A seminar titled “Educating for Employment: Bridging the Gap between Academia and Industry” was held on April 18, 2025, at the AUDI 801 Auditorium of North South University (NSU), Dhaka. The event brought together esteemed academics and industry professionals to enhance students’ employment readiness. The seminar was attended by MBA students of NSU.
The event commenced with Welcome Remarks from Professor Nazlee Siddiqui, Ph.D., Director of MBA/EMBA Programs, NSU. She emphasized the growing importance of application-oriented education and industry-focused seminars in preparing students for real-world challenges.
The Chief Guest, Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Ph.D., Vice-Chancellor of NSU and Chairman of Grameen Bank, encouraged students to utilize both local and global platforms for skill development and career opportunities. He highlighted that NSU graduates are already contributing globally and stressed the need for closer collaboration between academia and industry to facilitate on-campus recruitment and prepare students for the job market.
Professor AKM Waresul Karim, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business & Economics, NSU, addressed the audience as Special Guest, reiterating the significance of employment-oriented education.
The seminar featured two Industry Speakers:
•Major N.A.M. Neyamul Islam (Retd.), Executive Director, Corporate HR & Admin at ABC Group, NSU alumnus, and Governing Body Member of the Human Resources Professionals Society of Bangladesh (HRPSB), shared insights on how academia and industry can work together to ensure graduates are employable both locally and globally. He emphasized the importance of in-depth knowledge, training, industry exposure, case-based learning, internships, volunteering, and part-time jobs.
•Md. Atiqul Islam Apu, Head of Compliance & SBU HR at Babylon Group, discussed the extensive opportunities in the textile and RMG sector. He urged students to enhance their problem-solving and communication skills to remain competitive, even against international professionals.
The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Professor Mohammad Khasro Miah, Ph.D., Faculty Member of the MBA/EMBA Program, Department of Management, NSU, and Founder President of HRPSB. He stressed the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and sustained academia-industry collaboration to empower future professionals.
Also in attendance were:
•Assistant Professor FJ Mohaimen, Ph.D., Faculty Advisor, NSU MBA Club and Chair, Department of Accounting & Finance, NSU
•Md. Ariful Islam, Chairman, Prediction Infotech Limited, and Governing Body Member, HRPSB
•Md. Abdul Mannan, Resident Director, Admin, HR, Compliance & Operations, Palmal Group, and Governing Body Member, HRPSB
The speakers collectively encouraged students to focus on problem-solving, networking, communication, and entrepreneurial skills through engagement in project-based learning and extracurricular activities.
Organizers & Contributors:
The seminar was jointly organized by the School of Business & Economics, NSU MBA Club, and the Human Resources Professionals Society of Bangladesh (HRPSB). The event was moderated and coordinated by members of the NSU MBA Club.Organizing Committee Members:
•Kaniz Fatima Nourin Choudhury, Joint Secretary, HRPSB
•Md. Rashedul Alam, Ariana Khondoker, Maruf Mahmud Rimon, and ATM Shahriar Hakim, HRPSB Campus Ambassadors
By reinforcing the value of stronger industry-academia collaboration, the seminar reaffirmed NSU’s commitment to equipping students with practical skills, real-world knowledge, and leadership capabilities for success in the corporate world.
MN/