4th Industrial Revolution :

 4th Industrial Revolution :-

The way Bangladesh will be the model of the fourth industrial revolution

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is now a reality. There is no way to deny it anymore. How we feel, how we work, how we live, how we travel — everything will change. The first was the industrial revolution with the steam engine, the second with electricity, the third with the Internet and computers. The fourth industrial revolution is happening through the addition of intelligence to the Internet.

Let's start with an example. A chief executive officer (CEO) of the company can check the weather forecast or traffic jam with Google Assistant or Apple Siri in the morning, go to the office using self-driving car, where robots can greet him, use artificial intelligence to get ideas about the future of business, machine You can design business models using learning, control home electronics and appliances through the Internet of Things, and much more.

Five-G internet is going to be launched in Bangladesh soon. It could revolutionize the business model, quality of life, education, digital and social media that we've been seeing for the last decade. The Fourth Industrial Revolution can only be truly realized through high quality education and research. In many parts of the world, such as the Scandinavian countries are preparing their manpower to take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FourIR). That's why these countries have integrated artificial intelligence and robotics into their education, working to lead FourIR to their human resourceful minds from elementary to higher education.

Now let us analyze how Bangladesh can be an emerging role model of the fourth industrial revolution in the world.

First, the foundation of Digital Bangladesh is strong. As a result of the implementation of 'Digital Bangladesh' in the last 13 years, the ICT sector has affected the daily life of the people in almost every sector of the country. The Union Digital Center (UDC) is now being connected via fiber optical cable; Schools are now equipped with the Sheikh Russell Digital Lab; Thousands of interactive content and e-books have been designed and developed; 100 economic zones are being created etc. In this way, Digital Bangladesh has created a suitable platform for launching FourIR in our country.

Second, we are achieving tremendous economic growth. In the fiscal year 2020-21, the per capita income of Bangladesh has increased from 326 dollars to 2 thousand 554 dollars. In November 2021, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to upgrade Bangladesh from Least Developed Countries (LDC) category. The government plans to become a rich country by 2041 with a per capita income of হাজার 15,000 and empowering the people equally. The possibility of a fourth industrial revolution should be started without any delay. The size of the country's GDP will increase from today's ৫ 225 billion to ৬ 2.6 trillion in 2041. Now the government can launch a higher education loan program. There should be higher education projects based on taxpayer income and job opportunities, completely free, government subsidies and full fee payments. The government may provide more subsidies for FourIR-related courses and programs.

Third, the proportion of the working age population. Bangladesh ranks 93rd in terms of size. But we are the eighth largest country in the world in terms of population. We now have more working-age people (15-64 years) than ever before. It is now 6 percent and by 2030 it will be 60 percent. It is true that many jobs will be lost due to the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. But more and more new jobs will be created. So if this large population can be transformed into a skilled workforce for FourIR, it will further strengthen our ongoing economic and social development.

Fourth, the spread of blended, online and digital education. Blended learning can be a good solution for the inclusive development of Bangladesh by connecting high-tech, low-tech and technology-less people across the country. The UGC has recently approved the National Blended Learning Policy 2021 in principle and now the government is extending it from pre-primary to postgraduate. The next step is online digital education. Bangladesh has yet to make its presence felt in the global online education industry, which could be valued at ৭ 365 billion by 2026. It could easily become the third highest source of income after remittances and readymade garments, if FourIR technology can be effectively integrated with the education system.

Fifth, increasing the trend of applied research and innovation. Although our university's ranking in various global indices is not so good, we are making progress in agriculture, automation, freelancing, SME sector, women's empowerment, poverty alleviation, etc. The government has in recent years been allocating more funds for research and innovation related to the Third and Fourth Industrial Revolution through its various departments.

Sixth, the emphasis on technical education. The এসে 300 million Asset Strengthening Skills for Accelerated and Economic Transformation project will create the skills needed for the future work of more than 1 million young people and workers. There will be one technical school and college in each upazila and initiative is being taken to establish upazila ICT training and resource center for education. Graduates in technical education do not have to wait for jobs; Rather they create job opportunities for others.

Lastly, realize the importance of the industry-academy connection. Nearly two million new entrants join the workforce each year, but still 37.6 percent of graduates point to a disparity in skills. As a result, foreigners dominate our job market at the technical and managerial levels in various industries, corporate entities and multinational companies. According to the National Skills Development Authority, this trend draws ছয় 6 billion in remittances from Bangladesh every year. Now the government has misunderstood this and has emphasized on need based curriculum, outcome based education, internship programs at different levels etc.

Future jobs will be things that machines can't do, as well as creative endeavors, areas like social interaction where people can lose machines, areas that will be open to job creation. Now our policy makers should reconsider education policy by prioritizing research and innovation related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so that we can survive as a competitive, innovative and efficient country globally. So let's invent, not imitate.