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Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has urged policymakers to align higher education curricula, new university approvals, and new academic departments with the country's economic needs, priority sectors, labor market realities, and entrepreneurship generation.

He cautioned the University Grants Commission (UGC) against recommending unplanned approvals for new universities, emphasizing that higher education must move beyond mere certificate distribution to prepare students for real-world employment.

The minister made these observations on Friday at a view-sharing session on the first day of the two-day Vice-Chancellors' Dialogue organized under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HIT) project at BRAC CDM in Savar. The event was moderated by UGC Chairman Prof Dr. Mamun Ahmed.

"Universities must conduct research to solve real problems in domestic industries, and the private sector should fund research and commercially utilize its results," said the finance minister. He noted that despite economic constraints, the government has prioritized education, with plans to gradually raise its allocation to 5 percent of GDP in the coming years while ensuring transparency and strict outcome tracking.

Speaking at the session, Prime Minister's Education and Primary and Mass Education Advisor Dr. Mahdi Amin emphasized developing students into ethical, non-discriminatory citizens. He advocated for regularly updated curricula, short-term skill-building courses, third-language learning, and stronger university-industry linkages to produce graduates suitable for both local and global job markets.

Highlighting current challenges, UGC Chairman Prof. Dr. Mamun Ahmed noted that while higher education institutions have expanded, bridging the gap between graduate skills and job market requirements remains critical. He revealed that the UGC is currently formulating a five-year strategy paper aimed at a sustainable transformation of the country's higher education system.

The dialogue brought together vice-chancellors from public and private universities, educationists, and senior officials, including Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleq, National Prof Dr. Mahbub Ullah, and former UGC Chairman Prof. Dr. S. M. A. Fayez, to discuss academic quality, good governance, digital transformation, and graduate employability.