a2i, in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), have organized -- National Consultation on i4.0 and Future of Work -- to develop demand-driven human resources.
A publication titled “Future Skills: Finding Emerging Occupations to Tackle the Challenges of Automation in Bangladesh” was unveiled at the inauguration ceremony at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.
The chief guest, Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, from Ministry of Industry said: “We will build specialized factory for human development.”
The guest of honor, Deputy Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, from the Ministry of Education said: “Disruptive thinking in policy level will bring positive changes in the education system. The time for cost-benefit analysis, resource dissemination and plan implementation has arrived.
“We are facing obstacles in bringing disruptive changes. For solution, industry and educational institutions should work together to develop demand-driven human resources where industry informs about their required skills in advance,” he added.
The minister said: “The skills of teachers in technical curriculums should be upgraded and changes should be brought according to industry requirements.
“There is no alternative other than apprenticeship to develop human resources.”
Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at Prime Minister's Office, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, said: “We invite industries to bring the technology of tomorrow. Automation will not take the job of all people.
“Yes, some people will be at risk, but we can eliminate the risk through a skilled workforce. Necessary skills and research are just a question of time. We are ready with policies, procedures and skill development mechanisms to fight the job loss” he added.
Topics discussed
This event shed light on topics like the fourth industrial revolution and future production system; impacts on the job market and economy; occupation in danger and new occupation to highlight; re-skilling and up-skilling strategy; policy & strategy framework on i4.0 and enabling environment for the future of work.
The Regional Representative of UNIDO, Rene Van Berkel, said, “The components of 4IR are Mechanization, Electrification, Automation & Digitalization where Digitalization is digital transformation that optimizes work environment.”
Country Representative in Bangladesh of UNIDO, ZakiUz Zaman, chaired the event and talked about the demonstration center.
He said the government can work with development organization to build the demonstration center. This center can be used for re-skilling and up-skilling.
Policy Advisor of a2i, Anir Chowdhury, mentioned a few recommendations to combat the challenges reasoned by automation, like leveraging school digital labs set up by ICT Division and Ministry of Education for the integration of future skill development.
To identify the challenges and new opportunities resulting from the automation process, extensive research has been done by a2i with support from Cabinet Division, ICT Division, USAID and UNDP Bangladesh.
The research will provide an understanding of the impact of automation in the enterprises and workers within five major sectors.
