National University VC stresses developing students into skilled human resources

NU VC: Colleges Taking Initiatives to Develop Students into Skilled Human Resources

National University (NU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah has said that NU-affiliated colleges have undertaken pragmatic steps to transform students into skilled human resources.

“As part of this effort, syllabuses at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels have been updated, while ICT and English have been made mandatory subjects,” he said.

He was speaking today at the orientation programme for undergraduate students of the 2024-25 academic year at Lalmatia Government Women’s College, according to an NU press release. Over 900 colleges across the country joined the event virtually.

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Dr SMA Faiz attended as chief guest, while Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam and UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Rana Flowers were present as special guests.

Other speakers included NU Director of Teachers’ Training Department Salma Parveen, Acting Dean of NU’s School of Undergraduate Education Dr Ashek Kabir Chowdhury, and Lalmatia Government Women’s College Principal Prof Jahanara Zaman.

Highlighting NU’s role, Prof Amanullah noted that around 90 percent of higher education students in Bangladesh are enrolled under the university. To prepare them for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), NU has introduced courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science. In addition, 50,000 students will receive freelancing training in the first phase, funded by NU itself.

He further said reforms are underway in the examination system and measures are being taken to encourage regular classroom attendance. By 2026, he hopes to resolve 70–80 percent of session jams.

The NU VC also mentioned financial assistance for families of students martyred in the July Uprising. Scholarships in their memory have also been introduced.

Welcoming the new students, UGC Chairman Prof Faiz described the July–August mass uprising as a testament to the honesty and courage of the country’s students, urging freshers to uphold that spirit and prepare themselves as skilled manpower.

Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Mohammad Shafiqul Alam stressed the importance of information technology in everyday life while warning against cyberbullying.

The programme began with a minute’s silence in memory of the martyrs of the Liberation War and the July Revolution, followed by a cultural performance.