Bangladesh is facing a youth employability crisis. Among individuals aged 15–29, 7.2% are unemployed, with over 80% living in semi-rural or peri-urban areas where structured career services are scarce (BBS, 2023). The National University (NU) system, the country’s largest tertiary network with 3 million students across 2,500+ colleges suffers from a major disconnect between academia and industry. As a result, unemployment among NU graduates stands at 28.2%, with women disproportionately affected (34.31% vs. 19.96% for men) (BIDS, 2023).

NU’s role as an umbrella institution designing curricula, conducting exams, and awarding degrees, while teaching is delivered by affiliated colleges further complicates matters. This structure highlights the urgent need for institutionalized career services to bridge the gap between education and employment.

The Career Center Initiative

The Career Center, a joint initiative between BYLC and the National University, was launched to address these challenges by enhancing the career readiness of youth through targeted upskilling and industry engagement. By bridging the gap between academic learning and workforce demands, it equips students with practical skills, confidence, and professional networks essential for success in today’s competitive job market.

At the core of its work, the Career Center focuses on three critical areas:

• Career Readiness: Guiding students through counseling, career assessments, CV writing, and interview preparation to help them step into the job market with clarity and confidence.
• Skill Development: Offering tailored workshops and training programs on communication, leadership, digital, and sector-specific skills demanded by employers.
• Employer Engagement: Connecting students with companies and organizations through Annual Career Fairs, HR Connect sessions, and networking opportunities that open doors to internships, mentorship, and employment.

The launch of the first Career Center at Lalmatia Government Mohila College marked the beginning of a nationwide network designed to empower young people, particularly women, to transition from education to meaningful employment. These centers cultivate a culture of lifelong learning, professional growth, and equitable workforce participation across Bangladesh.

In a country where thousands of graduates enter the workforce each year, Career Centers serve as launchpads for transformation helping youth align aspirations with market needs while giving employers access to motivated, skilled talent. For students, they are spaces of possibility; for partners and employers, they are hubs of opportunity.

A Career Center is where dreams meet direction and potential turns into opportunity.

To ensure long-term impact, the Career Center model is built on a sustainability framework that combines institutional ownership, partnerships, and innovation:

• Institutional Integration: Career Centers are embedded within universities and colleges, ensuring ownership, continuity, and alignment with the academic ecosystem.
• Public–Private Partnerships: Collaborations with employers, industry associations, and development partners provide resources, training expertise, and job linkages that keep the centers relevant and demand-driven.
• Community Contribution:A nominal yearly fee for Career Center services will be integrated within students’ admission or academic fees. This ensures smoother institutional adoption, strengthens ownership, and fosters a sense of shared responsibility among students, institutions, and partners.
• Continuous Innovation: Regular feedback from students, alumni, and employers will guide program updates, keeping training responsive to evolving labor market needs.

Through this approach, Career Centers will not only empower today’s students but also continue to serve future generations sustainably shaping a stronger, more inclusive workforce across Bangladesh.