President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on the country’s higher education institutions to focus on world-class, job-oriented and technical education to develop a skilled workforce.
He made the call when a delegation from Eastern University paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban on Wednesday.
He said there is no alternative to prioritising job-oriented, technical and engineering education at all levels, including higher education, to address the country’s unemployment problem.
President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam briefed the reporters after the meeting.
The president also stressed the need to overhaul the higher education system, giving priority to artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge digital technologies.
The delegation was led by Md Ismail Zabiullah, adviser to the prime minister on public administration affairs and a member of the university’s Board of Trustees.
Other members of the delegation included the university’s Board of Trustees Chairman Barrister Shafayet Mohammad Raju, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Farid Ahmad Sobhanie, founding chairman of the Board of Trustees Abul Kashem Haider, and former chairman and board member Abul Khair Chowdhury.
During the meeting, the delegation briefed the president on the university’s progress in education, research and other areas, as well as its initiatives to maintain international standards.
They informed him that Eastern University won the Bangladesh round of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition four times, including in 2026.
The delegation also informed the president that the university had spent more than Tk 100 crore on scholarships for meritorious students.
The president stressed the importance of private universities keeping pace with the latest developments in science, technology and knowledge.
He urged universities to strengthen the country’s position internationally by improving the quality of higher education, expanding research and promoting innovation.
The delegation congratulated the president on assuming office and invited him to attend the university’s upcoming convocation as its chancellor.
The president assured them that he would attend the convocation.
The president’s Military Secretary and Press Secretary were present at the meeting.