IUB hosts int’l symposium with UTA

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted an international symposium with University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) on its Bashundhara campus in the capital recently.

Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari, President, University of Texas at Arlington was present at the function on Friday, says a media release.

Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) joined at the event as the guest of honour.

Dr. Karbhari said the perception of higher education has changed nowadays to a significant extent. ‘Creating knowledge’ approach is now becoming obsolete slowly and gradually.

Instead, ‘learning how to learn and create the appropriate effective & knowledge’ is taking place, he informed the full house audience of the symposium.

While educating beyond classrooms, creating lifelong educational paths, ensuring students’ success, cultivating faculty & staff and serving the community near & far would be the prime objectives for creditable universities, nevertheless, Dr. Karbhari emphasised on enhancing students’ learning to safeguard these strategies by developing their appropriate career that can contribute universally, engaging them with communities, establishing global connections, creating leaders and conducting innovative researches that can truly make the difference and help coping with 4th industrial revolution.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak presented a short video titled ‘go ahead Bangladesh’, produced by him, in the symposium, recommended three significant proposals to make the nation thriving;

1. i) Signing a tri-patriate MoU between ICTD, IUB & UTA,
2. ii) Setting up online education system comprehensively,

iii) Ensuring appropriate work opportunities for Bangladeshi students who will go abroad for higher education.

Dr. Pranesh Aswath, Vice Provost for Academic Planning & Policy, UTA, A Matin Chowdhury, Chairman, Board of Trustees, IUB and Prof. Milan Pagon, Vice Chancellor (Acting) also delivered their speeches to the dignitaries.

Mr. Mustaque Ahmed, Alumnus, UTA delivered the vote of thanks.

Vice Chancellors from different private universities, Members of the Board of Trustees of IUB, Principals of leading College & Schools, academicians & researchers, media experts, members of alumni association of country’s leading universities, Deans, senior members of the faculty & administration, other dignitaries, and huge number of students attended the International Symposium.

The UTA team had a 2-day programme with IUB while on day one, September 5, 2019. Dr. Karbhari met IUB Trustees & high officials for two-party collaborations.

Both UTA & IUB identified the areas where they can collaborate to enhance the quality of higher education nationally and internationally by creating new methodologies of innovative learning to cope with 4th industrial revolution.

Trustees of IUB; Dr. Vistasp M. Karbhari, President, UTA; Dr. Pranesh Aswath, Vice Provost for Academic Planning & Policy, UTA, Prof. Milan Pagon, Vice Chancellor(Acting), IUB; Deans, concern Unit Heads of IUB were present in the meeting.

The UTA delegates thereafter visited different schools, laboratories, library, centres and other facilities of the IUB and shared views and experiences with faculties & students.