Industry Opinion Episode: 18- “Textile Education Bangladesh Perspective”

Textile Focus presents Industry Opinion powered by US Cotton Trust Protocol Episode-18 on the topic- “Textile Education Bangladesh Perspective.” Team Textile Focus received feedback from the Textile education experts.

Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan, Pro Vice-Chancellor BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT)

With everyone’s effort, we are moving forward and believe that including our university and other universities where textile education is taught can come together on a common platform to spread education more effectively. Currently, the demand for textile engineers is very high as Bangladesh is the second-largest garment-producing country with many opportunities to develop products. Though we haven’t made significant progress in research, we have begun developing products, improving fashion design, and creatively encouraging innovation. In the future, we must focus on fashion design, innovation in the textile industry, developing products, and promoting them in the international marketplace. We are currently working on these aspects. While we haven’t succeeded in all sectors, we are taking the necessary steps to improve and believe everyone’s collaboration will enhance our efforts. Another important note is that the media plays a vital role in promoting the importance of textile education and skill development of textile graduates and professionals. Textile Focus plays a crucial role in doing so.

Prof. Dr. Engr. Md. Humaun Kabir, Dean, Faculty of Science & Engineering & Advisor, City University

The existing institutions for textile education in our country need to be correctly aligned to achieve our target of $100 billion in exports in the RMG and textile sectors. To achieve this target, we need to increase the number of skilled manpower and focus on building capacity. To build the power, we need to change the system of textile education. The current textile education system is predominantly theoretical, whereas textile education is an applied science. Therefore, we need to transform the system to be more practical. One way to achieve this is by increasing the percentage of sessional courses to 50%. Additionally, we should incorporate multimedia into theoretical classes to give students a better understanding of textile machinery. Moreover, we should encourage students to generate innovative ideas for improving machinery, processes, and products. The current teaching methods may contribute to development but may not sustain it in the long run. To move Bangladesh forward, we must prioritize the development of the textile and RMG sectors, which necessitates improvements in our textile education system. Furthermore, we need expert teachers with industrial knowledge and foreign degrees, as these experiences enable them to gain project-based working experience. We can better prepare students for the industry and the international marketplace by teaching them through project-based approaches. We remain dependent on buyers, but our ultimate goal should be to establish “Made in Bangladesh” as a renowned brand.

Prof. Dr. Md. Junaebur Rashid, Principal, National Institute of Textile Engineering and Research (NITER)

There are more than 1800 textile industries in Bangladesh; however, we lack of skilled manpower in the sector. To address this issue, the industry-academia relationship needs to be strengthened, and both the government and private or sector can contribute to reducing the gap between industry and academia. NITER is actively working on reducing the gap between industry and academia and operates under a public-private partnership, with involvement from the Ministry, BTMC, and BTMA. Niter boasts experienced and skillful teachers and state of the art laboratories. We have more than 2000 students enrolled. Our primary focus is to develop two essential qualities in our students: strong knowledge and mature technical skills. We firmly believe that graduates possessing these qualities can make more effective contributions to the industry, which will benefit our country. We aim to implement outcome-based education, which currently needs improvement. By adopting an outcome-based education approach, we can provide valuable skills to our graduates and further benefit the industry. Textile focus is also contributing in this as a media partner, and they are an important industry stakeholder.

Dr. Lal Mohan Baral, Professor & Head Department of Textile Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology

To prepare our students for the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, we must revise our curriculum to incorporate essential knowledge of Industry 4.0, such as big data analysis, robotics, automation, and related subjects. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has provided instructions in this regard, and we are actively identifying gaps in our curriculum to determine where we can include this content. We expect to accomplish this task shortly. To establish a knowledge-based textile engineering community, we must carefully select our intake of students and provide intensive guidance for graduates. By doing so, we can ensure that textile graduates possess the necessary skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to the industry. At Ahasanullah University of Science and Technology, we maintain a low intake, admitting only 250 students annually through a rigorous admission test and assessment process. We also implement a systematic guidance program throughout the graduation period. By diligently following this guidance, we can nurture a community of skillful and knowledgeable textile graduates who will be valuable assets to Bangladesh, the textile industry, and the global market.