The government plans to increase the number of students in technical education to 30 percent by 2030, from the existing 17 percent. The government has taken the move as one of its principal aims to create skilled human resources in information technology compatible with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To that end, the government is laying emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) based education and training, according to an official document. To meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution the government is giving importance to teaching appropriate technology-based subjects in the classroom and is allocating a budget to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, or NCTB, for bringing necessary changes in the curriculum. Also read: MoFA, Technical and Madrasa Education Division vow to modernize technical and madrasa education In addition, the government has undertaken several important training programmes aimed at creating a skilled IT workforce. For example, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has set a target to train more than sixty thousand young people by 2025 and one lakh by 2030 to fulfil the demand of the IT sector. More than 36,000 people have already been trained under various projects and programmes. The project implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) has provided training on Information and Communication Technology to about 2.34 lakh people and most of them are doing jobs in various ICT companies/organisations at home and abroad. To adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including augmented reality and virtual reality, the document said, specialised labs will be set up at every university of the country and work is underway to set up 57 such specialised labs. Work on establishment of Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centres in 64 districts and 10 Digital Village is in progress to provide proper training for young people. Besides this, the training programmes on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, block-chain, robotics, big data, cloud computing etc. are in progress. Also read: Dovetailing higher and technical education needed: Dipu Moni Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently in the first meeting of the Governing Board of the National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) held at her office (PMO) directed the officials to take necessary steps for realising the demographic dividend. She mentioned that each year some 2.2 million individuals enter the job market. If this huge manpower could be trained up properly with appropriate training it would bring enormous benefits for the country. She also asked the officials to pay attention to technology-based training programmes for grabbing the opportunities in the coming Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to the official document, the enrolment rate in technical education, which was less than 1.0 percent 12 years ago, is now 17.25 percent. The technical education enrolment rate is the percentage of secondary students enrolled in technical / vocational education programmes, including teacher training programmes. In the 2022 academic year, 26,846 students have been enrolled in pre- vocational courses from 6th to 8th grade and 20,613 students from the 9th grade of 134 technical schools and colleges have been enrolled up to January 2022.

Thirty students have made it to the third round of the Seeds For The Future 2022 Bangladesh, a CSR programme by Chinese telecom giant Huawei for aspiring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM students. Based on their academic results and knowledge, creativity, and English proficiency, the jury board consisting of Huawei staff, project manager, and university teachers shortlisted them from 200 participants in the second round. Also Read: Huawei: 'Fastest-growing' cloud provider in Asia-Pacific Professors from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Islamic University of Technology, Brac University, East-West University, and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology joined the jury board of the round. At the end of the third round, nine students will be promoted to the regional round which will be held in Thailand. Read Seeds for the Future winners visit Huawei Bangladesh headquarters The winners of the regional round will go to Singapore to join the "Tech4Good Accelerator Camp." Initially, more than 1,100 students enrolled in the Seeds For The Future 2022 Bangladesh. Launched in Bangladesh in 2014, Seeds for the Future has been nurturing ICT talents since its inception and become popular among academics as well as students. Read Seeds For The Future 2021: Bangladesh team heads to global round

"Seeds for the Future 2022, Bangladesh," a CSR programme by Chinese telecom giant Huawei for aspiring science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM students was inaugurated in the capital Sunday. It aims to inspire ICT talents and help them gather industry-oriented knowledge. To initiate the programme, roadshows are being arranged at the participating universities this month. Also read: Huawei holds campus recruitment event at IUT This year Dhaka University, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Islamic University of Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Brac University, East-West University and Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology will take part in Seeds for the Future. In the next stage, the winners will participate in the global platform along with other successful participants from different countries. Also read: Akij sets up rooftop solar plant with Huawei's technology At the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said: "Many technology companies from different countries are doing business in Bangladesh. But very few have come out from that business domain and assisted our youngsters, our next generation to be skilled. So, I want to thank Huawei." Pan Junfeng, CEO of Huawei Technologies Bangladesh, said: "We keep organising different programmes to open up new avenues and platforms for the youth to gather knowledge and develop insights. Seeds for the Future is one such programme where the participants get to know about the industry practices directly from the experts and can put their calibre to the test." Read 'Seeds for the Future 2022 Bangladesh' starts with roadshows Launched in Bangladesh in 2014, Seeds for the Future has been nurturing ICT talents since its inception and become popular among academics as well as students.

The graduation ceremony of Huawei's program Seeds For The Future 2021 Bangladesh was held online Monday. In the event, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar awarded the top 16 talents, selected under this programme from eight renowned universities of Bangladesh. This year, the winners from Bangladesh and other countries received a wide range of training and technological orientation in the online training sessions from Huawei Headquarters. Read: Huawei to invest $50 million to develop 500,000 digital talents in Asia-Pacific They got an overview of different issues and areas, including telecommunication networks, key technologies in ICT, 5G, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The project presentations submitted by Bangladeshi students were shortlisted for a global competition round – with students from 130 countries. The top three projects will be announced in January 2022. At the graduation ceremony, Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka, said, "Our students have innovative ideas. With proper knowledge and experience, they can transform those ideas into reality. From the university side, we are trying. But the ecosystem is also important. I would like to thank Huawei for working to develop future ICT talents." Read Toppers of Huawei's Seeds For The Future 2021 Bangladesh named Zhang Zhengjun, CEO of Huawei Bangladesh, said: "In Bangladesh, we have a huge number of amazing resources; and that is the large portion is youth talents. Huawei believes youth is the main engine of development as well as digital advancement. Huawei also values them and praises their competency." Huang Baoxiong, chief of the human resource department at Huawei Bangladesh, said: "Huawei acknowledges that every youth is like a seed. They are innovators, creators, and leaders who will carry the world towards sustained prosperity. That is why they must be empowered as learners, developers, contributors, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. Seeds For The Future aims to do that." This year's Seeds For The Future programme started in Bangladesh on September 13. Read: Huawei hosts international summit 'Green ICT for Green Development' The University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, East West University, and Islamic University of Technology joined the event. Later on, 16 ICT talents, one male and one female student from each university, were chosen from these universities through selection rounds. Seeds For The Future is Huawei's flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students worldwide and is meant for inspiring ICT talents. It was launched in Bangladesh in 2014. Read First virtual human to join Huawei Cloud

Chinese telecom giant Huawei Monday announced the toppers of its Seeds For The Future 2021 Bangladesh programme from eight universities. Seeds For The Future is Huawei's flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students worldwide and was launched in Bangladesh in 2014. This year, the University of Dhaka (DU), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) and East West University (EWU) joined the event. Read Huawei BUET ICT Academy to develop talent ecosystem More than 600 students from these eight universities rolled in the selection phase. And from there, 16 toppers, one male and one female student from each university, were selected based on their academic record, spot-exam, presentation skill and innovative thinking. The 16 students are Imtiaz Ahmed, and Syeda Fatima Fayruj from BUET; Sumayya Rahman, and Mehedi Hasan from KUET; Nahian Rifaat, and Nazifa Rahman Adhora from RUET; Aninda Nandy, and Fatema Islam Tania from CUET; Syed Doha Uddin, and Nishat Tasnim from the DU; Seeamoon Hasiba Reza, and Mohtasim Tasnim Zaman from EWU; Kazi Arham Kabir, and Sadia Karishma Kabir from AUST; AKM Rakib, and Ramisha Raida Karim from IUT.  Traditionally, the selected students go to China for a study trip. However, due to Covid-19, the training has been shifted to an online programme. Read 5G Quiz campaign: Huawei announces winners "As Bangladesh is progressing fast and digital transformation will determine our future growth, we are in dire need of skilled young people. So, Huawei' Seeds For The Future will yield positive outcomes not only for the future leaders but also for the country," Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury said at the event. "We started this programme in Bangladesh seven years ago, and the response has been phenomenal. Huawei considers the youth as of today's seeds, which must be facilitated with proper care so that they can prove to be assets in the future," said Zhang Zhengjun, CEO of Huawei Technologies Bangladesh.   "Today's youths are the future of tomorrow. Huawei, through the Seeds for the Future Programme, is supporting Bangladesh's emerging ICT talent and future ICT leaders by broadening their knowledge and equipping them with skills that will be useful and relevant to them both in their professional careers as well as lives as responsible global citizens," Beatrice Kaldun, Unesco representative to Bangladesh, said. Read Huawei Bangladesh for collaborative efforts to widen digital education, online learning scopes "This programme has been an excellent opportunity for our students to develop skills and learn so many things firsthand from experts and Huawei engineers," BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Satya Prasad Majumder said. 

Huawei Technologies has launched "Seeds for the Future 2021 Bangladesh," for the seventh year in Bangladesh, to inspire ICT talents. The announcement came through a virtual inauguration event Monday. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak graced the virtual inauguration ceremony as the chief guest. Read Huawei supports flood-hit people of Netrokona Seeds for the Future is Huawei's flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme dedicated to top science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM students worldwide and is meant for developing local talent, enhancing knowledge transfer, and promoting a greater understanding and interest in the ICT sector.  Launched in Bangladesh in 2014, the programme has been nurturing talents for around 10 years in the global scene. Palak said: "I have been observing Huawei's Seeds for the Future program for quite some time. I must say that this kind of initiative has been contributing a lot to not only in equipping our youth with future-fit ICT skills but also in developing an ecosystem for nurturing ICT talents in the industry." Read Huawei donates digital equipment to unprivileged children of Obhizatrik School "The youths are our future. In upcoming years, we will be heavily reliant on ICT skills. Keeping that in mind, Huawei has designed this programme to equip the youths with necessary skills and leadership qualities," Huawei Bangladesh President George Lin said. "Seeds for the Future has been at the centre of attention as it has not only enabled the STEM and non-STEM students to enhance their ICT knowledge but also opened up new opportunities for them in the industry. I am hopeful that this year's programme will be, as usual, a revealing experience for all the participants," Dr Mohammad Rubaiyat Tanvir Hossain, head of the electrical and electronic engineering department of the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, said.           Read APAC: Huawei to boost startup initiatives to build robust ecosystems This year, students from different science and engineering universities will join the event; the 18 most talented students based on their academic record, knowledge and innovative thinking will be selected as the winners from Bangladesh. The winners will be moved to the next step which will be a common platform for all winners of different countries. Launched globally in 2008 in Thailand, Seeds for the Future has been implemented in around 130 countries worldwide, according to a media statement. Read Top 10 Digital Marketing Trends to Watch Through in 2021

US Deputy Chief of Mission JoAnne Wagner has joined local STEM educators and students to inaugurate the 2021 “STEM Olympiad for Girls” competition and a discussion programme to encourage young women and girls to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineer, and mathematics (STEM) fields.   During the two-day virtual event, funded by the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section and in partnership with RoboLab, more than 200 middle school, high school, and undergraduate students from all eight divisions completed STEM challenges and quizzes, participated in mentor discussions with female Bangladeshi scientists and engineers, and celebrated their achievements in an awards ceremony held recently. Read STEM education for girls: New project launched in Bangladesh

 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday asked for efforts to promote women and girls in science, saying that to rise to the challenges of the 21st century "requires dismantling gender stereotypes."