The British Council and National Skills Development Council Secretariat (NSDC-S) organised a ‘Digital Creative Industry Forum’ at the NSDC Secretariat premises on 16 June 2016.
The forum brought together some of the leading professionals in the field of Digital Creatives to discuss the opportunities and challenges the sector has in ensuring a talent pipeline and ongoing professionalisation of the sector. The importance of the sector is recognised by the Government of Bangladesh, and this initial meeting explored the new role of Industry Skills Councils in skills development and specifically the perspective of establishing an Industry Skills Council for the Digital Creative Industries.
The event was hosted by ABM Korshed Alam, Additional Secretary, CEO of NSDC-S and Louise Cowcher, Director Development Contracts, British Council.
Bangladesh enjoys a large youth population who are aspirational, technologically savvy and globally connected, and who can develop within this sector. It is a high-value high-level skills sector, and while there are formal employment opportunities within the sector, it is also driven by freelancers and small independent creative businesses. In this way, Digital Creatives as a sector can drive employment through multiple pathways and contribute to meeting the aspirations of young people.
In addition, there is a clearly articulated Digital Bangladesh strategy which incorporates the philosophy of the effective and useful use of technology in terms of implementing the promises in education, health, job placement and poverty reduction. Digital Creative Bangladesh complements Digital Bangladesh.
The discussions were facilitated by Louise Cowcher, Director Development Contracts, British Council.