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Need for skill-based ICT education


20 May 2022 00:00:00 | Update: 20 May 2022 07:03:17
Need for skill-based ICT education

In addition to the rest of the globe, Bangladesh is currently in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We are witnessing a virtual explosion of innovative technologies blurring the lines between our lives’ physical, digital, and cyber realities. In recent times, there have been breakthroughs in a number of fields, including robotics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, quantum computing, the Internet of Things, fifth-generation wireless technologies (5G), 3D printing, etc.

The government is committed to embracing the latest technologies and be a part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It has called for greater skill development of the youth, especially in Information Communication Technologies (ICT). It is the avowed goal of the government to promote the use of ICT tools in all levels of education and ensures access to education and research for people with special needs, among other measures. Generally speaking, ICT skills refer to the ability to use tools of information and communication technology to define one’s information problem clearly, access information efficiently, evaluate the reliability, authority, and bias of the sources, and organize and synthesize one’s information with the best ICT tools available to use it effectively and responsibly and communicate one’s new ideas efficiently with the appropriate ICT tools available. Experts have been stressing the need for ICT education at the tertiary level of the education system.

There has been a positive move in that direction. According to a report published in this newspaper on Thursday, the UGC has formulated a guideline to ensure skill-based education in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector at the undergraduate level in the country’s universities. According to the UGC authorities, the guideline will be critical in updating the curriculum on Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Information Technology (IT), Information and Communication Engineering (ICE), and ICT-related academic subjects at the local universities. The UGC developed the guideline in collaboration with the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

UGC member Professor Sazzad Hossain–who led the seven-member UGC committee that formulated the guideline– told The Business Post “There is no alternative to expanding skill-based education to gain a competitive advantage in the global labour market and if the education curriculum gets updated in coherence with the guideline local graduates will benefit greatly.”

ICT proficiency is essential for a growing number of jobs today and for accessing services in daily life. The sector holds great potential for employment generation and revenue earnings. We appreciate UGC’s initiative regarding skill-based ICT education at the university level. However, the universities need to build their capacity and infrastructure to be to develop strong ICT skills in students. Investment in computer labs, teacher training, and uninterrupted electricity is required and curriculum development to ensure relevance to industries.

In this high-tech and computerised world age, there is no alternative to turning more and more towards imparting skill-based ICT education. To keep pace with the world and achieve the desired development in all sectors, Bangladesh must put greater emphasis on educating students to prepare them to meet the challenges of these rapidly changing times in ICT.

Today’ Digital Bangladesh’ is a reality and the driving force behind Bangladesh’s progress towards becoming a developed country in the future. The country can reap huge benefits by imparting skill-based IC education at different levels of education as the country has one language and is densely populated. The extensive coverage of mobile networks and other media can be leveraged to serve as a medium to deliver education. Policymakers, practitioners, and academia need to consider how to empower students to positively engage with technology. Standalone training on specific machines is not enough. While ICT education at the university level is vital, students need exposure to basic ICT training and thinking innovatively from a young age.

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