The government has moved to strengthen job-oriented higher education by making internship and apprenticeship opportunities more widespread and improving collaboration between universities and industries, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said on Sunday.
He said a major reason behind graduate unemployment is the gap between academic learning and practical skills, adding that many students complete degrees without gaining industry-relevant training.
The prime minister made the remarks while launching a national training programme titled “Inclusion of Skills-Based Education in National University Curriculum” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The initiative, led by the National University, aims to train around 12,000 college teachers across the country in vocational and technical education.
Tarique Rahman said the government plans to make higher education more employment-focused by introducing stronger industry-academia partnerships and expanding mandatory internship opportunities. He said such steps are essential to align education with the needs of the modern job market.
He added that Bangladesh could achieve significant economic progress if its young population is equipped with science, technology and practical skills. According to him, a skilled workforce would help transform the country into a more self-reliant and prosperous nation.
Addressing students, he urged them to prepare for a rapidly changing global environment by improving technical knowledge, character building and adaptability. He also emphasized the importance of learning foreign languages alongside Bangla and English to improve job prospects at home and abroad.
The prime minister said the government is working to build a knowledge-based and innovation-driven education system where research, creativity and skills are given priority. He called for collective efforts from teachers, students, parents, civil society and industry leaders to achieve this goal.
He further stressed that education should not only produce job seekers but also encourage entrepreneurship and innovation, helping drive broader economic and social transformation.
The programme was formally inaugurated by the prime minister using a laptop. National University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ASM Amanullah and others later presented him with a commemorative crest and a sapling.
Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and other officials also attended the event.
Officials said the revised curriculum will include training in freelancing, digital marketing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and entrepreneurship development, aimed at improving graduate employability both locally and internationally.
The initiative is expected to strengthen skills-based education and help bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demand.
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