NU and a2i sign MoU to enhance ICT-driven skill development

In a significant step towards advancing technology-enabled education and workforce readiness, the National University and Aspire to Innovate (a2i), under the ICT Division, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at 3:00 PM at the ICT Division's conference room in Dhaka.

Professor Dr S M Amanullah, Vice-Chancellor of the National University, and Md Rashidul Mannaf Kabir, Joint Secretary and Acting Project Director of a2i, signed the agreement. The partnership forms part of the National University's broader initiative to enhance the employability and technical proficiency of its students and faculty.

The MoU aims to equip students with essential digital skills to prepare them for the challenges of a rapidly evolving global workforce. It envisions curriculum enrichment, training modules, and collaborative development of ICT-based tools and resources.
Faez Ahmed Tayyab, Special Assistant to the Principal Adviser and Chief Guest at the event, stressed the importance of building ICT fluency among students. He urged the university to adopt a demand-driven curriculum that is aligned with current technological needs and capable of fostering entrepreneurship and life skills.

Guest of Honour and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr A S M Amanullah stated, "With over 70% of the country's higher education students under the National University, mastering technology and science is no longer optional—it is essential." He noted that while the world is progressing through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, many students in Bangladesh still have yet to benefit from the First fully. He emphasised the urgent need to upskill students and faculty in artificial intelligence and other modern digital tools.

In his closing remarks, Shish Hayder Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division, reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting the National University in all ICT-related endeavours as part of a broader reform agenda to build a smarter Bangladesh.
Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor Md Lutfor Rahman and Professor Dr Nurul Islam, deans, department heads, senior faculty, and high-level officials from the National University and a2i were also present at the ceremony.