) Prof Dr. Mohammed Masum Iqbal, Pro-VC of American International
University-Bangladesh (AIUB) Dr. Md. Abdur Rahman, its Prof Dr. Partha P.
Chowdhury, Prof of United International University (UIU) Dr. Salma Karim, its
Associate Prof Dr. Md. Quamruzzaman, Dean of Northern University Bangladesh
(NUB) Prof Nazmul Ahsan Khan, its Assistant Prof Khairul Alam and Prof of
Institute of Business Administration (IBA) University of Dhaka (DU) Dr.
Khaled Mahmud also took part in the discussion.

The speakers also suggested for utilizing corporate CSR funds for university
research and development work.

Speakers also recommended a faster approval process of the new curriculum by
the University Grants Commission (UGC). They also requested the private
sector to come forward for students' project funding.

DCCI Vice-President Md. Junaed Ibna Ali, Director Mohammad Saifur Rahman Saif
and Convenor Ismet Zerin Khan were also present at the discussion.