Empowerment of youths thru skill-based training

Skill represents the arts and attitudes of doing something proficiently. It is one of the most critical aspects in today's era where competition is at its peak. The more one will be skilled, the more one will get the opportunity to outperform competitors and excel in desired career path. With this motto, Altaf Hossain Raju along with Shahoriar Ahmed and Mashiur Rahman, formed a club named Skill Hunt at Faculty of Business Studies-University of Dhaka to prepare proper skilled human resources. They built it back on November 11, 2016.

Skill hunt is a first student's skill development training hub of Bangladesh which began its journey at the University of Dhaka. This club aims at developing the skills of students by providing world-class training in business-relevant areas to address the opportunities and challenges to meet demands of changing market economies and new technologies.

Skill Hunt arranges training programmes in different areas including business strategy topics, general education, psychology and changing behaviour, technology and other areas that can boost up students' skills for a better life.

In today's highly competitive world, only academic qualifications are not enough for students to compete in the market. They also need different co-curricular activities. Skill hunt identified this need and is working on it.

The vision of Skill Hunt is to be the premier advanced voluntary training hub. The mission of Skill Hunt is to be an innovative training provider, equipping targeted students to compete effectively and efficiently in the challenging world.

Founding President Altaf Hossain Raju said, "Skill development is the only way by which we can convert our youths into skilled human resources. Skill Hunt will help students to be more productive and efficient to compete globally."

Skill Hunt organised 'Graphic Design Training Season One' with flying colours. This training session was conducted by Imran Hossain, graphic designer and video editor of Channel I. In this course, 190 students participated. The total duration was 28 hours in one month. Among them, 71 students passed in all exams and secured the certificate. Following the success of season one, they started 'Graphic Design Training Season Two' which is being held at AR Mollik Auditorium located in Arts Building at University of Dhaka. 

In the last training session of graphic designing of Skill Hunt, distinguished guest Anis Alamgir, editor of Dainik Manobkontho, said, "Skill development is a must to mark your existence in this competitive era and thanks to Skill Hunt team for arranging such a lively training session for the students. Skill Hunt makes our nation one step ahead in building its population more productive than ever."

Didarul Islam, deputy secretary, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, was also a participant of Skill Hunt's graphic design course. He said, "Skill Hunt helps me to extend my practical knowledge on graphic design. It focuses on empowering the students with new skills through offering various skill development training programmes and equipping them against the odds of the job life. It highlights the area of expertise which is in high demand in the job sector."

One of the participants, Mabruka Tahseen Rabab, a student of North South University, said, "It is a unique opportunity for the students to sharpen their skills at a nominal fee. I am very much pleased with Skill Hunt for providing Bangla video tutorials, enriched sheets and personal care in graphic design training session."

Besides graphic design course, Skill Hunt also arranged 'Skill hunt presents Advanced Excel Training Season One' on October 06, 2017 at Sirajul Islam Lecture Hall, University of Dhaka. There was an overwhelming response in advanced excel training session of Skill Hunt.  

Side by side, Skill Hunt has launched 'Skill Hunt Campus Ambassador Programme 2017' to facilitate numerous training programmes to different university students. 

Skill Hunt also arranges workshops and seminars to build a bridge between professionals and students. Skill Hunt is planning to initiate digital marketing and presentation course very soon.

The members of Skill Hunt are grateful to the faculties of University of Dhaka. Dr. Md. Mosharraf Hossain, professor at Department of Management, is acting as chief advisor of Skill Hunt. Other faculty members---Dr. M. Helal Uddin Ahmed (professor and chairman- Department of Management and Information System), Md. Ashraf Harun (assistant professor-Department of Marketing), Md. Imrul Jobaid (lecturer-Department of Marketing)-- are also acting as advisers of Skill Hunt.

The writer is a student at Department of Marketing- Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka. He can be reached at [email protected]