United News of Bangladesh

Research and Innovation center for science (RISE) of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET) has signed a MoU with Chinese Enterprise Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) to work together aiming to address on site technical challenges faced by CEAB through collaborative research and innovation.  The MoU was signed in a seminar held at ECE building of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) under the banner Fostering Innovation Through Collaborative Research for Smart Bangladesh at 5 pm on Monday (June 2) Director of BUET Research and innovation centre for science (RISE) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder on behalf of RISE and president of Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh Mr. Ke Changliang on behalf of CEAB signed the MoU. UCB partners with University of Central Lancashire to offer affordable UK degrees in Bangladesh BUET VC Dr. Satya Prasad Majumder presided over the seminar while Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Yao Wen joined the program as the chief guest. Besides BUET pro vc Prof. Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan attended the program as the guest of honor while Bangladesh Bridge Authority’s chief engineer Mr. Quazi Muhammad Ferdous joined the program as the special guest. Director of BUET Research and innovation centre for science (RISE) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder, president of Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh Mr. Ke Changliang, secretary general of Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mr. Al Mamun Mridha, Dr. Sayeed Ahmed, CEO & Managing Director of Bayside Analytix Ltd and president of BUET Graduates Club and Chairman of Max Group Engr. Ghulam Mohammed Alomgir were present among other notable persons BUET pro vc Abdul Jabbar said, “We have multiplied our per capita income 30 times since 1971 but within the same time China increased its per capita income 100 times than they were in 1971. We need to foster our economy faster to cope with the rest of the world.” "Bangladesh must focus on technological innovation. For this we need cordial help and collaboration from international development partners like China to achieve our goal Smart Bangladesh," he added. ‘MIT Leading Edge International Student Conference’ on June 11-15 at Haileybury Bhaluka On behalf of the Chinese embassy Bangladesh, Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Yao Wen, said that this MoU will help developing China Bangladesh relationship and will create room for industry academy collaboration.   “China has made it to land on the dark side of the moon for the very first time where USA, Russia, India failed. It is an indicator of our global position in the field of technological development and achievement,” he added, expressing his will to work together in both academic and industrial fields to foster innovation and development as partners. While talking about real-life experiences in the practical field, Bangladesh Bridge Authority’s chief engineer Mr. Quazi Muhammad Ferdous, in his speech of special guest, said, “when we work in the practical field, we feel and see the gaps between Academy and industry. I think this Mou will work as a bridge to remove the gaps.”  Thanking Chinese authority, BUET VC Dr. Satya Prasad Majumder, in his concluding remark, said, “After our independence we got China as our friend whom we can rely on as our development partner. There are megaprojects in our country where China remarkably contributed.” Higher education sector passing tough time: UGC Chairman Asking China’s cooperation to allow Bangladeshi students to work in their industries and universities for practice and internship, he said, “We are lacking industrial cooperation in the country...there is no Relation between industry and academy. As a result we got excellent academic results but we lack practical real engineers. Again, we do not have enough industries where our students can do their internship and practice after completing graduation as a result our students go abroad and stay there.”

Universal College Bangladesh (UCB) has recently partnered with the UK’s prestigious University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). An exclusive agreement was signed between the two reputed educational institutes with the aim of opening up a new avenue for Bangladeshi students to avail affordable UK degrees without leaving the country. In this regard, a signing ceremony took place on Saturday at the UCB Campus in Gulshan, Dhaka, according to a press release. Bob Kundanmal, Chairman, Board of Directors, UCB and Prof Catherine Jackson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Central Lancashire, signed the agreement for their respective organizations. The event was graced by esteemed personalities, including chief guest Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, Minister of Education; and guest of honor H E Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Begum Shamsun Nahar, Deputy Minister of Education; Zarif Munir, Director, UCB; and Manas Singh, CEO, STS Group joined the event as the special guests, and Prof Hew Gill, President and Provost, welcomed the guests at the event. All activities of the 3-year UCLan program will take place in Bangladesh. The program at UCB has been awarded 5 QS Stars (Excellent) for internationalization and inclusiveness. According to The Center for World University Rankings 2023, UCLan ranks in the top 7% of the universities worldwide. It is also appreciated among the community as the most affordable UK degree with high global recognition. To help the students’ experience a smooth journey, UCB is providing attractive learning facilities like sports membership, compact campus environment, resource-enabled library etc, the UCB authorities informed at the event. During the event, welcome speeches were delivered by the dignitaries, followed by the inauguration, agreement signing. The vote of thanks was presented by Prof Muhammad Ismail Hossain, Dean of Academic Affairs, UCB. Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury appreciated the initiative, saying, “We have to focus on enriching the nation’s future workforce by empowering our youth with timely skills that align with the demands of not just the local but the global market. The partnership between UCB and UCLan is an ideal example of recognizing the need for global education, one that should be followed by others in the sector as well.” H E Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh said “Over half a million students globally are currently studying for a UK degree overseas, helping to boost their future job prospects. British higher education institutions are dedicated to providing accessible and high-quality higher education, building a brighter future for students around the world.” Bob Kundanmal, Chairman and Board of Directors, UCB, said, “The UCLan Programme at UCB represents a top blend of academic excellence and cultural diversity. At UCB, we are thoroughly committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators through transformative educational opportunities. We expect the UCLan Program to open doors to global perspectives and industry-relevant skills for Bangladeshi students. It shall also reinforce the importance of localized education solutions for prospective candidates who deserve such opportunities.” With this new introduction at UCB, local students now have another great opportunity to earn a reputable UK university degree from right here in Bangladesh. Further information about the UCLan Program and admission procedures are available at the Universal College Bangladesh website.

The five-day 'MIT Leading Edge International Student Conference' will be held at Haileybury Bhaluka from June 11 to 15 on its campus in Bhaluka, Mymensingh. Haileybury Bhaluka is organizing the international conference in association with MIT Edgerton Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States, according to a media release. IIMC Alumni Association new committee takes charge Four faculty members and six graduates from MIT are flying in to guide the participants, said the organizers. Some 100 selected students from Bangladesh, India and UK will be taking part in this international conference. Boys and girls, aged between 11-14 years of age, are eligible to participate in the conference. Bangabandhu was always an indomitable voice for peace both nationally and globally:Speakers Haileybury Bhaluka’s Founding Headmaster Simon O’ Grady has said this international conference aims to expand students' comprehension of engineering and design at an innovative level, fostering the creation of impactful solutions.   "We are honored to welcome MIT to Bangladesh. We are sincerely grateful to the faculty and graduate students in travelling 8,000 miles. MIT faculties were impressed by the scale of our ambitions for Bangladesh and our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion,” Simon said.   This workshop unveils the mechanics behind underwater robotics, AI-powered wheelchairs, and handheld pollution mapping devices, fostering innovation for impactful solutions.   There is also an opportunity to explore taking part in an underwater Harry Potter Quidditch competition.   Participants will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking, creativity and collaboration skills by being in close proximity to faculty from the world's number one university.   Certificates will be awarded to the participants on the last day of the event. The certificate will be provided by the Edgerton Center at MIT.   Haileybury started its journey as an international franchise educational institution with 100% residential facilities in Bangladesh last October affiliated to Haileybury College UK, a school with 164 years of history.    

The Jagannath University administration has asked the employees residing in residential accommodations within the Jagannath University (JnU) campus, including the Central Mosque building and other academic buildings and adjacent areas, to vacate within three months. This information was given in a notice signed by the Registrar of the University, Professor Dr. Aynul Islam, on Tuesday. The notice states that, “The educational activities are being disrupted due to the residence of employees in various academic buildings and adjacent areas, including the Central Mosque building within the Jagannath University campus. In the interest of conducting education programmes properly and smoothly on campus, employees residing on campus are directed to vacate the university's residential accommodations by August 26th." Registrar (Acting) Professor Dr. Aynul Islam mentioned that although this directive had been repeatedly communicated before, employees did not comply. Our campus is very small, and this issue came to light after the new administration took over, prompting the directive to vacate the accommodations. However, considering the humane aspect, they have been given a three-month grace period.

The higher education sector in the country is passing the most challenging period, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman (Additional ) Professor Dr Muhammad Alamgir said on Sunday. "And there is no alternative to improve the quality of higher education in the ever-changing education system," he said. UGC to train teachers of 20 public universities countrywide He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a views exchange program with the newly appointed teachers and officials of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University (BSMRMU), Bangladesh. Twenty-one newly appointed teachers and officers of BSMRMU participated in the meeting. Professor Alamgir said, “In the era of artificial intelligence, 50 percent of the traditional work will be done with artificial intelligence in the next 5 to 10 years. Unless a highly skilled workforce is created, the unemployment rate will increase.” So, realizing the demand, changes need to be brought in the current higher education curriculum to develop manpower suitable for the future labor market, he added. UGC probe body finds evidence of corruption, irregularities against IU VC “The work of building a teachers training academy is going on and the training program will start very soon to make teachers skilled,” he stated. Professor Alamgir said the field of higher education in Bangladesh is very large. Now, there are more than 48 lakh students studying in 61 public and 115 private universities. “This number of students is more than the total population of many countries. So ensuring quality education is a big challenge for us now.” UGC directs  National University not to admit new students to its main campus He mentioned that the 'Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HIT)' project is under implementation to improve the quality of higher education.

State Minister for Health Affairs Dr. Rokeya Sultana has said the government will not compromise with quality thriving in the  medical education sector and would take timely measures to address the challenges of the ongoing student crisis in the admission process. "No one or organisation should do any work if quality is not maintained," Sultana said She said this in a discussion programme  titled "Improving the quality of private health education and dealing with the challenges of the ongoing student crisis in the admission process" where eminent persons from the Ministry of Health and principals and experts of private medical colleges were present. Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) organized the programme in CIRDAP Auditorium of the capital. Addressing the challenges of the ongoing student crisis in the admission process, she said "Automation is not a new system, it was there during the Pakistan period as well. Due to this method, many people are facing problems in admission. I am a victim of it myself. Due to this automation I could not get admission in Dhaka Medical College." She also sought the quality in teaching methods and hospital management to serve the country in the larger picture. Former Foreign minister and chairman of Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. A. K.M Abdul Momen said the quality of doctors in our hospital is good. People's trust should be brought to the hospital, competition should be increased. People will reciprocate if the quality of treatment increases. BPMCA president Mubin Khan said, "The blueprint has been laid to destroy the private medical college sector. Remember—it's hard to build an institution, it's easy to destroy it. Students will be admitted according to their choice. In the academic year 2022-2023 where the number of applications was 15, 1 person was absent for interview and there were no empty seats. But on the other hand, 4 seats are found vacant for academic year 2023 to 2024. Similarly, according to the data of Zahurul Medical College, a private educational institution in Kishoreganj, in the academic year 2023-2024, the number of applications was 14, but only one participated in the interview. In the academic year 2022-2023, there were 2 students who were admitted under the irregular quota in the previous year, but this year the number is zero. They said this picture is not only of the private medical college in the capital Dhaka but also the medical college of all the districts in Bangladesh. The discussion also stressed that a road map has been prepared and steps have been taken to quickly implement it by discussing what needs to be done to meet the challenges of the ongoing student crisis in the quality improvement and admission process of private medical education in Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in Bangladesh’s "extraordinary education sector success" was praised at the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in London last week.  Bangladesh was commended for its recent achievements and transformations in the education sector, in particular for a stronger emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) over the past decade, leading to higher employment of young people in the private industry, greater access to IT education and lifelong learning on digital platforms as well as ensuring gender parity in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Students should focus on professional skills: Education Minister Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, who led the Bangladesh delegation at the 22nd CCEM, has recommended that it is time for the global south to make greater financial investments in both hard and soft infrastructure in the education sector.  He also emphasized the need to build robust innovative partnerships with the private sector, international financial institutions, and global funds, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Monday. In his country statement, the Education Minister also briefed the Conference on the significant progress of Bangladesh in improving access to education, with efforts focused on enhancing quality and inclusivity across all levels of education.  He said, “SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for our 60 million girls and boys and skill-based higher education for another 30 million has been at the heart of our Head of the Government Sheikh Hasina’s aspirations for an educated, healthy, inclusive and resilient Smart Bangladesh by 2041.” Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi addressed the event as the keynote speaker while the Education Minister provided an update of the SDG 4 progress on behalf of the Asian Commonwealth. He also co-chaired the ministerial roundtable on “Rethinking Education for Skills, Youth Employability, and Decent Work” with Gambia’s Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Professor Pierre Gomez. No plan to change new education system: Education Minister He also met the Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC during the conference at the Commonwealth Secretariat.  Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem accompanied the Education Minister at the Conference.

Professor Dr Yusuf Mahbubul Islam joined Southeast University (SEU) as its newest Vice Chancellor on Sunday. President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Chancellor of SEU, appointed him as the new VC of the university for a four-year term. Professor Dr Yusuf Mahbubul Islam has more than 46 years of teaching, research, and administrative experience at different institutions in Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. He performed significant roles in different universities, such as the Vice Chancellor at Daffodil International University and Dean of Engineering at Independent University of Bangladesh. He also worked as an adjunct professor at Open University Malaysia (OUM) and Associate Professor and chair of Computer Science and Engineering at BRAC University. SEU authority, upon his appointment, mentions that he contributed to the development of each of the institutions he worked for; and as a team player, Professor Islam seeks cooperation and support of all colleagues towards development of the University. 

Boys are increasingly lagging behind in secondary and higher secondary education, as the recent SSC 2024 results have demonstrated. This trend has led many including the Prime Minister to wonder why boys are underperforming in schools. Educationists have pointed out that many boys are glued to their mobile phones and social media platforms even when at home, resulting in inattentiveness and lack of focus. In contrast, girls tend to be more attentive and diligent in their studies. As a result, male students in schools are falling behind their female peers. Experts believe that boys' addiction to technology, coupled with inattentiveness in class and a tendency to disobey their parents contribute significantly to their educational lag. Conversely, girls benefit from stronger parental control and are more focused on their studies.  Government initiatives such as promoting social awareness about girls’ education, preventing child marriage, and offering scholarships have also boosted girls' participation and success in education. SSC, equivalent exams 2024: Significant gains for Madrasa Education Board Girls ahead in SSC and HSC  Recent results from the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations underscore this trend. Girls have outperformed boys with an 84.47% pass rate compared to 81.57% for boys. Additionally, more girls achieved the top GPA-5 score, with 98,776 girls attaining this grade against 83,353 boys. PM calls for investigation into boys' underperformance  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during the release of the 2024 SSC examination results on May 12, highlighted the need to investigate the reasons behind boys' declining performance. She emphasised that while the higher pass rates for girls are positive, it is crucial to understand and address why boys are falling behind. The Prime Minister also raised concerns about teenagers forming gangs, noting that this trend is unacceptable. She stressed the importance of guiding youth towards productive activities and away from delinquency. Education Ministry's response Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel acknowledged the Prime Minister's directives, stating that while scholarships are provided equally to both genders, additional measures may be needed to support boys' educational progress. The ministry is committed to investigating the underlying reasons for boys' underperformance. Insights from Experts Dhaka University Emeritus Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury attributed boys' lagging behind to excessive use of social media and a lack of discipline. He noted that boys are more likely to be distracted and less attentive in their studies compared to girls, who are often under stricter parental supervision. Rasheda K Chowdhury, educationist and a former caretaker government adviser, echoed these sentiments, pointing to boys' misuse of the internet and time-consuming gaming habits as significant factors. She emphasised the need for boys to adopt the same values and responsibilities instilled in girls to achieve educational parity. SSC, equivalent exams 2024: Pass rate 83%, 2.65% higher compared to 2023 Educational institutions' observations Heads of various educational institutions reported that many boys are becoming involved in gangs and antisocial activities at a young age, which detracts from their academic focus.  Distinguished educationist and Emeritus Professor of BRAC University, Manzoor Ahmed, noted the absence of research on boys' educational lag and highlighted the visible involvement of young boys in non-academic activities, such as teenage gangs, as a growing concern. While girls continue to excel in the educational sphere, boys' addiction to social media and other distractions necessitates urgent attention from parents, educators, and policymakers to ensure balanced academic success for all students.

North South University (NSU) has achieved the highest position among Bangladeshi universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2024, placing in the 301-350 range. BRAC University (BRACU) follows, ranking second in Bangladesh within the 351-400 range. Following these two are Khulna University, positioned in the 401-500 bracket, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, in the 501-600 bracket, ranking third and fourth respectively in the country. The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings evaluate the world's leading universities that are 50 years old or younger, using the same performance indicators as the main THE World University Rankings but with adjusted weightings to reduce the emphasis on reputation. The 2024 rankings feature 673 universities globally, including 15 from Bangladesh. However, only four of these Bangladeshi institutions received a rank, while the others were given "reporter" status, indicating they provided data but did not qualify for a rank. The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings highlight the best universities worldwide that are 50 years old or younger. These rankings use the same performance indicators as the main THE World University Rankings, but with adjusted weightings that place less emphasis on reputation. The 2024 rankings feature significant methodological updates. The 2024 ranking includes 673 universities, up from 605 in 2023. For the second consecutive year, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore tops the list with Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris moving up to second place while The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology dropped from second to third place. The number of territories represented in the rankings increased to 79, up by one from 2023, with Ghana and Peru making their first appearances.