Page 88 - IBT December 2020
P. 88
Global Chamber
EDUTECH:
DEMOCRATIZING
are not only required to receive top
EDUCATION THROUGH grades in classes but to also garner for supporting new learning
experience from side projects,
approaches. It is ascertainable that
extra-curricular activities and
TECHNOLOGY demonstrate deftness in a host of even though EduTech industry in
Bangladesh is still in its nascent
thinking and communication skills.
stage it has tremendous potential in
These skills are required not just for
acceptance at international driving social impact and also in
Dhaka, however with the COVID-19 and maturity of WAVE (Whiteboard, workplaces and higher educational creating profitable business
pandemic the move has been made Audio, Video Environment) institutes but are also examined opportunities for new investors.
By Tamhida Ahmed when applying to jobs nationally. About 2 percent of our GDP goes to
more imminent. technologies in Bangladesh in recent
years, online systems can well EduTech can supply the framework education-related spending, which
OUTLOOK AND accommodate regular lectures and means that the market value of
Educational Technology or EduTech more students from varying education in our country based on
has not only revamped the way CAPACITY demographics can hone these skills the education ministry budget is
classrooms operate but has also Some people may wonder whether effectively in the future. over USD 6 billion.
created a new arena for it, digital students in Bangladesh will be able Now is also the time to bridge the
classrooms. The traditional method to adjust to online learning and FUTURE established industry-academia gap
of “talk and chalk” is in the advent learn sufficiently. The fact of the While digitization is enhancing with the integration of
of being replaced by International matter is today’s students are productivity in businesses and industry-relevant, digital skills in
platforms providing MOOCs and/or already learning from content on industries, automation has begun the typical education system. The
simulation-based classroom tools. sites such as Youtube, Udemy, snapping its jaws at the workforce potential of bridge education in the
Bangladesh had already started its Coursera, edX, and others. With the with threats of replacement. This is present context is to equip students
migration towards online education improvement of internet causing an increased expectation of with the right skills to make them
with a growing number of SaaS connectivity, data rates, the the workforce to have novel and ready for Industry 4.0 at day one. In
facilitated education startups in advancement of software technology, 2020, as illustrated below, technical
diverse sets of skills. Students today skills need to be supplemented with
strong social and collaboration skills
such as persuasion, emotional
intelligence, and cognitive
flexibility.”
86 www.ibtbd.net 55
