BOU VC stresses skills, knowledge over result race
Bangladesh Open University (BOU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan has announced that the university will eradicate session backlogs by 2027 through the automation of examinations and administrative processes.
In a recent media interview, he noted that unhealthy competition among parents over children's academic results is undermining the true purpose of education.
He urged guardians to shift their focus towards fostering students as knowledgeable, skilled, and creative human resources.
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Since its establishment in 1992, BOU has provided educational opportunities for marginalised and working populations through an open and distance learning system, according to the vice-chancellor.
Currently, more than 350,000 students are enrolled in programmes from SSC to PhD across the university's 12 regional centres, 63 sub-regional centres, and over 1,500 study centres nationwide.
He added that initiatives have been undertaken to modernise and enhance the quality of academic activities in line with the global emphasis on quality education.
To enhance the effectiveness of distance learning, BOU plans to leverage its media centre, launch a 24-hour IP television channel, and provide learning materials via a mobile application.
Regarding the expansion of academic activities for Bangladeshi expatriate workers, he said BOU programmes are already active in countries including the Middle East and South Korea, with further initiatives under way to enter Singapore and Malaysia.
The vice-chancellor emphasised the growing importance of technical and vocational education in a technology-driven world, noting that BOU aims to expand these offerings to help develop a skilled workforce.
Emphasising research, he asserted that a university's primary responsibility is to generate new knowledge, underscoring the need for greater investment and stronger public–private partnerships.
Professor Siddiqur Rahman Khan urged students to focus not only on academic achievement but also on building a strong foundation and practical skills, which he said are essential to creating a knowledge-based society.
