CA Urges South Asian Academics to Align Education with Youth Aspirations

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday urged academics across South Asia to align education systems with the aspirations of youth, saying higher education must respond to changing social realities, employment needs, and the hopes of a new generation.

He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the three-day South Asian Regional Conference on State of Higher Education and Future Pathway (SARCHE 2026) at a city hotel in Dhaka.

“Today, I feel very excited that academics at the highest level could get together in Dhaka,” Yunus said. Referring to the developments following Bangladesh’s post-2024 July Uprising, he expressed hope that international delegates would gain insight into the country’s recent transformations.

Emphasizing regional cooperation, the chief adviser stressed the importance of reviving the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to strengthen collaboration among universities, researchers, and policymakers. He said a revitalized SAARC could play a key role in sharing knowledge, promoting academic mobility, and addressing common regional challenges.

The conference has brought together around 30 international representatives, including delegates from the United Kingdom, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, along with representatives from the World Bank.

Organizers said the three-day event will focus on governance, quality and inclusion in higher education, as well as future pathways involving innovation, digital transformation, and regional networking, with the goal of making South Asian higher education more responsive to youth aspirations and global demands.