BRAC University, SICIP join hands to strengthen Bangladesh’s industrial skills
BRAC University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP) to implement advanced training programmes to enhance Bangladesh's industrial skills and innovation ecosystem.
Under the agreement, running from October 2025 to December 2028, the university will provide technical and professional training to 1,615 professionals and graduates in two key sectors—information and communication technology (ICT) and pharmaceuticals.
The Government of Bangladesh is implementing SICIP through the Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project, with a total investment of US$375 million, began in October 2023 and aims to train around 220,000 people nationwide by June 2029.
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At the signing ceremony held at the SICIP Conference Room, BRAC University Treasurer Ariful Islam represented the university. The event was chaired by Md Mahfuzul Alam Khan, Additional Secretary and EPD (Additional Charge) (Programme Management-1), SICIP, while Md Manjur Alam Prodhan, Joint Secretary, DEPD (Programme Management), delivered the welcome remarks.
The initiative will promote inclusive participation, including for women and disadvantaged groups, and strengthen university–industry collaboration in green and technology-driven manufacturing and services.
Under the ICT component, BRAC University's Department of Computer Science and Engineering will conduct eight advanced skill development courses (each four months, 100 hours) for 1,440 participants. The courses will cover VLSI Circuit and Layout Design, Digital Physical Design, PCB and IoT Device Design, Firmware Development, Machine Learning, IoT, Data Science, and Blockchain & Fintech Development.
For the pharmaceutical sector, the School of Pharmacy will offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Quality and Regulations (PGD-PQR), a six-month (300-hour) programme for 175 participants. The course will enhance competencies in quality assurance, manufacturing compliance, and international regulatory standards to boost the sector's global competitiveness.
Through this collaboration, BRAC University aims to bridge academic learning with industry-ready skills while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
