Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon today called on the universities to lay emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and research to improve the quality of education and strengthen country’s position in the global competition.

“There is no alternative to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to transform the country’s large population into a skilled workforce. Therefore, TVET education must also be expanded at the university level. At the same time, the use of AI in higher education needs to be increased further,” he said.

The minister made these remarks while addressing the QS Bangladesh Forum-2026 as the chief guest at a hotel here.

Representatives from more than 90 universities across the country attended the event.

Milon said our universities need to improve both the scope and quality of research to enhance their positions in the QS rankings. He also stressed the importance of cross-border education to further connect the country’s higher education sector with the international community.

“There is no shortage of talented teachers and students in the country. Our students are achieving good results at universities abroad and are also making their mark in research,” he said.

He called for bringing talented Bangladeshis living abroad back to the country through a “reverse brain drain” and utilizing their expertise for national development.

“We want to build the country as an education hub and we have the capacity to do so,” he said.

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Dr Mamun Ahmed presented the keynote paper at the event. Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh Chairman Dr Md Sabur Khan, American International University-Bangladesh Board of Trustees member Ishtiaq Abedin and QS Chief Commercial Officer Jason Newman also spoke at the function.

QS India Chairman Dr Ashwini Fernandes delivered the welcome address.

Milon also said initiatives have been taken to simplify the visa procedures to increase foreign investment in Bangladesh and attract more international students.

He said implementation of the initiative would enable foreign students to come to Bangladesh more easily for higher education. This would make Bangladesh more attractive to the international students and create greater opportunities to expand country’s higher education sector in the global arena, he added.