United News of Bangladesh

Continuing a meaningful partnership to enhance the quality of education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh and the British Council signed the Operational Alliance Agreement last Tuesday at InterContinental Dhaka. The partnership reinforces the two entities' mutual dedication to strengthen and elevate the Higher Education (HE) sector in Bangladesh. British Council’s Going Global Partnerships (GGP), launched in July 2021, aims to foster strategic, mutually beneficial, and equitable partnerships in tertiary education between the UK and other nations. This programme encourages partnerships among universities, colleges, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to bolster Higher Education (HE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems, promote research collaboration, internationalise institutions, enhance student outcomes, advance gender equality, and support inclusion. Building upon over 50 prior British Council projects that supported Higher Education and TVET partnerships globally. In Bangladesh, under the GGP, the British Council, in collaboration with the University Grants Commission, is dedicated to enhancing the higher education sector's teaching and learning capacity, exemplified by the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) units. The UGC and the British Council have fortified their partnership with yet another agreement that emphasises teaching and learning practices in the higher education institutes in the country. Under the Operational Alliance Agreement, a series of initiatives will be launched, focusing on improving the higher education sector across the country. One of the key elements of this agreement is Teaching Excellence Programme (TEP) which has been designed to develop the capacity of HE faculty members focussing on practical approaches and leadership strategies for teaching and learning, student-centred teaching and learning and authentic assessment in higher education. Professional development of early career researchers; enhancing the English skills of university faculty members; development of a leadership programme for HE sector leaders; facilitating the academic partnerships in HE sector between Bangladesh and UK are also some other areas on this agreement. Tom Miscioscia, Director Bangladesh, British Council and Dr Ferdous Zaman, Secretary of the UGC, signed the Higher Education Operational Alliance Agreement. Tom Miscioscia, Country Director of Bangladesh, British Council, in his opening remarks, said, "Through our long-standing partnership with the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, the British Council is committed to supporting the development of higher education in Bangladesh. The Going Global Partnerships programme aims to cultivate academic collaborations between the UK and Bangladesh and to foster joint course development, faculty exchange, and research initiatives. We look forward to working with UGC and other partners to build high-quality and mutually beneficial partnerships in tertiary education between the UK and Bangladesh.". Professor Dr. Muhammed Alamgir, Chairman (Additional charge) & Member, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh said, “UGC's mission and vision are deeply rooted in our dedication to advancing the higher education landscape in Bangladesh. Our journey has been guided by a vision of creating a higher education system that not only provides access to all but also uphold the highest standards of excellence and we are happy to have the British Council with us on this journey as a trusted partner". Among the other guests, Professor Dr. Mesbahuddin Ahmed, the Chairman of Bangladesh Accreditation Council; Professor Dr. Biswajit Chanda, Member, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh,senior officials from both UGC and British Council graced the event with their presence.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the British Council have recently signed an exclusive Operational Alliance Agreement at InterContinental Dhaka to continue a meaningful partnership for enhancing the quality of education. The partnership reinforces the two entities' mutual dedication to strengthen and elevate the higher education sector in Bangladesh, according to a press release. British Council’s Going Global Partnerships (GGP), launched in July 2021, aims to foster strategic, mutually beneficial, and equitable partnerships in tertiary education between the UK and other nations. This programme encourages partnerships among universities, colleges, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to bolster Higher Education (HE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems, promote research collaboration, internationalise institutions, enhance student outcomes, advance gender equality, and support inclusion, building upon over 50 prior British Council projects that supported Higher Education and TVET partnerships globally. In Bangladesh, the British Council, under the GGP and in collaboration with the University Grants Commission, is dedicated to enhancing the higher education sector's teaching and learning capacity, exemplified by the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) units. The University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) and the British Council have fortified their partnership with yet another agreement that emphasises teaching and learning practices in the higher education institutes in the country. Read: Proper planning needed for research to make it to global rankings: UGC Under the Operational Alliance Agreement, a series of initiatives will be launched, focusing on improving the higher education sector across the country. One of the key elements of this agreement is Teaching Excellence Programme (TEP) which has been designed to develop the capacity of Higher Education (HE) faculty members focussing on practical approaches and leadership strategies for student-centred teaching and learning and authentic assessment in higher education. Professional development of early career researchers; enhancing the English skills of university faculty members; development of a leadership programme for HE sector leaders; facilitating the academic partnerships in HE sector between Bangladesh and UK are also some other areas of this agreement. Read: Prof Haseena Khan joins as member of UGC Tom Miscioscia, Director Bangladesh, British Council and Dr Ferdous Zaman, Secretary of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, signed the agreement. "Through our long-standing partnership with the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, the British Council is committed to supporting the development of higher education in Bangladesh. The Going Global Partnerships programme aims to cultivate academic collaborations between the UK and Bangladesh and to foster joint course development, faculty exchange, and research initiatives," Tom Miscioscia, Country Director of Bangladesh, British Council, said in his opening remarks. Professor Dr Muhammed Alamgir, Chairman (Additional charge) & Member, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, said, “The UGC's mission and vision are deeply rooted in our dedication to advancing the higher education landscape in Bangladesh. Our journey has been guided by a vision of creating a higher education system that not only provides access to all but also upholds the highest standards of excellence and we are happy to have the British Council with us on this journey as a trusted partner’. Senior officials from both the UGC and the British Council were also present at the event. Read more: UGC asks universities to follow financial regulations properly

European University of Bangladesh (EUB) organised its first convocation in 11 years since its establishment. The convocation was held in the capital's International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) on Tuesday. Students will be assessed based on their skills in the new curriculum: Dipu Moni About 7,559 graduates from 2012 to the fall semester of 2020 participated in the convocation. One student was awarded the Chancellor's Award, and eight received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for outstanding academic performance, according to a press release. Deputy Minister of Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury presided over the convocation ceremony on behalf of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Vested interests campaigning against new curriculum The Chairman of the EUB Board of Trustees and former Home Minister, Dr Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir was the special guest. Professor Dr Md Sazzad Hossain, a member of the University Grants Commission, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, chairman of Dhaka School of Economics (DScE), Eng Md Alim Dad, Vice-Chancellor of the European University of Bangladesh, was also present among others. DU confers honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Bangabandhu  The private university, located in Dhaka, was established in 2012 under the "Private University Act of 1992". Currently, the university conducts its educational programmes at its permanent campus in Gabtoli.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said that there will be no marks-based test in the new education curriculum; rather the students will be evaluated on the basis of their skills.“The education system of the country has gone through radical changes. The new curriculum will be fully operational from the 2024 academic year. There will be no marks-based test in this system,” she said.The minister said this while speaking at a press conference at the International Mother Language Institute in the city today. Read: Vested interests campaigning against new curriculumDipu Moni said, “The guardians have become anxious after the introduction of the new curriculum. They are worried about how their children will get a job.”Many people are also saying that the academic results won’t be useful in getting jobs for their children, she said.“We have made this clear. That is, in the field of getting a job, one’s skills will be assessed. The recruitment will be made on the basis of evaluation of skills,” Dipu Moni added.The Education Minister said that we have already started working on the process of the new recruitment system on the basis of skills. Read: DU confers honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Bangabandhu “When the students who are studying in the new curriculum, will start entering in the job market, the recruitment system will also be in the new process. So there is nothing to worry about,” she said.Dipu Moni said that another rumor and misinformation about the new curriculum is that students will not be able to take the admission test. “When the students of this curriculum pass the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam, then the admission process in the universities will also be changed.”Mentioning there will be no sufferings at the time of admission tests in the new curriculum, the minister said, “We have formed National Testing Authority (NTA). The admission tests of all the country's universities will be conducted through the institution.” Read: Russian Centre for Open Education begins journey at Dhaka UniversityStudents will be able to pursue higher education in the subject of their choice without any difficulties, she added.

Education Minister Dipu Moni on Sunday told parliament some teachers, coaching centres and note guide businessmen are involved in spreading confusion and propaganda centering the new education curriculum fearing that their coaching and guide business will be stopped. She said this while speaking on the “Thakurgaon University Bill” as several MPs criticised the new education curriculum while participating in the discussion on the bill. In response the education minister said that it’s not true that the examination system has not been kept in the new national curriculum. Mentioning the reason for launching the new curriculum, the minister said that there has been a discussion over the years about the world-class education system. “We are repeatedly falling behind in the area of soft skills. For this, new curriculum system is being introduced.” Explaining the allegation of bringing eggs and potatoes from home, Dipu Moni said that such allegations are nothing but propaganda. The minister said that some people are deliberately spreading confusion about the curriculum. She said some schools in the city are doing this. They were given strict instructions. Children will learn to cook from school picnics. This cooking is also an art. Dipu Moni also said there is no instruction to cook from home and take it to school. Those who are doing it are doing it to question it. Alleging the involvement of some teachers behind the agitators, the minister said, “we have seen human chains in some places. We have investigated. It is basically coaching business and note guide business. They are worried that their coaching and guide business will no longer exist.” Claiming that the new curriculum has already started yielding results, she said, we are getting the skills we need from the students. Now the students are writing a lot.

With the Draft Policy on “DIU 2023 Declaration: Advancing Local and Regional Media for a Sustainable Future,” the 8th CJEN Bangladesh Networking Conference, jointly organized by the Department of Journalism, Media & Communication at Daffodil International University and DW Akademie, concluded on Sunday. The two-day conference was held at Daffodil International University’s permanent campus in Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar on the 28th and 29th of October.  The draft policy presentation session was chaired by Dr Golam Rahman, Professor at DIU and the Chief Patron of the conference. Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Associate Professor, Begum Royeka University, Rangpur, joined as the Co-Chair and Aftab Hossain, Co-convener of the conference, Head and Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, DIU were present in the hybrid session.  Faruque Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting joined the policy presentation as the chief guest. “It is imperative for newspapers and media outlets to enhance their vigilance and online presence. I believe the government will spare no effort to bring them to fruition. It necessitates a collective commitment from all stakeholders," he stated.

Dhaka University has conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as a token of respect, in a special convocation today.  Prime minister Sheikh Hasina joined the convocation as the convocation speaker and Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni joined as the special guest. DU VC Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman presided over the special convocation program.  The DU VC started the program at 11 am. The chancellor of the university, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, could not attend the program due to health issues. Read: National University suspends all exams on Oct 29 The convocation started with the national anthem; recitation from the holy religious scriptures followed. A cultural programme and a documentary reflected Bangabandhu’s contributions in leading the nation to freedom and rebuilding a war-torn country. At 11:57 am, DU Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman adorned Bangabandhu with the Doctor of Laws degree. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the degree and memorandum, and signed the acknowledgement paper on behalf of Bangabandhu.

All exams of the National University scheduled on Sunday have been suspended due to an unavoidable reason in the country. The university issued a press release in this regard today. The new schedule of the tests will be informed later, it added

The official opening of the Russian Center for Open Education has been launched at Dhaka University. The Russian Centre for Open Education was officially launched at the Institute of Modern Languages of Dhaka University under the management of Dagestan State Pedagogical University with the support of the Russian House of Dhaka. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the centre as the chief guest while a discussion meeting was held in the auditorium of the institute. Professor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman said that this centre will play an important role in helping students learn Russian language and culture along with their mother tongue. Read: Govt to set up ‘Dr. M.A Wazed Miah Agriculture University’ in Natore Mentioning the relation between Bangladesh and Russia as a friendly relations for a long time, he said Russia is making important contributions in various sectors, including education and the socio-economic development of Bangladesh. This centre will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries in all fields, including education and culture.  

The government is going to set up a new agricultural university after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s late husband Dr. M.A Wazed Miah in Natore. The cabinet chaired by Premier Sheikh Hasina gave the final approval of the draft ‘Dr. M.A Wazed Miah Agriculture University Act-2023’ on Monday, Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain said this while briefing after the meeting. Read: Southeast University marks ‘Sheikh Russel Day 2023’ He said the cabinet on principal approved the Dr. M.A Wazed Miah Agriculture University Act on August 28 and now the final approval was given. The agriculture university will be set up in Natore but the university authority will fix which subjects will be taught there. Read: Khulna Agricultural University teachers continue work abstention for 10th day