Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Abdur Razzak participated in a meeting organized by the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) to introduce third language education in the country’s public universities and strengthen international and industry-academia cooperation in higher education. Vice Chancellors of various public universities including RUET, Rajshahi University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Pabna University of Science and Technology, Begum Rokeya University and Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology participated in the meeting held at the UGC on Tuesday (September 29).
The meeting, chaired by Professor Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun, a member of the UGC’s Department of Public University Management, discussed various issues including establishing language centers, recruiting necessary manpower, assessing regional language needs, resource mapping, and determining course types, with the aim of introducing third language education in 50 universities of the country by December.
At the meeting, RUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. SM Abdur Razzak emphasized the importance of third language education as well as UGC’s cooperation in internationalization of RUET, industry-academia collaboration, and practical application and commercialization of research-derived knowledge and innovations.
He said, ‘RUET has established Innovation Hub and Esurge Innovation Center. RUET’s syndicate recently approved the establishment of International Affairs Unit and Career Guidance and Placement Center. These units and centers will play an important role in expanding the university’s international cooperation, increasing academic and research collaboration with foreign universities and institutions, and strengthening joint research and exchange activities. We expect UGC’s cooperation in providing the necessary manpower to effectively manage and strengthen these units and centers.’
Stressing on increasing internship opportunities for students in industrial institutions and strengthening industry-academia collaboration, the Vice-Chancellor further said, “To increase the opportunities for students to gain real-world work experience, the university needs to have more effective partnerships with industrial institutions. At the same time, the needs of the industrial sector must be more closely linked with education and research.”
Regarding the effective use and commercialization of research knowledge and invented technologies, he said, “An initiative has been taken to establish a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at RUET and a funding proposal for this has been sent to the HIC project. Through this, opportunities will be created for the transfer and commercialization of the university’s research and innovation to the industrial sector. We are also expecting UGC’s cooperation in implementing this initiative.”
The meeting discussed the importance of regional demand, employment prospects and higher education and employment opportunities abroad in selecting a third language. It was proposed to select the language taking into account the geographical location of the university concerned, the needs of the students and the needs of the labor market. In addition, it was proposed to introduce at least one language as a credit course in the department in addition to non-credit courses in the third language. The meeting also discussed plans to develop Bangladesh as an international hub of higher education and launch a ‘Study in Bangladesh’ portal to attract international students.