Jahangirnagar University (JU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan. File photo

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, Aug 21, 2026 (BSS) - Jahangirnagar University (JU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan today stressed the need to align university curricula with the demands of the job market and integrate technology-based education to achieve the goals of higher education.

He told this to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) while participating in a dialogue titled 'Vice-Chancellors' Dialogue: Shaping the Future of Higher Education'.

The two-day event is being held under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project of the University Grants Commission (UGC) at BRAC CDM in Savar.

Professor Kamrul said universities should learn from the successful experiences of higher education institutions in other countries and adopt appropriate measures based on their own capacities.

"We have seen significant changes within a short period at a university in Malaysia based on the experience shared by its Vice-Chancellor. We want to hear and learn from such experiences," he said.

He emphasised that universities should move forward according to their respective capacities with support from the UGC and the ministry concerned.

The JU VC said one of the key issues emerging from the dialogue was the need for greater coordination among academic curricula, job-oriented education and technology-based learning.

"We have to create coordination between our curricula and job-oriented and technology-based education. Only then can we achieve our goals," he said.

Professor Kamrul said each university should identify specific and achievable outcomes from the dialogue and implement them after returning to their respective institutions.

"We want to go back to our universities and work on these issues. When we meet again after a year, we want to share our progress with others so that everyone can be satisfied with the progress we have made," he said.

He expressed hope that coordinated efforts and a shared commitment to implementing the outcomes of the dialogue would enable universities to gradually achieve their desired goals.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Mahdi Amin, UGC Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek, former UGC Chairman Prof Dr S M A Faiz, UGC Member Prof Dr Abdullah-Al-Mamun, and vice-chancellors of public and private universities, among others, attended the programme.

The two-day dialogue has brought together vice-chancellors of around 65 public and private universities, policymakers, academics and experts to discuss strategic leadership and governance, quality teaching and assessment, research and innovation, university-industry collaboration, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

Four sessions were held on the first day, while the remaining sessions are scheduled for Saturday. Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon is scheduled to attend the concluding session.