Bangladesh has identified technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a key tool for meeting the changing demands of the global labour market, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and green technologies.
The country is prioritising the modernisation of technical education and the development of a comprehensive national ecosystem aligned with industry needs to connect formal education directly with employment.
Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon made the remarks while delivering Bangladesh’s national statement at the opening session of the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference 2026 in Tianjin, China, on Friday.
Held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre, the conference is themed “TVET: Embracing Change Together, Setting Standards Together, Building the Future Together.”
The high-level global conference brought together education ministers from more than 40 countries, government delegations from over 100 countries, senior UNESCO representatives, industry leaders, university heads and technical education experts.
China’s Education Minister Huai Jinpeng, Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang, Tianjin Mayor Zhang Gong, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and senior UNESCO officials attended the opening ceremony.
As the keynote speaker representing Bangladesh, Milon said the country’s greatest asset was its people and that human resources were the foundation of national progress.
He described TVET as an essential bridge connecting formal education with employment, academic knowledge with practical application, and young people’s potential with productive economic opportunities.
Noting that academic education alone was insufficient to meet the needs of the future economy, he stressed the importance of integrating practical, technical and digital skills into the education system.
The minister said Bangladesh’s TVET reform programme went beyond establishing new institutions.
“We are building a comprehensive national ecosystem in which curricula are aligned with practical industry needs, teachers regularly update their skills to keep pace with rapidly changing technologies, students gain hands-on industry-linked experience, and the national qualifications framework creates direct pathways to employment and livelihoods,” he said.
He added that one of Bangladesh’s key goals was to strengthen the connection between education, productivity, innovation and inclusive national development.
Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China in June, Milon said both countries had reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in education and human resource development.
Bangladesh is working to modernise its TVET sector by drawing on China’s experience and technological capabilities, strengthening links between educational institutions and industry, upgrading teachers’ skills and expanding industry-linked practical learning, he said.
In line with the conference’s global theme, the minister made three specific calls to the international community.
First, he urged countries to make their education systems more adaptable and dynamic to keep pace with emerging technologies and changing workplaces.
Second, he called for global TVET standards to be adapted to individual countries’ economic conditions, labour market realities and national development priorities.
Third, he stressed the need for governments, educational institutions, industries, employers, international organisations and young people to work together through partnerships to shape the future.
Proposal for Bangladesh-China Joint University
On the sidelines of the conference, Milon held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun.
The meeting discussed several proposed areas of cooperation, including upgrading existing technical institutions in Bangladesh, launching joint technical education programmes, expanding Chinese government scholarships for Bangladeshi students and establishing a proposed Bangladesh-China Joint Technical and Technology University in Bangladesh.
Both sides agreed to take prompt follow-up steps to advance these priority cooperation initiatives.