RAJSHAHI, Sept 8, 2026 (BSS) - An ICT and Japanese language training programme is being launched at Varendra University under under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP) to boost graduate employability.

An agreement has been signed between the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program and Varendra University at the university's board room today.

On behalf of SICIP, Walid Hossain (Additional Secretary and Executive Program Director), Mainul Hasan (Joint Secretary and Deputy Executive Program Director), Dr. Matiur Rahman (Deputy Secretary and Assistant Executive Program Director), and Mourin Karim (Deputy Secretary and Assistant Executive Program Director) were present. 
 
On behalf of Varendra University, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Khademul Islam Molla, Executive Director Shamim Ahsan Parvez, Visiting Professor of the Public Health Program Dr. Munsur Ahmed, along with deans of various faculties and heads of departments were present.
The program was conducted by the university's Registrar, Lt. Col. (retd) Khaled Bin Yusuf.
 
Under this program, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), training will be provided in Cloud Computing, Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and Network Administration. The training programme will run from October 2026 to July 2028. A total of 1,200 trainees will have the opportunity to participate. 

Of them, 450 will receive training from the Rajshahi center and 750 from the Dhaka center. In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor of the university said, the opportunities for skill development for ICT graduates in Rajshahi and the northern region are relatively limited.

In his speech, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Walid Hossain said students will not only need to acquire academic knowledge, but also need to acquire the necessary skills according to the demands of the workplace.