UNB, Dhaka :President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday underscored the need for planning educational programmes by universities of the country in line with the international labor market with a view to facing world competition.”The importance of making oneself competitive in this age of globalization is increasing. To face the world competition, we have to educate our children in profession-based conventional and non-conventional education,” he said.The President made the observations while addressing the first convocation of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the city.A total of 880 students were awarded degrees at the convocation. Six students received chancellor’s gold medals for their outstanding results.Terming the graduates as higher human resources of the country, Abdul Hamid said: “Today’s convocation is giving recognition of your achievement and on the other hand, it is bestowing responsibilities on you. These responsibilities are towards your family, society, above all towards the country and nation.”He added: “Keep in mind that the country and the state have helped you reach this level. So, you owe to the country. You can pay it back trough your knowledge and merit.”Mentioning that the rate of students in the country’s higher education is fourth in the world, the President said: “If we can create a larger number of world-class graduates through quality education, then it’s possible for the country to attain socioeconomic goals within a short time.”The President, also the chancellor of the university, said that education is the first stair to build a nation. Education doesn’t mean only economic and social development, it also means developing students intellectually with non-communal spirit, and above all awakening deep patriotism.He said education must combine joy, affection for people, humanity, culture, tradition, and knowledge and technology-based techniques must be infused in education.”We need the education that can create creative and enlightened people, not the certificate-oriented education or the kind of education which rely on reading of textbooks and memorising guide books.””I hope the education will become the open window for the locked chamber of darkness and superstition,” Abul Hamid added.Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Convocation speaker and Vice-Chancellor of University of Asia Pacific Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury and BUP VC Maj Gen Sheikh Mamun Khaled also spoke on the occasion.
