National University to Set Up Career and Wellbeing Centre for 4 Million Students, Signs Deal With Bioted

An initiative has been taken to establish a Career and Wellbeing Centre (CWC) to expand healthcare, mental wellbeing, skills development and employment opportunities for the National University's nearly 4 million students. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the National University and Bioted for this purpose.

The memorandum was signed on Friday (30 October) at the university's city office in Dhanmondi in the capital.

Under the agreement, the centre will work to provide health checks, mental health counselling, market-demand-based skills development, internships and job opportunities for students, using the university's existing infrastructure and its network of affiliated colleges.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah signed the memorandum on behalf of the National University. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Treasurer Professor Dr Md Nazmul Hossain, Registrar Molla Mahfuz Al-Hossain and International Desk Director Raj Bin Kasem were present at the ceremony.

Executive Director Dr Mohammad Shawgat Islam signed on behalf of Bioted. GenX Health Managing Director Dr Munia Amin was present at the time.

Under the memorandum, the centre will arrange thalassemia screening for students and, where needed, confidential genetic counselling.

Counselling services for students' mental health protection and, where necessary, referral to specialist doctors will also be arranged. The agreement states that students' personal information will be kept confidential in providing these services.

To make students employable, skills development training is planned in four areas: digital services, business and finance-related activities, English and workplace communication, and care and healthcare support.

The agreement says these training programmes will be run as a complement to the regular curriculum.

As part of job preparation, the centre will work on CV preparation, interview preparation, practical work and creating internship opportunities. There is also a plan to give students the chance to gain internship or practical project experience before completing their degrees.

After training, arrangements will also be in place for contact with employers and job recommendations. Special importance will be given to employment for women graduates, with a separate employment support desk for them. The centre will also work to ensure safe working environments.