TBM Report
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has rolled out a sweeping initiative to link higher education and research directly with domestic industrial demands, aiming to build a globally competitive workforce.
As part of the roadmap, UGC is facilitating strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings between ten public universities and major trade conglomerates, UGC Member Professor Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun disclosed on Saturday.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “University-Industry Collaboration: Entrepreneurship Development, Innovation, and Sustainable Development” at Khulna University on August 15, 2026, Dr. Mamun outlined the agency’s structural reforms.
Under the fresh scheme, UGC is readying customized training programs for nearly 500,000 university students to modernize national industries and match global recruitment standards.
To enhance international employability, UGC is setting up modern language centers across 30 universities, prioritizing third-language proficiency alongside technological skills.
Highlighting four core pillars of UGC’s strategy, Dr. Mamun noted that the commission is actively involving industry leaders in curriculum development, expanding student internships, translating academic research into commercial applications, and integrating campus innovations into the manufacturing ecosystem.
Addressing youth entrepreneurship, the UGC member pointed out that the government has set aside BDT 500 crore for startups and BDT 800 crore for the creative economy sector, urging young innovators to leverage these funds for job creation.
Chaired by Khulna University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim, the seminar also featured Pro-VC Professor Dr. Md. Harun Rashid Khan and Treasurer Professor Dr. Md. Nurunnabi. The event concluded with Khulna University signing four bilateral MoUs with industrial partners.
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