The government of Bangladesh has appointed Ernst and Young (EY) India to create strategic initiatives for the Smart Leadership Academy (SLA). The SLA aims to nurture smart leaders and promote a citizen-centric culture to navigate the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Under the World Bank-financed Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project, the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) recently signed a contract with EY India. The collaboration will focus on developing strategic foresight for the SLA, aligning with the government’s vision for a Smart Bangladesh and global perspectives.

EY India officially commenced its work by organizing a workshop at the EDGE conference room in Dhaka. During the workshop, ICT Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin emphasized the importance of adapting to rapid technological shifts. He outlined precise tasks necessary for effectively operating the SLA and advancing the Smart Bangladesh vision.

The strategic initiatives for the Smart Leadership Academy will cover four key areas:

Designing strategic foresight tools and methodologies, Conducting thorough needs assessments for all stakeholders , Developing course curricula ,Transferring knowledge.

People Consulting Director of EY India, Debarchana, presented key insights on strategic initiative tools and methodologies for the SLA. Officials from the ICT Division, industry representatives, and academia participated in the workshop, sharing their opinions on the proposed strategic foresight.

Arefin highlighted the urgent need to embrace technological transitions, cautioning that failure to do so would result in falling behind. He dispelled concerns about job losses due to emerging technologies, emphasizing that more jobs would be created through robotics and AI tools.

Advocating for polytechnic students’ engagement in digital and hardware skills training, Arefin proposed establishing a hub for hardware repair. This initiative would generate employment and reduce foreign currency expenditure.

Once operational, the SLA will serve as a central hub, collaborating with academic institutions. This partnership will create a dynamic network, facilitating the seamless flow of knowledge and resources to cultivate future leaders.