SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR MOBILE GAME AND APPLICATION

SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR MOBILE GAME AND APPLICATION

Sponsoring Ministry/ Division

Information & Communication Technology Division (ICT Division),

Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Executing Agency

Information & Communication Technology Division (ICT Division),

Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Objectives of the Project   

1.  Prepare Bangladesh to participate in the global mobile application and game development arena.

2.  Create market linkage & new job facilities in global market.

3.  Create trainers-mentors in mobile app and gaming app arena.

4. Promote balanced development of mobile app and game development companies all over Bangladesh.

5.  Create awareness amongst citizens and Contribute in our GDP through mobile app and gaming industry.

Location of the Project

 8 Divisions , 30 Districts

Estimated Cost of the Project (in Lakh Taka)

i. Total :  28197.02

ii. GOB:  28197.02

iii. PA :    0.00

Project implementation period

i.      Date of commencement: 1st July 2016

ii.     Date of completion: 30st June 2018

Project Details

Background, objectives, priority, rationale, linkages, targets and outputs/outcomes of the project including findings of feasibility study/survey, if any :

Background: 

The worldwide mobile market has enjoyed continued significant growth in the past few years. Worldwide, the overall industry is anticipated to continue its growth phase in the near future. The subscriber base is forecast to increase at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.3 percent between 2011 and 2016, to reach nearly 8.5 billion by end 2016. This growth will be led by markets in Asia Pacific and Africa. As per different international research and study, over the period 2011 to 2016, Bangladesh’s mobile market will grow fastest ( with a CAGR of 12%, highest in the world). Companies all over the world have emerged to feed the unending appetite for software and accessories for the mobile devices. Software developers have discovered that the customer’s desire for mobile applications is equally insatiable.

IT experts have predicted Bangladesh has immense potential in developing mobile apps as it has a huge young population along with over 116m mobile users. The country needs to provide training facilities for app developing among the youth while also ensuring access to international markets. There is huge market for app development at the international level, and its market is gradually widening for countries which have a young population such as Bangladesh. App development could be one of biggest revenue earning industries of the country, if necessary policy support is given.

Bearing the above scenario, The Information and Communication Technology Division, People’s Republic of Bangladesh Government along with BASIS and different ITES Companies are thinking to take some initiatives to develop and support the Mobile Applications and Game development sector all over Bangladesh.

The Government of Bangladesh has taken up the project named National Mobile Application Development Awareness and Capacity Building Program from October 2013 to December 2014. The project has already been a huge success positively influencing the whole Mobile Apps Industry of the country and sensitizing the stakeholders – especially student groups, freelancers, etc – about the benefit of Mobile based delivery of services. In continuation of this project, Skill Development for Mobile Game and Application project has been conceived and proposed by the ICT Division.

The long-term objective of the project is to establish and patronize knowledge based Mobile Applications and Game development industries in Bangladesh. The main objective of the project is to brand Bangladesh as “Mobile Application” epicenter of the world. We are targeting to build one million developers/designers/architects for comprehensive solutions for mobile applications and game development. In today’s world, information technology has already taken a new shift / paradigm of technology transition and a huge international market has opened up for mobile based applications in three categories (1) Applications for consumers (2) Applications for enterprises and last but not the least (3) Gaming Industries. Industry experts, economists, policy makers and business leaders are predicting that mobile applications development and game development can open up a huge opportunity for Bangladesh in international and local market. This sector can be recognized as a leading sector for employment creation and earning foreign currency. 

Specific Objective of the Project:

a)    To promote balanced development of Mobile Applications and Games development companies all over Bangladesh.

b)    To create the awareness for the usages of different mobile applications in our daily life.

c)    To identify and recognize the needs of actual users that can be served through mobile applications in the public and private sectors all over Bangladesh.

d)    Service Mapping in Government and Private Enterprises where essential mobile applications can make a positive difference. Business requirement gathering and analysis for different government organizations, ministries, directories, divisions and autonomous bodies for ensuring more accurate, easy and prompt citizen services.

e)    Scope analysis and development of approximately 300 mobile applications for different government services by industry players ensuring world class quality services. 50 enterprise level mobile apps, 400 interactive games for child education and public health, 300  general playing games will be created.  

f)     Training and Skill Development for 525 trainers/ assessors (Training of Teachers, ToT) for mobile applications developers all over Bangladesh. Targeting the academics/faculty members of Computer Science and Engineering departments in different public and private universities and colleges.  

g)    Training and Skill Development for Mobile Applications Developers (Target: 8750) all over Bangladesh.

h)    Training and Skill Development for Games Developers (Target: 2800) all over Bangladesh.

i)     Training and Skill Development for User Experience Design Specialists all over Bangladesh. ( Target: 2800)

j)     Training and Skill Development for mobile applications developers all over Bangladesh.

k)    Organizing trainings for: App Monetization, Marketing, Branding and Content Management nationwide. (Target:1750)

Project Activities

Establishment of Eight (8) Divisional Apps and Game Development Academy:

Eight divisional Apps and Games Development Institutes will be established where the students will be able to learn and create Mobile Apps and Games. These institutes will also be equipped with books, developments tools, and devices, training materials, videos, etc. Our first priority in selecting the universities will be following the criteria of having Computer Science and Engineering Departments or Software Engineering and also having a department or faculty of Fine Arts or Graphic Design or any related department. University or institute should have existing facility of computer lab or allocate a secured physical space. A blend of technology and fine arts is very important in design, development, usability standardize and maintaining quality in apps and game developments. Students of CSE departments and Fine Arts departments will have to work together in these institutes.

Selected universities will work as the local partners and will provide room, management and security support to run these institutes. Other infrastructural support like computers, laptops, gaming devices, game hosting servers, smart phones, necessary software and tools with internet connectivity will be provided and the institutes will be well equipped. The divisional institute will monitor the activities in district level training centers and will be accessible by other students from different other public and private universities, colleges and even for free lancers.

All divisional apps and game institutes will be connecting with central institute in Dhaka.

District wise 30 Mobile Application & Game labs, app testing lab and training points establishment in local institutes/universities/colleges:

Mobile Application & Game lab is a physical space where mobile technology entrepreneurs can access the tools, expertise and support network necessary to develop solutions and build mobile apps and games related business. Mobile Labs carefully vet entrepreneurs and select those with the most potential to receive a host of targeted services like business and technical training, mentoring from industry support and access to capital. These Mobile Labs will also act as local training centers.

30 mobile labs will take place in 30 different districts and universities, colleges and other government or non-government technical institutes in their own premises. Physical infrastructure related cost such as Building Structure, Construction Work etc will not be providing under this project. All labs will be established in selected partner’s location where partner will provide a lab room and ensure security throughout this project and afterword’s.   Each mobile lab will be equipped with modern computers and mobile devices and tablets.

This training institute will bring hands-on approach, where most higher education still has a theoretical focus. We will provide tools and expertise to make sure trainees coming out of the labs have a high standard of learning that will be achieved by including User Experience, Apps & Games expertise and process related training in the course.

Primary Selection of Division and Districts

Sl No      Division 1. Dhaka 2. Chittagong 3. Rajshahi 4. Khulna 5. Sylhet 6. Barishal 7. Rangpur 8. Mymensingh

SL No     Districts 1. Dhaka 2. Chittagong 3. Rajshahi 4. Khulna 5. Sylhet 6. Barishal 7. Rangpur 8. Kustia 9. Patuakhali 10. Dinajpur 11. Sirajganj 12. Jessore 13. Gazipur 14. Narayanganj 15. Shariatpr 16. Gopalganj 17. Feni 18. Savar 19. Comilla 20. Natore 21. Kishorganj 22. Tangail 23. Pabna 24. Norshindi 25. Noakhali 26. Chapainawabganj 27. Mymensingh 28. Bogra 29. CoxsBazar 30. Chuadanga

  

Specific Linkage with 7th Five Year Plan :

The Government has declared Vision-2021   to reach the country in the middle-income status by 2021. In this connection, the target is fixed to improve ICT uses and implementation of necessary infrastructure. ICT is a new demand in the world and has no any alternative. Without use of ICT, integrated and sustainable development is quite impossible and development could not be ensured. Rapid development of ICT is required to enlarge the development activities in the country and the country’s economic development. By the implementation of the project the income generation activities could be increased rapidly and the socio-economic development could be ensured as well. It is described in the 7th five year plan that development of ICT skills in public and private sectors for ensuring productivity and efficiency of the economy and using ICT for good governance. The relation of this project regarding ICT is described in page 555 & 591 in the 7th five years plan.