The government has undertaken a project with a view to reducing the skill gap of mid-level managers in the country’s textile and Readymade Garments (RMG) sector.The Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission (UGC) are jointly implementing the project in cooperation with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).A day-long familiarisation programme was held at UGC office in Dhaka on Sunday to share information about the project titled “German-Bangladesh Higher Education Network for Sustainable Textiles (HEST),” its aims and objectives among the stakeholders, said a press statement issued by UGC.The event jointly organized by UGC and GIZ was addressed by UGC chairman Prof Abdul Mannan, GIZ Programme Coordinator Christian von Mitzlaff, Additional secretary of education ministry Md. Abdullah Al Hasan Chowdhury, and UGC secretary Dr. Md. Khaled.Representatives from Ministry of Education, UGC, World Bank, HEST project’s partner universities, industry associations, brands and factories, among others, were also present at the event.The project has successfully developed three university partnerships among four German and eight Bangladeshi universities under the project. The four German universities are Hof University of Applied Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology, Dresden University of Technology, and University of Stuttgart.The eight Bangladeshi universities include Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Asian University for Women, Bangladesh University of Textiles, BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, North South University, Notre Dame University Bangladesh and University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh.Prof Abdul Mannan in his speech highlighted the importance and advantages of HEST project putting emphasis on boosting applied research in cooperation with the industry.Mentioning Bangladesh as the second largest RMG exporter country, the UGC Chairman said textiles sector has taken a leading position in sustainable industrialisation in the country. “We need sustainable network for the development of textiles sector” he added.GIZ Programme coordinator Christian von Mitzlaff said the HEST project can play a vital role to reduce the skill gap of the textile industry and address the sustainability challenges of higher education.Meanwhile, a panel discussion was also held on role stakeholders’ in reducing the skill gap of RMG and textile workers. Speakers at the discussion observed that stakeholders’ network can play a vital role to strengthen higher education as well as training for mid-level managers.
