Industry-paid attachment programme supports job-ready skills for diploma graduates

DHAKA (ILO news)- Addressing skills mismatch and bridging the gap between technical education and employment remains a formidable challenge for Bangladesh's economic growth and overall labour market productivity. To address persistent skills mismatches faced by diploma graduates and employers alike, a 're-modelled' industrial attachment pilot has demonstrated how closer collaboration between industries and polytechnic institutions can better equip young graduates for decent work.

The pilot, implemented under the International Labour Organization's (ILO) ProGRESS project, was led by the Technical and Madrasah Education Division (TMED) in collaboration with the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) and the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) with funding support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The initiative reimagined the traditional industrial attachment programme for diploma-level Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students, placing stronger emphasis on workplace readiness, structured supervision and industry-led assessment.

Private sector representatives meet with the ILO Country Director and the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education

Addressing long-standing challenges

Under the BTEB curricula, diploma students are required to complete a 16-week industrial attachment during their final semester. However, employer surveys and tracer studies have shown that traditional attachments often lack structured learning objectives, meaningful supervision and alignment with workplace demands. As a result, many graduates struggle to transition into employment, while industries report difficulties in recruiting job-ready diploma holders.

The pilot re-modelled industrial attachment sought to respond to these challenges by introducing a more outcome-oriented approach. Drawing on ILO's global Education-to-Employment framework and extensive consultations with employers, the pilot integrated and industry-led pre-screening of students and customized work readiness program supported by closer engagement between industries and training institutions.

A new model for workplace-based learning

The pilot involved 47 diploma students from Chattogram Polytechnic Institute and Bangladesh Sweden Polytechnic Institute, in partnership with six leading industries based in Chattogram: BSRM, GPH Ispat, Confidence Cement, Maf Shoes, Rancon Group and CPDL.

Selected students first completed a one-month preparatory phase focusing on digital literacy and essential soft skills, including communication, teamwork, workplace etiquette and professional behaviour. This was followed by three months of industry-based training, where students worked under the supervision of industry mentors and were assessed on real tasks and performance. The programme concluded with reporting, joint monitoring by institutes and industries, assessment and retention interviews, alongside career guidance support for students not immediately absorbed into employment.

As of mid-January 2026, 45 students completed the pilot, with a significant number progressing towards job interviews and offered employment by their host-companies.

Nabiha Marzan gains hands-on experience through on-site mentoring at the project location

Learning from stakeholders

On 20 January 2026, key stakeholders from government, industry, TVET institutions and development partners convened in Dhaka for a Post-Industrial Attachment Pilot Stakeholders' Dialogue. The dialogue provided a platform to reflect on lessons learned from the pilot and to identify priorities for scaling up the model.

Industry partners highlighted improvements in students' professionalism, discipline and workplace engagement, noting that pre-screening and work readiness program reduced recruitment costs and improved training outcomes.

Md Rabiul Hossain, Group Head of HR, BSRM Group of Companies emphasized the need for training institutions to establish dedicated career guidance cells. He noted that strong soft skills, discipline and professional attitudes are critical for students to successfully complete industrial attachments and adapt to workplace expectations.

Rajes Singha, Talent Acquisition & OD Lead of CPDL pressed on the need of engaging industry level occupation specific experts through guest lecture sessions during the institute-based course work.

KM Shaker Hossain, HR Manager of Maf Shoes Ltd. emphasized on including soft skills training in the diploma curricula to create a positive, strong and open mindset among the students towards working at the industrial environment.

Shah Symoom Mohammod, HR & Training Manager of Rancon FC Properties highlighted that the participating diploma students demonstrated a solid understanding of technical roles at the project site. He added that the students showed high levels of enthusiasm and willingness to learn practical, field-level activities.

On the other hand, students reported increased confidence, clearer career aspirations and stronger occupational skills because of the structured approach and industry mentoring.

Participants share key lessons learned during the session

Nabiha Marzan, a diploma student from Chattogram Polytechnic Institute, indicated that training in digital and soft skills significantly improved her communication skills and confidence, easing her transition into the industry. As a civil engineering student, she noted that the attachment helped her gain hands-on experience in labour management. She also praised the industry mentors for their supportive and cooperative guidance in understanding real workplace practices.

Md Mahidul Al Mafim a diploma student from Chattogram Polytechnic Institute shared that the attachment provided him with exposure to multiple departments, including quality, maintenance and production. He added that pre-attachment training supported by the ILO ProGRESS project - particularly on CV writing and interview techniques - helped him apply for the placement and confidently navigate the recruitment process.

Participants also identified areas for further improvement, including earlier introduction of soft skills training within the diploma curriculum, stronger career placement services at institute level, and formalized industry-institute partnerships to sustain engagement.

Towards national scale-up

The dialogue concluded with broad consensus on the need to institutionalize the re-modelled industrial attachment nationwide. Stakeholders emphasized that sustained public-private collaboration, policy alignment and industry recognition mechanisms will be essential to scale the model effectively.

Building on the pilot's success, TMED, DTE and BTEB have expressed commitment to integrate the re-modelled approach into the TVET implementation plan, future TVET reforms, with the aim of strengthening education-to-employment pathways, reducing skills mismatches and supporting Bangladesh's competitiveness in both local and international labour markets.