A roundtable discussion titled ‘Software Industry-Academia Collaboration for Professional Development of CSE/IT Students’ was held on Saturday (May 25) at BUET ECE Bhaban with the joint initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Forum and e-SRD Lab of BUET CSE Department. The main objective of the program was to establish a strong link between industry and academia, which would help in the professional development of students. Around 20 persons from industry and seven experts from academia were present in the discussion. The discussion delved into the importance of industry-academia collaboration, current status review, areas of collaboration, professional development, and teaching strategies.
Dr. Abu Sayed Md. Latiful Hoque, Professor of Dept. of CSE, BUET, was the keynote speaker. Among the guests were – M Rashidul Hasan, Senior Vice-President of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), Monuwar Iqbal, Founder & CEO of Pridesys IT Ltd., Uttam Kumar Paul, Managing Director of Best Business Bond Ltd., Dr. A. B. M. Alim Al Islam, Professor of Dept. of CSE, BUET, Syeda Nawshad Jahan Promee, Chief Operating Officer of LCT Solution Center, Atiqul Islam Khan, Chairman of SoftBD Ltd., Dr. Maheen Islam, Chairperson, Associate Professor Department of Computer Science & Engineering, EWU, Delwar Alam, Managing Director of BugsBD Limited, Mojahedul Hoque Abul Hasnat, Chairman of Dynamic Solution Innovators Ltd., Dr. Mossaddek Hossain Tushar, Professor of Dept. of CSE, Dhaka University, Jakaria Manik, CEO of Infocrat Solutions Ltd, Anisul Haq Bhuya, Chairman of Tech Terrain IT Limited, Shah Murtaza Rashid Al Masud, Ph.D. Associate Professor & Head of the Department of CSE, University of Asia Pacific, Md. Jafar Iqbal, Managing Director & CEO of Opus Technology Ltd, Md. Manjurul Hoque, Managing Director of MySoft Limited, Col S M Saiful Islam, SUP, psc Chairman of Dept of CSE Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Ratan Hasan Rahman, Managing Director of Datasoft Manufacturing & Assembly Inc. Ltd. Monir Hosen, Founder & CEO of Creative IT Institute, Tanvir Hossain Khan, CEO & Managing Director of Dreamerz Lab Ltd. And Prof. Dr. Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder, Professor & Director of RISE, BUET.
The event was moderate by the President of Bangladesh Innovation Forum and CEO of E-Soft, Ariful Hasan Apu.
Discussion topics included the current status of industry-academia collaboration, review of the current nature and status of industry-academia collaboration, and practical training and internship opportunities for students.
Collaborative research projects, curriculum development as per industry needs, industry exposure programs for students, practical training and workshops to enhance students' professional skills, organizing lecture series and workshops by industry experts, project based learning, use of contemporary technology and tools, updating of curriculum as per industry requirements etc. The speakers expressed their views on the areas of cooperation.
Bangladesh Innovation Forum and e-SRD Lab of BUET CSE Department informed that, in the context of today's discussion, necessary measures will be taken to start the activities of the issues that have come up.
The event was supported by e-SRD Lab's Virtual Internship and HB Aviation and Tourism Institute.
– Press release