UGC Chairman Professor Dr. SMA Faiz. File Photo

DHAKA, Aug 16, 2025 (BSS) – University Grant Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr. SMA Faiz has stressed the need for introducing need-based or demand-based education to keep pace with the world. 
 
“If the country is to keep pace with the world, there is no alternative to need-based education or demand-based education. Only such education can take the country forward,” he said.
 
He was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Need-based Education in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects” held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council Auditorium here this (Saturday) morning. 
 
Speaking as the special guest at the event, National University (NU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. S. M. Amanullah discussed various aspects of demand-based education. 
 
He has called for formation of a Modern Education Commission, saying, “It is the need of the hour.”
 
The NU Vice-Chancellor said that there has been no qualitative improvement in the education sector of Bangladesh in the past 52 years.
 
“We have also failed to create a world-class university in Bangladesh,” he said.
 
The National University has taken up the task of changing the syllabus to prepare students to face the fourth industrial revolution, he said.
 
In his speech as the president of the Education Reform Initiative (ERI) Chairman and former State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said that there is no room for considering technical education as socially inferior education. 
 
“Such education is given considerable importance in the developed countries of the world. The development of the country is not possible without the maximum use of human resources,” he said. 

He proposed the constitutional formation of an education commission. 
 
The keynote speech of the seminar was presented by Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan. 
 
The keynote speech placed special emphasis on industry-academia coordination. 
 
Eminent physician Professor AK Azad and Bangladesh Open University (BOU) Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Sayeed Ferdous also spoke at the event.
 
The speakers said that special emphasis should be given to technical, technological and vocational education to make the education system of Bangladesh modern and demand-oriented. 
 
At the same time, they emphasized on research cooperation, teacher training and increasing industry-academia linkages between universities.
 
Scholars, educationists, policy makers and researchers from various government and private universities of the country also participated in the seminar. 
 
The event was moderated by ERI Member Secretary Syed Rezwanul Kabir.