BARD launches training management software

Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) has launched software on Tuesday to facilitate its training management system.

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharya attended the launching ceremony as the chief guest while Senior Secretary to Information and Communication Technology Department NM Ziaul Alam and Secretary to Rural Development and Cooperatives Md Rezaul Ahsan were also present as special guests, said a press release issued yesterday.

Md Abdul Mannan, a2i project director (additional secretary), delivered the welcome speech while Farhad Zahid Sheikh, chief e-Governance strategist of a2i, gave an overview of the software's context, service methods, subsequent tasks and overall management procedure. 

The system software has been designed by Digital Service Design Lab run by Digital Services Accelerator of Aspire to Innovate (a2i) programme being implemented by the Cabinet Division and Department of Information and Communication Technology in collaboration with UNDP.

In his speech, Swapan Bhattacharya said, "It is a great pleasure that we are launching this software in the month of victory. The philosophy of the Father of the Nation was to build a modern society without exploitation. With this philosophy in mind and under the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, all infrastructure and services of the country are being digitised within just 50 years of independence."

"BARD's initiative is in continuation of this digitisation. From this current context, we can understand that the more a person or organisation stays ahead in digital medium, the more enriched the person or organisation will be," he added.

The state minister praised the role of BARD in helping Bangladesh move forward.

NM Ziaul Alam said due to the guidance and sincerity of Prime Minister's ICT adviser Sajib Wajed Joy, activities of these modules are being implemented at a fast pace.

Emphasising training of those responsible for Bangladesh's progress at this time, he said, "In this case, this software is especially useful for training related organisations, because through this software, the work of training module and monitoring can be done quite easily and accurately."

Md Rezaul Ahsan said, "We have been able to complete the work of this software on the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation. It is a matter of great pride for us." 

"The work on the software started in 2017 under a project with an aim to improve BARD's physical facilities." 

Bird has been providing training to various levels of officials at home and abroad, including the development of various models related to rural development. 

In this context, in line with the implementation of Digital Bangladesh, an initiative was taken to develop ERP software related to BARD automation under BARD's Physical Facilities Development Project. 

The activities of nine modules have been undertaken under this ERP software. The Training Management Methodology (TMS) module has already been piloted. The software will primarily benefit trainees, course management team and training department team. 

With this software, the trainees will be able to easily complete all the tasks – from registration to certificate collection -- from institutions concerned accurately and without any hassle. This will save 80% of their time and 45% of their money.

Presided over by Director General of BARD Md Shahjahan, the function was also attended by Ranjan Kumar Guha, joint director of BARD, MJ Ferdous, chief operating officer, Software Technical Team Brain Station-23, and Bangladesh Institute of Administration and Administration Director General M Mizanur Rahman.