Universities should focus on producing skilled workforce: President

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said public and private universities should focus on producing skilled graduates suited to labour markets at home and abroad.
“The higher education system must be developed through a coordinated and holistic approach so that it can produce a skilled workforce suitable for labour markets at home and abroad, ensuring that no one remains unemployed,” he said.
The President made the remarks when a delegation of Southeast University’s Board of Trustees, led by its Chairman Rezaul Karim, paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban on Saturday. Southeast University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Yusuf Mahbubul Islam was present, among others, President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told BSS.
The President, who is also the university’s chancellor, said Bangladesh had a large number of unemployed university graduates despite relying on foreign workers to run various industries, factories, corporate organisations and specialised institutions.
He urged universities to prioritise modern, high-quality education in technical, engineering and technology-related fields.
He also advised industrial and corporate organisations to develop competent workers through appropriate training.
The President called on private universities to waive tuition fees for meritorious students from disadvantaged backgrounds.