1 week Ago
A bilateral meeting was held between Bangladesh Open University (BOU) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to discuss issues related to youth employment, the quality of education, and life-oriented training to enhance skills. The meeting was attended by Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam, Vice-Chancellor, and Dr.
Md. Shafiqul Alam, Registrar of BOU. UNICEF was represented by Dr Deepa Sankar, Chief of Education; Iqbal Hossain, Education Manager; Didarul Anam Chodhuary, National Education Consultant; Shamima Siddiky, Education Specialist; and Rubaya Monzur, Education Officer.
This marks the first collaborative initiative between BOU and UNICEF in the three decades since the inception of BOU. During the meeting, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam stated, "Our meeting today with the UNICEF delegation is relevant and timely for skill development of the youth”.
The objective of BOU is to extend educational opportunities to the people of underserved and remote areas, diverse professions, minority communities, marginalized groups, all ages, individuals with physical challenges, struggling students, and working adults. Currently, BOU’s education system spans the entire country, creating a vast network dedicated to these communities. He added, "BOU is a unique institution, with 12 regional centers, 80 sub-regional centers, and 1,545 study centers strategically positioned to reach those in need of education across the nation”.
Dr. Islam also informed the delegation that BOU offers a range of programs, including Livestock and Poultry Management, Pisciculture and Fisheries, Diploma in Youth Development Works, Computer Science and Application, as well as academic programs from SSC to MPhil and Ph.D.
levels. Additionally, 1,285 students are enrolled in various BOU programs across six countries—South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Italy. These programs aim to enhance the self-respect, work skills, and language proficiency of Bengali remittance earners living abroad, who play a vital role in driving the national economy.
Certificate courses in Chinese, Arabic, and English languages are also available to support these efforts. On behalf of UNICEF, Dr Sankar stated, "BOU is one of the leading educational institutions in South Asia. I am hopeful that the youth of Bangladesh will benefit greatly from the collaborative initiative between these two institutions.
" SR.
