United News of Bangladesh

A partnership between the UTS College, the pathway to the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and Premier University in Chattogram has been launched. Premier University will offer two popular UTS College courses – the diploma of business and diploma of information technology. This means students can begin their journey to UTS at home. On successful completion of their diplomas, graduates will be eligible to enter the related bachelor program at UTS, often fast-tracking into second year. Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Jeremy Bruer attended the education partnership launch programme. "Partnerships with Australia's high-quality educational institutions, such as UTS College, are helping Bangladesh diversify its economy and increase economic development, by building a workforce that is ready for the jobs of tomorrow," the high commissioner said.

The Jahangirnagar University authorities have suspended 11 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for six months each in connection with torturing a journalist. The suspended students are – Md Asadul Haque, Arifuzzaman Sejan, Raihan Habib, Mohammad Masum Billah, Mirza Shahnoor ul Haque Zian, Mir Hasibul Hasan Rishad, Muntasir Ahmed Tahrim, Md Zahid Nazrul, Imran Bashar, Zayed-bin-Mehdi, and AS Nafis Hossain. Of them, Asadul Haque was suspended for six months and fined Tk 5,000 tk while 10 others were suspended for the same period but were fined Tk 2,000 each. The action was taken at an emergency syndicate meeting on Sunday afternoon, said JU Syndicate Member and Treasurer Prof Rasheda Akhtar. She said this decision was taken as per the recommendation of the investigation committee and disciplinary board formed following the complaint. On August 2, the accused students called a journalist who works in an online portal to a guest room of the University's Rabindranath Tagore Hall and tortured him. Later that night, the JU unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) identified eight of its activists and declared them "unwanted".

Non-cadre candidates of 40th BCS formed a human chain today, demanding reinstatement of previous appointment policies of Public Service Commission and repeal of new procedure for non-cadre appointment. The human chain was formed at the base of Anti-terrorism Raju Sculpture on Dhaka University campus at 10:30 am today. Non-cadre candidates from different places of the country, including students of Dhaka University,  joined the human chain expressing solidarity.   At the human chain, they made a six point-demand. The demands are: to repeal the new appointment policy for non-cadres of 40th-44th BCS, to provide all posts of 40th BCS non-cadres which have been provided to the 36th-38th BCS non-cadres, to appoint the highest number of non-cadres who have been on the waiting list, to appoint non-cadres following the appointment policies of 34th to 38th BCS (non-cadre), and more. The candidates said that after the appointment of the cadre posts in the last few BCS, PSC recommended the appointment of the remaining candidates as non-cadre on the basis of merit until the results of the new BCS are published. However, according to the new rules, in case of the ongoing 40th, 41st, 43rd and 44th BCS, the demand for vacant posts will be reviewed and recommended for non-cadre posts.    They said that the decision to give desired posts to the next BCS candidates is illogical as their rights are being undermined. Read: 40th BCS examinees stage sit-in demanding re-evaluation of result They also said that following the process of the previous BCSs, the PSC sent letters to various ministries and departments asking for the list of vacant posts for recommendations for non-cadre posts in the 40th BCS.  Meanwhile, the list of vacant posts has arrived in PSC, which was waiting to be published.  But these posts are not allotted for 40th BCS now. Mohammad Musa, a candidate of 40th BCS (non-cadre), said, “The new policy of PSC shall not be applicable for us. Because we have given the exam, following the then system and waited for years. The new policy of PSC could be applicable for 45th BCS candidate, not for us.”

Gregorian Society, a legally registered body representing the alumni of St Gregory's High School and College, became operational on September 18, after it was issued the certificate of registration by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms.  On October 5, the first meeting of the executive council of The Gregorian Society (TGS) was held at the Gregorian Alumni Club premises, according to a media statement. Along with the endorsement of the executive council comprising 25 members, several other important decisions were adopted to ensure the smooth operation of the TGS. An advisory council, consisting of prominent Gregorians who have made immense contributions in their professional fields in Bangladesh, is also being formed. Yousuf  Rahman (Babu), class of 1967, the former Bangladesh national cricketer and Syed Ahsan Habib (Rana), class of 1979, were unanimously nominated as the president and general secretary, respectively. Both of them, along with the entire executive council will be in charge on an ad-hoc basis until December 31, 2023. By this time, an annual general meeting (AGM) will be held, leading towards the election or selection of a new executive council.  Membership enrollment, which is open to all Gregorians from all over the world, has started.    

Members of Students Against Torture (SAT) on Thursday formed a human chain near the Raju Memorial Sculpture on Dhaka University (DU) campus, demanding action against the perpetrators of the attack on a programme organised on the third death anniversary of Abrar Fahad. SAT members organised the programme under the banner of 'General Students', which was joined by at least 20 others. Saleh Uddin Sifat, convener of SAT, said, "We demand justice for the attack and the release of the 24 activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, who were arrested and sent to jail without doing anything wrong." "The one-eyed behaviour of Bangladesh police has again been exposed, as the attack was launced by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists that left members  of the other party badly injured," he added. Demanding the release of the activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Nusrat Tabassum, a 4th year student of political science, also a member of SAT, said, "Three Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activists could not appear in exams as they are in jail." Read: Abrar Fahad murder: Expelled Buet student joins online class after obtaining stay order Protesting against the BCL attack, Ahnaf Sayed Khan, a student of DU's Urdu department and a member of SAT, said, "Abrar was one who loved the country and sacrificed his life for the country. Attack on his memorial programme directly means disrespect to the country." On October 7, activists of Dhaka University unit of the Chhatra League allegedly carried out the attack on the programme organised by Chatra Odhikar Parishad in memory of deceased BUET student Abrar Fahad. Later, BCL activists allegedly launched another attack on the injured Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activists at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. However, police detained 24 activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad. Later, two charges were filed aginst them on a complaint from Nazim Uddin, organising secretary of the Chhatra League's central committee who was injured in the attack. All the 24 activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad were subsequently produced in a court that sent them to judicial custody.

Students of Viqarunnisa Noon School on Tuesday withdrew their blockade after the authorities assured them of meeting their demand. Earlier, the students of the school blocked the city’s Mirpur road in Dhanmondi to press home their demand for a permanent campus. The students took out a procession from the school’s Dhanmondi branch around 12pm and blocked the road in front of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital, halting traffic on the busy road, leading to huge gridlocks.

The US Embassy today announced a call for applications for the 2023-2024 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program for Bangladeshi students. The YES program provides merit-based scholarships for Bangladeshi students (between the ages of 15 and 17) to spend one academic year at a high school in United States, living with a host family, and sharing their culture with Americans and students from other countries, according to a press release.  Read:Is Norway Ending Free University Education for Non-EU Students? Applications are due on November 14, 2022 at 4 pm (BST). For additional information and to apply, please visit http://www.iearnbd.org. Since 2004, 450 Bangladeshi students have served as youth ambassadors through the YES program. For the 2022-2023 academic year, 23 students from Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, Jashore, Cumilla, Munshiganj and Bogura are currently studying at different American high schools located across United States including in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Idaho, Iowa, and Texas. Established in 2002, the YES program was created by the late US Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Richard Lugar to give young people from around the world the opportunity to live with American host families and attend high schools to learn about American society and values. Since then, over 13,000 students from 37 countries have participated in the YES program. 

Education Minister Dipu Moni yesterday said it may take up to ten years to see real benefits of the new curriculum. “If we can implement the new curriculum properly, we will start to see little changes over the next five years. After ten years, we will see big changes,” she added. Read:No SSC question paper leaked, Dinajpur incident regrettable: Dipu Moni The education minister was speaking at a Dhaka event on a study entitled ‘Exploring Attitude towards Gender Norms among the Youth Population in Bangladesh’, organised by Brac on the occasion of Girl Child Day. From next year, students will get a new curriculum, she said. “Through it, we can expect a big shift in the education system.” Read:UGC set to formulate policy for new public universities Regarding the rights of the girl children, Dipu Moni urged everyone to work together.

Norway has a long history of providing free university education to students from all over the world. They didn't make any distinctions between foreigners, Norwegians, or EU citizens, but this will all change soon. The Government of Norway has been advised to impose university fees on students from nations outside the EU or EEA. In presenting its recommendations for the nation's 2023 budget, Norway’s Ministry of Education emphasized that Norway continues to be one of the very few nations in the world that does not mandate that international students pay university fees, and it insisted that starting in the 2023 fall semester, universities should introduce fees to at least cover their costs per international student. Ola Borten Moe, the minister of education, responded to the suggestion by stating that since most Norwegian students studying abroad pay university fees, foreign students studying in Norway should also be required to do so. Read Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies She also emphasized that Norwegian citizens from other EU and Schengen Area nations will continue to be able to study there for free, even if taxes are implemented for international students. Rather, only nationals of third-party countries will be subject to the costs. However, the change would only be applicable to students who finished their entire education in Norway, not to those who were enrolled in exchange programs. According to Statistics Norway, there are presently 242,606 resident students in the country between the ages of 19 and 34, with 142,141 being women and 100,465 being males. Of them, over 13,000 were born in Norway to immigrant parents. Read Study in Belgium: Bachelor's, Masters and PhD options for Bangladeshi Students The Ministry of Education insists that universities should be well-equipped to attract international students because the quality of the education is good and not because it is free. The ministry claims that millions of kroner have been spent in an effort to improve the quality of education at the nation's universities. Minister Borten Moe further asserts that if the introduction of fees results in a decrease in the number of foreign students attending Norwegian universities, this will result in more open spots at universities and housing for Norwegian students. In the country's budget for 2023, the government has suggested providing framework funding for universities and colleges in the amount of NOK 42.8 billion. The Ministry plans to expand the funding for education even more through the proposed introduction of new fees in order to create a better and higher-quality system of higher education. Read Student Loans in Bangladesh: Banks Offering Education Loans for Higher Studies Estimated Tuition Fees Beginning in 2023, all universities are required to collect tuition from all students who are not citizens of the EU or EEA. Although estimates suggest that a single semester might cost as much as 150,000 Norwegian kroner (about $15,000 USD or BDT 14, 12000), colleges determine rates depending on real expenditures. Accordingly, a three-year bachelor's degree at a Norwegian institution can wind up costing as much as 900,000 NOK ($90,000 or BDT 82,72,000 ), which is obviously a large sum of money for the majority of us. Although it appears likely that most courses will cost significantly less than this amount, this will depend on the real expenses associated with offering the courses. Less crowded classes with a single professor will cost more than those with many students and several professors. Read How to Pick a College or University Abroad for Higher Education   Exceptions to the tuition payment requirement The new regulations for paying tuition at Norwegian colleges are aimed at immigrants from all of the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa who have no familial ties to Norway or the EU. Some groups will, however, no longer be expected to pay tuition at Norwegian universities in the future. The following groups will continue to receive free tuition at Norwegian universities: Norwegian nationals individuals from EU or EEA nations students who take part in programs for international exchange students every person who participates in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. Therefore, it will mostly need tuition for foreigners seeking a free university education who have no connection to Norway. The government presently pays the equivalent of one student's tuition to the institutions, as they clearly could not function without it. Read Best Countries for Bachelor's Degree in 2023 Will this modification last forever? The government presented its proposed annual national budget for 2023 on October 6, along with the news of the new additional foreign student tuition. Even though it's still not final and can still be subject to discussion and negotiation through December 15, it appears doubtful that this will alter before the announcement of the nation's ultimate budget. Currently, there are a lot of uncertainties about this new policy, and many overseas students who are pursuing degrees are worried. Read Studying Abroad: Major Pros and Cons You Need to Consider We don't yet know whether or not the move will have an impact on students who have already started their studies in Norway. Although it hasn't been confirmed, there are reports that foreign students who have already been admitted to the university would be able to complete their degrees without paying. We currently only have to wait and watch how everything turns out. In the months to come, especially as college applications season approaches in the summer of 2023, we will undoubtedly learn more. Read SoP for Higher Studies: How to write an unfailing Statement of Purpose  

European countries are steadily becoming a hub for higher education over the last decade. World-class education, affordable tuition, prospective career, and several other reasons can be named for the influx of international students in Europe. Among them, Belgium happens to be one of the top choices. Let’s take a look at the higher education opportunities in Belgium for international students and explore how Bangladeshi students can be a part of it. Why Study in Belgium? Starting with the beautiful scenic countryside, luscious gorges, and canals, Belgium is a country to behold for its natural beauty. The scenic nature of Belgium, a central European country, combined with the cosmopolitan cities has been a great destination for many international students to pursue bachelor, master's, or Ph.D. In addition to that, Belgium offers some of the best living standards in Europe. The cities are robust with cultural affluence. The mix of the Flanders and the Wallonia culture has made the country even more diverse within itself. Read Study in Denmark: Costs, opportunities for international students On the educational end, the top 10 universities in Belgium rank in the top 800 universities globally according to the QS ranking of 2022. The programs offered by the top Belgium universities are also diverse. Study programs range from pure science, engineering, life sciences, and social science to medicine.  Higher Study Opportunity in Belgium for International Students Belgium offers all three of the higher education options – bachelor, master, and Ph.D. Bachelors generally run for 3 to 4 years, masters for 1 or 2 years, and Ph.D. for 3 to 4 years maximum. However, there’s a caveat with the bachelor’s opportunities. Most of the courses and programs on the undergraduate level are offered in Dutch. Compared to that, very few English-taught programs are available at the undergraduate level. This means you’ll either have to learn the language or search very hard for your desired program. Read Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies In contrast, most of the master's and Ph.D. programs are offered in English. So, a standardized English proficiency is enough to get going in these programs. Can International Students Study Bachelor in Belgium?  Bachelors in Belgium aren’t all that common for international students mainly because of the language requirement. But there are still ample opportunities and many students avail themselves with some extra effort to learn the language first. The process of application for bachelor's, master, and Ph.D. are more or less the same. However, there are certain distinctions as you will see in each part. Read SoP for Higher Studies: How to write an unfailing Statement of Purpose? The admission window for foreign students in Belgium is only open for fall. Belgium does not offer admission to international students in Spring. The general requirements for documents include – - Educational certificate and Transcripts - Two LORs - Statement of Purpose/ Motivation Letter - IELTS/TOEFL - Extra-Curricular Activities (If Applicable) - Awards and Achievements Certificates (If Applicable). Read Student Loans in Bangladesh: Banks Offering Education Loans for Higher Studies Students will require a legalized copy of each of the documents that they submit online or send through traditional mail to the university. To legalize the documents, a student will need to get their documents attested by their respective educational institution, Education Board, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Belgian Consulate in their respective country. The process may be cumbersome but Belgian institutes do not accept any application that hasn’t been legalized in the above manner. The application process usually starts a year before the prospective entry date. Depending on the university, a student will have to pay 30 to 100 euros or 3,045 BDT or 10,115 BDT as an application fee (1 EUR = 101 BDT). Read Higher Study in China: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Tuition also isn’t free in Belgium. Undergraduate courses can run anywhere between 950 euros to 6000 euros or 96,436 BDT to 6,09,072 BDT per year depending on the program. Scope for International Students to Study Masters in Belgium  Master in Belgium is the more popular choice for international students as it doesn’t require Dutch and neither does it require specialization in academia for Ph.D. Generally, a master's program runs for about 2 years with some specified courses having a 1-year degree offering. Prospective student needs to complete at least 16 years of formal education in their respective country to be eligible for a master's in Belgium. Read Higher Study in Germany: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi and Other International Students A student can bypass the IELTS/TOEFL requirement if their Medium of Instruction or MOI at the undergraduate level was English. The English-taught programs are required to be certified by the respective universities. In addition to the document requirements mentioned in the bachelor's section, a student might have to submit a research plan for their intended program. The average tuition fees for master's degrees are the same as bachelor's and are calculated on an annual basis. Ph.D. in Belgium We have already talked about how Belgium is basically divided between Flanders and Wallonia. Universities in Belgium are also classified between Flemmish and Walloon universities. Each of the two has a different fee structure for their Ph.D. program. Read Study in Norway: Scholarship Opportunities for International Students including Bangladesh Flemmish universities charges around 474 euro or 48,116 BDT each for the first and last year of a Ph.D., nothing in between. On the other hand, Walloon universities has an initial first-year tuition fee of around 835 euros or 84,762 BDT with a subsequent fee of around 50 euros or 5075 BDT per consecutive year. To get admission into Belgian Ph.D. programs, prospective candidates need to have a good research track record and experience in academia. Read Study in Australia: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Scholarship Opportunities in Belgium Belgian universities have generous scholarship opportunities depending on the universities. Most of these scholarships are available after enrollment. In addition to university-specific scholarships, there are other centralized scholarship opportunities as well. These include – 1. Belgian Technical Cooperation Scholarships 2. The Science@Leuven Scholarships 3. The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 4. Innoviris Scholarship 5. Master Mind Scholarship 6. The VLIR-UOS Training and Master Scholarship 7. University of Ghent Doctoral Fund 8. Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) Scholarship 9. FRS-FNRS Scholarship Cost of Living in Belgium As Belgium is divided distinctly into two regions, the cost of living somewhat differs depending on where your university is located or where the student is living. Generally, the cost of living is around 750 euros to 950 euros or 76,134 BDT to 96,436 BDT in places away from the capital. Read Study in France: Scholarship Opportunities and Overview for Bangladeshi Students Living costs can go up as high as 1200 euros or 1,21,814 BDT if you live in and around Brussels. But that’s the highest cap in terms of living cost in Belgium and most students can easily get by under 1000 euros. Job Opportunities in Belgium There are ample job opportunities for foreign graduates in Belgium. The country recently allowed all foreign students to have orientation time of up to one year for job search after graduation. This will allow the foreign student unlimited access to the Belgian job market and secure a desired career track after graduation. After securing a job, students will need to get the Combined Residence Permit to stay and work in Belgium.  Read Study in the Netherlands: Scholarship Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Final Words So far, we have discussed how students from Bangladesh can do bachelor's, master's, or PhDs in Belgium. Higher study in Belgium is now more accessible and affordable than ever. As the country has a growing old-age population, it is reforming policies to attract non-EU talents to the country and potentially secure jobs in the Belgian market. This is a golden opportunity for prospective students to utilize Belgium as a potential study destination and career hub in the long run.