Seminar on reforming higher education and shaping the future held

A seminar entitled "Reforming the Current Higher Education System and Future Perspectives" was held in the Liberation War and Bangladesh Research Institute conference hall at the City Office of the National University, under the supervision of the International Desk.

The event was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the National University, Professor Dr A S M Amanullah, with Sharmain Ahmed as the chief guest. Dr A Mahbub Uddin—an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Dhaka and a National University's Syndicate member—served as the principal discussant. In contrast, Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haq, President of Bangla Academy and also a Syndicate member of the National University, was present as a special guest.
Professor Dr A S M Amanullah remarked, "Without a clear state vision and mission for developing and maintaining educational infrastructure, one need only look at the state of the National University to gauge the broader challenges in our education sector. Seventy per cent of our students are merely awarded certificates, and many remain unemployed due to the absence of practical, real-world training. Moreover, since the university's establishment in 1992, it has not implemented a curriculum that keeps pace with modern standards—technical education, vocational training or ICT. This shortfall prompted the organisation of today's seminar, aimed at charting new directions through discussions with the country's foremost intellectuals."

He continued, "There is no alternative to developing our education system when building Bangladesh. Quality education is imperative. We must implement a higher education system seamlessly integrating syllabus reform, ICT, and technical training."
The Vice-Chancellor further stated, "If we can supplement our existing honours and master's courses with technical programmes, and if the National University can coordinate these courses to award recognised certificates, our students will gain a competitive edge in the job markets of the Gulf States and European countries. Reforming the National University alone could enable our country to achieve the US $100 billion target in remittances."
Chief guest, writer and educationist Sharmain Ahmed asserted, "The education sector must receive the highest budget allocation." Recalling the era of Syed Tajuddin Ahmed—when education enjoyed peak funding—she added, "A state's vision should be to develop human resources through education. To this end, welfare-oriented education must be implemented under state control. Education should be universal, and all urban or rural institutions must have a unified curriculum."

Dr A I Mahbub Uddin, the seminar's principal discussant, observed, "State-driven thinking and political will are essential for realising higher education. There must be no disparity between urban and rural areas in basic education." He further emphasised that education should be contextually aware, promote tolerance in conduct, uphold humanistic values, and be fundamentally welfare-oriented.
Other notable attendees included the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Md Lutfor Rahman; the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Md Nurul Islam; acting deans from various faculties; the registrar; and department heads, teachers, and officials from across the university.