Dhaka: Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, speaking at the ‘South Asian Regional Conference on State of Higher Education and Future Pathway’ in Dhaka, emphasized the need for South Asian countries to collaborate and learn from each other, urging a departure from the region’s predominantly job-oriented education system. Describing South Asia as ‘one family,’ Prof Yunus called for a fundamental shift in educational approaches to foster creativity and entrepreneurship.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus criticized the current education system for its focus on producing job seekers rather than job creators. He argued that the traditional job market approach is akin to a form of modern slavery, where individuals work not out of passion but necessity. “Human beings are born as creative beings,” he stated, advocating for an educational model that nurtures entrepreneurship and innovation over conventional employment.
Prof Yunus stressed that young people should be encouraged to see themselves as agents of change. He underscored the importance of imagination, arguing that it fuels human creativity and progress. “Entrepreneurship is a creative thing,” he said, urging a shift towards teaching students to be job creators.
The Chief Adviser also highlighted the role of students in the recent 2024 uprising in Bangladesh, where young people demanded change and voiced their discontent with the existing political regime. He urged academics to align educational systems with the aspirations of the youth and to reflect on the events that led to the uprising, stressing that these subjects are crucial to understanding contemporary education’s role.
Prof Yunus lamented the decline of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and called for its revival to enhance regional academic cooperation. He expressed disappointment over the conference’s organization by the World Bank, stating it should have been a responsibility of the regional governments.
The conference, supported by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank through the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project, saw participation from 30 international representatives, including delegates from various countries such as the United Kingdom, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Education Adviser Dr. CR Abrar, UGC Chairman Prof Dr. SMA Faiz, and other distinguished guests, including Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Rehana Perven and World Bank Division Director Jean Pesme, addressed the inaugural ceremony. The gathering serves as a platform to discuss and redefine the future pathways of higher education in South Asia.