Despite the increasing literacy rate in Bangladesh, many individuals continue to struggle to secure positions in the job market due to a lack of adequate skills.
Recognizing the crucial need for skilled manpower to drive the nation forward, the government, along with various local and international development organizations, is actively implementing diverse initiatives to address this issue.
As part of these efforts, a certificate awarding ceremony for the month-long “Development in Practice” course, jointly organized by the Development Studies Department of the University of Dhaka and the social organization Friendship, was held on Saturday at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban at the university.
In his keynote speech as the Chief Guest, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, expressed hope that such skill-enhancement courses at Dhaka University could serve as a model for other universities and institutions.
He further anticipated that participants of these courses would utilize their acquired knowledge and skills to gain a competitive edge in their respective fields.
He also noted that the practical experience gained through field visits would be invaluable in the participants' professional lives.
Professor Dr Kazi Maruful Islam from the Development Studies Department provided an overview of the course, highlighting that this is the second collaboration between the Development Studies Department and Friendship Academy.
Designed for early- and mid-career professionals or job seekers, this year’s program was attended by 45 participants, including officials from local and international NGOs, government and corporate offices, and entrepreneurs.
The four-week course, which commenced on November 29, included six theoretical classes followed by a two-day field visit for hands-on learning.
During the field visit, participants explored various development initiatives led by Friendship in the char areas of the Jamuna-Brahmaputra in Gaibandha district.
These included primary and secondary schools, healthcare services at Friendship hospitals, solar villages, specialized oval-shaped disaster-resilient cluster villages, and legal aid centres.
The closing ceremony and certificate distribution event were graced by special guests, including the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, Professor Dr Saima Haque Bidisha; Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Rasheda Irshad Nasir; and Friendship Luxembourg Chair Marc Elvinger.
The event was presided over by the Chairperson of the Development Studies Department, Dr Naeem Sultana, and featured speeches by Brigadier General (Retired) Ilyas Iftekhar Rasul, Head of Friendship Education; Senior Manager Neyamat Ullah; and other distinguished speakers.
