NU students contributing to country’s growth: VC

Vice-Chancellor (VC) of National University (NU) Professor Dr A S M Amanullah has said that 87 per cent of the university's students are working in the formal and informal sectors. 

He said the NU is often called a factory for producing the unemployed, but the reality is different. Students of this university are working in various sectors at home and abroad. They are also contributing to the growth of the country's remittances.

He made these remarks while presiding over a SIM distribution ceremony titled 'Connecting Every Campus', jointly organised by National University and Grameenphone at the auditorium of Siddheswari College in the capital on Wednesday. SIMs were distributed among the principals of 370 colleges under Dhaka Division at the honours, post-graduation and professional levels.

The Vice-Chancellor said a major reform is under way in the curriculum and syllabus of National University to make students fit for employment. The syllabus is being designed so that students can prove their worth in job competitions. At the same time, emphasis is being given on enabling them to earn from home by using their skills instead of relying on jobs.

Highlighting the progress of the syllabus reform, Dr Amanullah said the syllabus for the second year of honours has been uploaded after validation. There are around five thousand courses in nearly 50 subjects. Work on reforming these courses has begun. Of them, 400 courses have already been reformed. He expressed hope that the syllabus for pass courses would be validated and uploaded within the next two weeks.

Stressing the importance of making students skilled in information technology, the development researcher said teachers are being given ICT training. ICT labs will be set up in colleges that do not have them.

Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yasir Azman said the VC’s knowledge and plans regarding modern technology are commendable. Grameenphone will stand by the university in its future progress. Noting that students of National University are doing well on the global stage despite various limitations, Yasir Azman said the recent good results of students from mofussil areas in an AI Olympiad are particularly noteworthy. He said young people must be groomed with world-class education by tapping the new opportunities of artificial intelligence. Grameenphone is ready to provide necessary digital solutions and technological support to National University's huge academic family in this regard.

Through the 'Connecting Every Campus' initiative, aimed at digitally connecting colleges affiliated with National University, the colleges will get uninterrupted communication with the university as well as digital education support facilities.

National University Registrar Molla Mahfuz Al-Hossain, Chief Engineer of the Engineering Department Md Mizanur Rahman and Principal of Siddheswari College Sheikh Md Julhas Uddin were present at the event. Director of the university's Regional Centre Coordination Department Md Aminul Akter delivered the welcome address. Director of the Teacher Training Department Salma Parvin and Deputy Director of the Regional Centre Coordination Department Md Akram Hossain conducted the programme.