The Eco University of Science and Technology (UST) to be established in Thakurgaon has received government approval, opening new opportunities in higher education, science and technology, research, innovation and employment in the northern region. The university, to be established under the initiative of the non-governmental development organization Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO), is planned to be developed not only as an institution of higher education, but also as a center for creating skilled human resources, research, technological innovation and entrepreneurship.
The university’s approval was confirmed in a press release issued by ESDO on Monday (August 17) afternoon.
ESDO said that Eco University of Science and Technology will be established keeping in mind the philosophy of ‘Education to Skills, Skills to Innovation, and Innovation to Employment’. One of the goals of the institution will be to develop students not only with degrees but also with knowledge, technical skills, innovative thinking, and career-appropriate capabilities.
The university’s plan calls for emphasizing future job market demands in areas such as science, technology, engineering, agriculture, environment and climate technology, as well as artificial intelligence, information technology, data analytics and digital technology. It also plans to create modern research laboratories, innovation laboratories and problem-solving-based research opportunities.
Initiatives will be taken to create linkages between universities and industry, practical training for students, apprenticeship programs, career support, and job opportunities, not just limited to classroom education. At the same time, there are plans to launch special programs to develop new initiatives and startups to develop young people as entrepreneurs.
Founder of Eco University of Science and Technology and Executive Director of ESDO Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman said, they have been cherishing the dream of establishing a high-quality science and technology university in Thakurgaon for a long time. They are happy to get the state approval and are grateful to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who created the university in Thakurgaon.
He said, “Our goal is to build a university where a student will not just leave with a certificate. He will leave with knowledge, technical skills, human values, innovative thinking, and the ability to succeed in his career.”
In his words, the measure of UoS’s success will be creating capable people, not degrees.
Professor Monotosh Kumar De, a prominent educationist from Thakurgaon, said that many talented students from the northern region migrate to different parts of the country, including the capital, for higher education. Creating opportunities for quality higher education in their own areas will not only save students time and money, but will also create opportunities to utilize local talent for local development.
Young student Russell said, “In today’s world, just acquiring skills in conventional education is not enough. There is a need to create skilled human resources in sectors like artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital technology, and automated technology. If effective connections can be made between education and industry, UST can become a great opportunity for the youth of the northern region.”
Social worker Subarna Ahmed said the university could create new areas of research focusing on local problems and opportunities in the northern region. Research in areas such as agriculture and food technology, climate change, environment, digital transformation, engineering, health technology and social innovation would create opportunities to find technology-based solutions to local problems.
College teacher Zulfiqar Ali said, “The real problems of the northern region can be the subject of world-class research and innovation. If research is focused on agriculture, climate, water, environment and technology, the benefits can be reaped not only by Thakurgaon but also by the people of the entire country.”
According to local young entrepreneurs Majedur, Saiful and Rahman, if higher education can be effectively linked to employment and entrepreneurship, the economy of the northern region will gain new momentum. The initiative to develop students not just as job seekers, but as entrepreneurs and job creators can further strengthen the economic potential of the region.
ESDO authorities said that emphasis will also be placed on expanding inclusive higher education opportunities for talented, female, marginalized and financially disadvantaged students. In addition, there are plans to develop academic and research collaborations with universities, research institutions and industries at home and abroad.
The stakeholders expect that through the establishment of Eco University of Science and Technology, Thakurgaon will not only get a new university, but also a new environment based on knowledge, research and innovation will be developed in the northern region. The university can play an important role in the socio-economic development of the region by creating skilled human resources, technological innovation, connecting industries and entrepreneurs, and increasing local employment.
According to ESDO, “Eco University of Science and Technology will move forward with this philosophy: ‘Education leads to skills, skills to innovation, and innovation to employment.'” One of the goals of the institution is to create new paths for world-class knowledge, science, technology, and innovation from the northern region.