MAS Holdings turns to universities to close skills gap in apparel industry

MAS Holdings is expanding its work with universities and technical institutes in Bangladesh, placing education partnerships at the centre of its long-term workforce strategy.

The Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer says the collaborations are designed to help narrow skills gaps in the sector by bringing academic training closer to the demands of modern apparel production. Its work with institutions covers practical training, curriculum input, infrastructure support and internship pathways that can lead to full-time employment.

For MAS, the approach is also part of a broader effort to position itself as an employer of choice for young graduates. The company is seeking to show that careers in apparel now extend beyond the factory floor into areas such as technology, industrial engineering, operations, marketing, finance and sustainable manufacturing.

Bridging the classroom and the workplace

In Bangladesh, MAS has supported hands-on learning environments at institutions including Port City International University and the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Center. The company has donated industrial sewing machines to textile students at Port City International University and helped convert a classroom at BKTTC into a ready-made garment training facility.

The aim is to give students earlier exposure to the equipment, systems and production standards used in large-scale apparel manufacturing. It also helps address a long-standing gap between classroom instruction and workplace requirements.

MAS also offers internships for students pursuing textile engineering and related qualifications. The company says some students who joined through internship programmes have gone on to secure full-time roles and build careers within the organisation.

Adithya Bandara, General Manager at MAS Sumantra, said, “A career in apparel today goes far beyond the factory floor, spanning technology, finance and sustainable manufacturing. Closing the skills gap means bringing academic training closer to real production demands, which is why MAS Sumantra offers hands‑on exposure and a direct pathway into technical, operational and corporate roles. That is how we build a future‑ready workforce for Bangladesh’s apparel sector.”

Those pathways are central to the company’s pitch to young graduates: that the apparel sector can offer structured career development, international exposure and opportunities to work in a global business.

Preparing graduates for future roles

The apparel industry is increasingly shaped by automation, sustainability requirements, digital systems and demand for higher-value manufacturing. MAS has identified skills gaps in areas such as fabric technology, pattern development, industrial engineering and sewing machine operations.

Through its university partnerships, the company contributes industry insight to academic institutions and supports efforts to align curricula with current market needs. This includes sharing knowledge on production technology, sustainable manufacturing and the technical skills required for export-focused apparel production.

MAS is also exploring ways to bring more industry experience into classrooms, including through visiting lecturers and part-time tutors from its professional network, including expatriate specialists from Sri Lanka.

Building a local talent pipeline

MAS has formalised collaborations with several Bangladeshi institutions, including BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Premier University and Port City International University.

The company is planning further partnerships in 2025 and 2026, including memorandums of understanding with institutions such as Asian University for Women, East Delta University and Nasirabad Polytechnic Institute.

By working with local education providers, MAS is embedding itself more deeply in Bangladesh’s academic and industrial ecosystem. The company says the goal is to help build a stronger workforce for the country’s apparel sector, which remains a major contributor to employment, manufacturing and exports.

For students, the partnerships offer a route from education into industry. For MAS, they create a pipeline of graduates equipped for the technical, operational and corporate roles needed by a fast-changing global apparel business.