ICT BASED UNIVERSITY FOR E-SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL BANGLADESH

Bangladesh is rich in natural resources but people are poor. Lack of coordination among scientists, technologists, researchers and decision makers is the main reason of poverty in the country. Applications of research-based scientific knowledge have improved lives of millions of people in the world. One of the keys to economic success today is the provision of high quality education in science and technology. Today, technological advances occur so rapidly that only a highly qualified workforce with research and training knowledge in the respective fields is able to evaluate and modify such technologies for local use. ICT being the best tool for all pervasive developments, the idea of establishing an ICT-based university in rural atmosphere of Bangladesh was adopted in 2001. The main objective of the project was to upgrade life style of people living in remote river islands and high lands of Bangladesh through e-skills development. Children in the islands and high lands face serious challenges for their survivals but they are thirsty to learn, to know, to innovate, to discover and to acquire knowledge about the world. Before embarking on project activities, 112 women scientists, technologists, researchers, medical doctors, policy makers and social workers were trained on ICT applications. Their sincere cooperation and coordination and their vast knowledge resources in respective fields plus ICT knowledge helped develop the community in education, health, poverty reduction and other sectors. Information and communication technology (ICT) is a technology that is fundamental to scientific research, and to the communication and application of science. Training in ICT to access and analyse information is critical for scientific research and industries based on scientific knowledge. The gap in communication between scientists and society meant that scientific and technological issues are often poorly understood by the general public and by policy makers. The specific objectives of the e-skill development project are:  to create e-skills workforce in the community and to develop e-skills capacity in the society as a whole. In implementing the project the questions came up such as defining the requirements of the industry for the follow-up of peoples, vehicles, goods and; what type of automation or remote operation is expected or desired in the next few years? Which level of precision is necessary for tracking people and equipment? Is the application of automated control for fixed process such as ventilation an interesting concept? What are the most significant parameters (people, vehicles, temperature, pollution and ambient atmosphere components)? What type and sensors’ number are presently used or would be useful? Which technologies are the most useful? Discussions and comments will bring forward many other problem areas and new research directions and solutions.