Clicky
Editorial

Higher education facing big challenges

Time-befitting curriculum a must


Bangladeshpost
Published : 28 May 2024 10:41 PM

While speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the newly appointed teachers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Bangladesh, University Grants Commission Chairman (Additional) Professor Dr Muhammad Alamgir says the higher education sector of the country is passing tough time with big challenges. And there is no alternative to improving the quality of higher education in the greater national interest.

We have entered the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Some 50 percent of the traditional work will be done with artificial intelligence in the next 5 to 10 years. The country will see a rise in unemployment rate unless a highly skilled workforce is created to cope with the emerging situation. Taking this into account, changes need to be brought in the curriculum of the higher education to make our manpower suitable for the future labour market.

The university authorities will have to formulate a time-befitting curriculum at every institution for higher studies to keep pace with the global advancement. They will have to work hard in order to make the country’s education programmes time-befitting in line with global standards. As the world is progressing, science and technology are also advancing. So, there is no alternative to improve the quality of our higher education. A large number of youths are completing their graduate and postgraduate degrees every year. However, many of them are not getting jobs as there is a mismatch between the education they achieved and job market at home and abroad.  Our higher educational institutions cannot provide education suitable for the national and international job markets. These institution are still running academic activities with their traditional curriculums.  When the world is advancing towards science and technology, we are still lagging behind different countries. Our education system should be made practical and time-befitting to make it pragmatic. 

50 percent of the traditional

 work will be done

 with artificial intelligence

 in the next 5 to 10 years

Massive changes will have to be brought to the curriculum in this regard. Emphasis will also have to be given to the quality of education and there is no alternative to improving the quality of education. The authorities should formulate time-befitting curriculum   at the universities as early as possible. The university authorities will also have to intensify research activities.  As our younger generation is the key driving force, the youths must prepare themselves for the days to come so that they can take the country forward. This trend will continue generation after generation to build Bangladesh for the coming days by utilising the talents and knowledge of youths. 

To ensure quality education for the future development of the country, the curriculum will have to be formulated on the basis of knowledge, skills and values. The field of higher education in Bangladesh is very large. Now, there are more than 48 lakh students studying in 61 public and 115 private universities. This number of students is more than the total population of many countries.

No development will be sustainable if the quality of education is not improved. Curriculum must be formulated based on science and technology to keep pace with the world. Our young generation, especially teachers and students of universities will have to pay more attention to researches in order to build skilled human resources for the country. Bangladesh has made many infrastructural developments over the years and the country will attain more progress in future. However, we think the country cannot progress ignoring scientific research.

We must conduct research because we are still far behind regarding basic research. All the public and private universities and other research-based organisations will have to play a key role in building skilled human resources to keep pace with the world.