Online Learning Platform for Entrepreneurs launched

Standard Chartered Bangladesh (SCB) on Tuesday launched an Online Learning Platform for Entrepreneurs, especially women, aiming to help them learn skills required to run their businesses.

Using the free-of-charge platform, entrepreneurs can learn at anytime from anywhere and get the scope to connect with experts in the relevant fields.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni joined the event virtually and inaugurated the online platform as the chief guest.

SCB Chief Executive Officer Naser Ezaz Bijoy, its Managing Director and Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking Sabbir Ahmed, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Chairman of Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS) Zahida Ispahani and Executive Director of UCEP Bangladesh Dr Md Abdul Karim spoke at the event held at a city hotel.

MIDAS and UCEP are the partner organisations of the SCB for the online platform.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Dipu Moni said women have been lagging behind for various reasons, including political, religious and economic issues.

Now they have been making progress, thanks to the different initiatives taken by the government, she added.

"Besides the government, corporate organisations are also making great contribution to the development of women from their respective sides," she said.

With the SCB's online learning platform, entrepreneurs, especially women, can learn many issues of running a business, she said.

Ms Zahida Ispahani said the female entrepreneurs in many cases lack necessary training.

This platform will help them get hands-on training free of cost and at their convenient time, she said.

"It will create multiple impacts as it will equip the women entrepreneurs with new skills and help them make more contribution to the economy," she added.

Giving an outline of the platform, SCB chief Naser Ezaz Bijoy said the platform will champion the use of technology and digital education -- empowering women nationwide to flourish and materialise their dreams.

"One willing individual needs only access to internet to avail the platform's benefits." he said.

Upon completion of the course, a learner will get a certificate from the platform, he said.

Highlighting the entrepreneurship development through skills training for the country's economy in coming days, he said components of the fourth industrial revolution like Artificial Intelligence (AI) will bring massive transformation in the job market.

The online platform can be accessed at stanchartentrepreneurship.com. It now offers seven courses on various topics, including business model design, business law and fund raising. It will gradually add more courses.

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