Staff Reporter :
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Dickson on Thursday said that the UK universities want to contribute to develop human capital of Bangladesh through higher education.
“Human capital of Bangladesh is the strongest asset. It has an enormous potential. But the key to unlocking that potential and making the most of it is education,” he said.
Robert Dickson said this while addressing a dialogue titled “Cosmos Dialogue: Bangladesh-UK Relations” held in a city hotel on Thursday
He hoped that the youths of Bangladesh would get world standard education if the UK universities’ offer is received.
It will be a real contribution to the development of human capital in the South Asian country, he said.
The UK High Commissioner said, “In an increasing globalised and competitive world, the key to education is making sure that young Bangladeshis have the ability to draw on the very best higher education available.”
He noted that they have made it clear to the government that it will be possible to open Bangladeshi higher education market in a way that will enable the British universities to operate here.
“They (UK universities) are banging on the door but the door, is closed. We’d like that door to be opened,” he said on Thursday at ‘Bangladesh-UK Relations: Prognosis for the Future’ symposium, the second edition of Cosmos’ Ambassador Lecture Series.
At the programme, Mohammadi Group Managing Director Rubana Huq urged the UK to extend cooperation to enhance the quality of Bangladesh’s primary education.
“That’s key for us,” she said, noting how Estonia is now a star performer only because of math and coding are taken up from grade one.
Rubana Huq said, reskilling is something the British government can help Bangladesh by focusing on its primary education.
Dickson agreed that tertiary education is crucial observing that there are 44 million children in school.
AK Khan Foundation Trustee Secretary Salahuddin Kasem Khan said Bangladesh needs to invest in tertiary education.
He said, the country’s education quality has dropped and offshore campuses of leading British universities can help it improve. The High Commissioner said there are British universities who are very interested in setting up offshore campuses here. “But at the moment, they aren’t allowed to do that.”
Letting UK universities in will benefit both the universities and young Bangladeshis, he observed.
He said the British Council, operating here since 1951, has been making an exceptional contribution to education, English language teaching and culture in Bangladesh.
‘Maximum use of Commonwealth platform’
High Commissioner Dickson said the UK is trying to revive the institution and make it relevant to young people, adding that they are doing everything they can in Bangladesh to try and open it up to the new audience.
“We recognise that Britain and Bangladesh are equal partners in this enterprise and that it needs to be driven from both sides,” he said.
“It’s not a unique responsibility for the UK. It is for everybody to make the maximum use of this wonderful platform that the Commonwealth provides.”
Former Ambassador Prof Selina Mohsin pointed out that little funding has turned the once vibrant Commonwealth secretariat small.
“I don’t know why the Commonwealth, which is loved by the British Queen, has become such a thin organisation. The British government should prioritise to revamp it,” she said.
Prof Selina said that it can play a strong role in improving Bangladesh’s education quality to meet its requirement of the labour market by providing more scholarships for tertiary and secondary students and sending teachers here.
Lieutenant General (retd) ATM Zahirul Alam suggested the UK to increase its support in technical, vocational and primary education to contribute to Bangladesh’s development.
He recommended making the Commonwealth and the UK relationship more relevant to provide facilities to the young generation. “You can provide more scholarships for undergraduate students that will help enhance our education quality,” he said.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Dickson on Thursday said that the UK universities want to contribute to develop human capital of Bangladesh through higher education.
“Human capital of Bangladesh is the strongest asset. It has an enormous potential. But the key to unlocking that potential and making the most of it is education,” he said.
Robert Dickson said this while addressing a dialogue titled “Cosmos Dialogue: Bangladesh-UK Relations” held in a city hotel on Thursday
He hoped that the youths of Bangladesh would get world standard education if the UK universities’ offer is received.
It will be a real contribution to the development of human capital in the South Asian country, he said.
The UK High Commissioner said, “In an increasing globalised and competitive world, the key to education is making sure that young Bangladeshis have the ability to draw on the very best higher education available.”
He noted that they have made it clear to the government that it will be possible to open Bangladeshi higher education market in a way that will enable the British universities to operate here.
“They (UK universities) are banging on the door but the door, is closed. We’d like that door to be opened,” he said on Thursday at ‘Bangladesh-UK Relations: Prognosis for the Future’ symposium, the second edition of Cosmos’ Ambassador Lecture Series.
At the programme, Mohammadi Group Managing Director Rubana Huq urged the UK to extend cooperation to enhance the quality of Bangladesh’s primary education.
“That’s key for us,” she said, noting how Estonia is now a star performer only because of math and coding are taken up from grade one.
Rubana Huq said, reskilling is something the British government can help Bangladesh by focusing on its primary education.
Dickson agreed that tertiary education is crucial observing that there are 44 million children in school.
AK Khan Foundation Trustee Secretary Salahuddin Kasem Khan said Bangladesh needs to invest in tertiary education.
He said, the country’s education quality has dropped and offshore campuses of leading British universities can help it improve. The High Commissioner said there are British universities who are very interested in setting up offshore campuses here. “But at the moment, they aren’t allowed to do that.”
Letting UK universities in will benefit both the universities and young Bangladeshis, he observed.
He said the British Council, operating here since 1951, has been making an exceptional contribution to education, English language teaching and culture in Bangladesh.
‘Maximum use of Commonwealth platform’
High Commissioner Dickson said the UK is trying to revive the institution and make it relevant to young people, adding that they are doing everything they can in Bangladesh to try and open it up to the new audience.
“We recognise that Britain and Bangladesh are equal partners in this enterprise and that it needs to be driven from both sides,” he said.
“It’s not a unique responsibility for the UK. It is for everybody to make the maximum use of this wonderful platform that the Commonwealth provides.”
Former Ambassador Prof Selina Mohsin pointed out that little funding has turned the once vibrant Commonwealth secretariat small.
“I don’t know why the Commonwealth, which is loved by the British Queen, has become such a thin organisation. The British government should prioritise to revamp it,” she said.
Prof Selina said that it can play a strong role in improving Bangladesh’s education quality to meet its requirement of the labour market by providing more scholarships for tertiary and secondary students and sending teachers here.
Lieutenant General (retd) ATM Zahirul Alam suggested the UK to increase its support in technical, vocational and primary education to contribute to Bangladesh’s development.
He recommended making the Commonwealth and the UK relationship more relevant to provide facilities to the young generation. “You can provide more scholarships for undergraduate students that will help enhance our education quality,” he said.
