The government has appointed Ernst and Young (EY) India to develop strategic initiatives for Smart Leadership Academy (SLA) set up to create smart leaders and promoting a citizen-centric culture to navigate Fourth Industrial revolution.
To this end, the World Bank financed Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) of ICT Division recently signed a contract with EY India to develop strategic foresight covering tasks and initiatives for Smart Leadership Academy (SLA) in line with government's Smart Bangladesh vision and the world perspectives.
EY India formally started their works on Tuesday by arranging a workshop held at the conference room of EDGE, Youth Tower, in the city, said a press release.
While speaking at the workshop, ICT Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin said the strategic initiative should be developed keeping in mind the rapid technological shift and meticulously outlined the precise tasks essential to effectively operate SLA for advancing the Smart Bangladesh vision.
Chaired by EDGE Project Director Md Shakhawat Hossain, the function was addressed, among others by, BCC Executive Director Ranajit Kumar, EDGE Policy Adviser Md Abdur Bari and EDGE Policy Development Specialist Amdadul Huq.
People Consulting Director of the EY India Debarchana presented the keynote on strategic initiative tools and methodologies for Smart Leadership Academy.
Officials of ICT Division and representatives from industry and academia participated in the workshop and shared their opinion about the proposed strategic foresight for Smart Leadership Academy.
Shamsul Arefin emphasized the urgent need to adapt to the swift technological transition reshaping our surroundings, cautioning that failure to do so would result in falling behind.
He said there are apprehension of losing jobs with the emergence of frontier technologies, but the reality is more jobs will be created due to use more equipment in making robotics and AI tools.
"The potential for job creation through domestic robot manufacturing is immense," he said.
Arefin asserted, advocating for the engagement of polytechnic students in digital and hardware skills training initiatives to establish a hub for hardware repair, thereby generating employment and curbing foreign currency expenditure.
The strategic initiatives for Smart Leadership Academy to be developed by EY India will cover four pivotal areas: designing strategic foresight tools and methodologies, conducting thorough needs
assessment for all stakeholders, developing course curricula, and transferring knowledge.
The strategic initiative tools and methodologies will be integrated with Smart Leadership Academy, said People Consulting Senior Manager of EY India M Surya Narayana Sasthry.
"Once SLA becomes operational, it will serve as a central hub, collaborating with academic institutions that will function as the spokes of a dynamic network. This partnership will enable a seamless flow of knowledge and resources, cultivating an ecosystem designed to create future leaders," he added.