"GP Explorers" Batch 2 recently graduated from Grameenphone's in-house skill academy at a virtual graduation event.

With more than 40 per cent females with a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) background in the cohort, the pool was upskilled to become future-ready professionals.

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar graced the event as the chief guest.

Subrata Roy Maitra, the vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone, and Hossain Sadat, acting chief corporate affairs officer, were present as special guests. 

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GP Explorers is an industry-led digital skills academy to digitally upskill and empower university students with soft and digital skills to bridge the gap between their future careers and required competencies.

The platform consists of a 20 week-long upskilling programme focusing on communication proficiency, entrepreneurship mindset and digital skills that complement the knowledge students receive from academia.

It is a crowdsourced learning model with custom content, assignments and expert sessions from industry professionals. 

Mustafa Jabbar said: "The goal of any business entity is to do business or to make a profit. Apart from this, they have some responsibility towards society, the state, and the people. Grameenphone is fulfilling this promise through GP Explorers by upskilling the youth through future-fit skills."

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"I think the knowledge gained from GP Explorers will serve as a great foundation for their lives. These valuable lessons must be made available for all, especially for the marginalised community to benefit from digitisation."

Subrata Roy said: "There is a difference between education and training. You can do well academically, but you need to develop yourself and acquire skills simultaneously to be future-ready."

"Grameenphone, with its GP Explorers 2.0, has been able to develop the participants in the right way, and the programme has been able to keep pace with the international arena."

Yasir Azman said: "We are glad to complete the latest GP Explorers programme despite the Covid-19 barrier."

"This was possible mainly because of the resilience and indomitable spirit that our participants have shown since day one. I am sure that they will stand out as professionals in the industry very soon, bringing excellence to their organisations as well as their portfolio."