Dhaka University has honoured 62 teachers and researchers who have received 2,000 or more citations on their Google Scholar profiles, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research and efforts to enhance the university’s visibility internationally.

The researchers were honoured at a ceremony held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on Thursday.

The event was presided over by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A B M Obaidul Islam. Pro-vice-chancellors, the treasurer, deans of all faculties, chairmen of all departments, directors of all institutes and centres, the proctor, and the honored teachers and researchers were present.

Congratulating the honored teachers and researchers, Prof Obaidul Islam said they must play a leading role in transforming the university into a research-oriented institution and improving its position in international rankings to a respectable level.

He said it would not be possible to take the university forward through government funding alone. Support from the university’s alumni and industry is also needed.

Highlighting various initiatives taken by the university administration to improve education and research, he said work is underway to formulate a 20-year academic development plan.

He said efforts were being made to strengthen industry-academia relations and alumni networking with the aim of creating a Tk 1,000 crore fund for research and another Tk 1,000 crore fund for student welfare. Joint education and research projects are also being undertaken with renowned universities around the world.

“We want to make research activities more dynamic and effective by undertaking ‘lab-to-lab’ and ‘researcher-to-researcher’ initiatives with universities and research organizations around the world,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor called on teachers and researchers to work together in a coordinated manner in this regard.