DHAKA : The Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken an initiative to introduce a short-term soft skills training programme to enhance the employability and professional competencies of university students across the country.

The decision was announced today at a consultation meeting held at the HEAT Project Office on formulating the training programme under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project.

The meeting, chaired by UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, was attended by UGC Member Professor Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun, HEAT Project Director Professor Dr. Asaduzzaman, Dean of the University Teachers Training Academy Professor Dr. Laila Nur, and other concerned officials.

The meeting was informed that the specialised training programme for students will include soft skills, ethics and values, employability skills, and various life-oriented subjects. Before finalising the training contents, an assessment or survey will be conducted to identify students' skill gaps and actual needs.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed said, “Work is underway to finalise the outline of the programme within the next three months. Students of all universities across the country will gradually be brought under this training programme. This timely initiative has been taken as part of implementing the government’s priority to improve students’ professional competence, ethics and life-oriented capabilities.”

The meeting also decided to launch a two-day ‘Professional Knowledge Sharing Programme’ for vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and treasurers from next month to strengthen university administration and promote good governance.

The programme will feature discussions on strategic leadership, university management, financial administration, and other key aspects of higher education governance.

Dr Mamun Ahmed said vice-chancellors from various renowned universities around the world, along with experienced former vice-chancellors from Bangladesh, will be invited to the programme. Through the exchange of their experiences, university administrators in the country will have the opportunity to learn about various modern aspects of international higher education management, he added.

The meeting further announced that a seven-day special training programme is being introduced to enhance the academic and administrative capacities of associate professors and professors. At the same time, the UGC's strategic plan for long-term reforms in the country's higher education sector is being updated and is expected to be finalised within this month.