Dhaka: Cambridge English Language Assessment, a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge, wants to support one million Bangladeshi youths every year to get ready for the job market by improving their English Language skill.

"Our key objective is to support one million students from Bangladesh to get jobs and seek admission globally. But to reach the target, we need to build partnerships with government bodies such as universities, colleges, schools and training organisations," said visiting TK Arunachalam, Regional Director of South Asia of Cambridge English Language Assessment, on Wednesday.

The Cambridge English Language Assessment has two partners --British Council and Future Ed English Language Centre-in Bangladesh, he said at an interaction programme with journalists in the city.

Arunachalam said they feel that Bangladeshi students are really good in technical skills like Engineering and medical, but they probably lack good communication skill in English.

"We want to visit government bodies such as universities and schools in Bangladesh to try and see how we can work together to create partnership between Cambridge and institutions in Bangladesh to support the youths for gaining skills in English language," he said.

To get any job, he said, youths need two kinds of skill -- one is technical skills for the job and the soft skills like communication and leadership skills.
"We're trying to offer partnership to develop communication skills."

The Cambridge English supports Future Ed English Language Centre to identify partners in Bangladesh for working together with them, said Arunachalam, now staying in Bangladesh on a three-day visit.

Noting that most students are pursuing higher education in Bangladesh, he said, "Why should everyone do higher education only in Bangladesh? Some 43 percent of your students have MBA. You have the largest number of MBA holders in the world. Are there enough jobs for them here? You may have more technical jobs or professional jobs rather than just MBA."

Managing Director of Cambridge English Language Assessment Centre in Bangladesh Ameer Y Khan said IELTS certificate is valid for only two years, but that of Cambridge English Language Assessment is valid for lifelong. "Once you are qualified the assessment, you will be valid for lifelong."

He said over five million people take Cambridge English exams each year and more than 20,000 organisations across the world accept the exams.