ACUttara University: Growth and development
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries. In this populous country education is the only way to transform people into skilled human resource and at the same time upgrading the standard of life and living. With a view to meeting this objective the government follows Private University Act-1992. Under this Act nearly 55 universities have already been set up. Uttara University has well furnished labs and libraries in its six campuses. The libraries are rich with books and other research materials. There is no session jam because of the semester system. The university started in 2003 with only 85 students;
After 8 years the number of students has reached 7,000. Around 4.000 students have already graduated. It has also succeeded in achieving popularity and acceptability. Uttara University held its first Convocation on June 16, 2009 where 1,090 graduate and post-graduate students received their degrees. The ultimate aim of establishing of Uttara University is to provide quality, education at affordable cost. 25 per cent poor and meritorious students have got the chance of studying here by means of having full free studentship or half-tuition fees or getting scholarship. Uttara University offers scholarship worth of Tk. 1.5 crores every year to its deserving students.
The administrative structure of Uttara University is designed to institutionalise the academic and non-academic administration and the directives given by Syndicate and Trustee Board. The university absorbs 30% women faculty members. Training facilities are available for service holders in order to develop their skills in their own works. Furthermore, a congenial working environment is provided to the staff-and faculty member.
At present the university has 5 schools, 11 departments and 30 programmes. The university prefers job-oriented and professional programmes. Uttara University is the only university in Bangladesh where B.P.Ed and M.P.Ed. programmes are being run with the help of foreign experts. The university is proposing to open programmes like fashion design. It also offers credit transfer facilities for students from here to Bedfordshire and Worcester University.
There are BBA, MBA and MBA (executive) programmes under the department of Business Administration. LLB (Hon's), LLB (2 years): LLM (for LLB Hon's), LLM (for LLB 2 yrs) programmes are offered in the department of law. LLB (degree) holders from Uttara University students are making contribution to the field of law in different capacity and in different Bar Councils of Bangladesh. BA (Hon's,). MA (Preli), MA (Final) programmes are are there in the department of English in Uttara University. This department of Uttara University is proposing to open a programme of M.A in ELT.
About 15 fulltime teachers with higher degree achieved from North America and England are running several departments. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers B.Sc. (Hon's) in Computer Science. B.Sc. in CSE, M.Sc. Computer and Engineering. Uttara university has a Department of Mathematics which offers B.Sc. (Hon's). M,Sc. (2 years) and M.Sc. (Final) programmes. Uttara University also offers Department of Physics.
B.Ed. (Hon's). B.Ed.. M.Ed. programmes are offered in the Department of Education. B.P.Ed. and M.P.Ed programmes are offered in the Department of Physical Education. Among all the private universities of Bangladesh only Uttara University has B.P.Ed. and M.P.Ed. programme. For the purpose of having higher degree in Physical Education, students do not need to go abroad. Uttara University has recently opened a valuable Department of EEE. Education and research are closely associated. No institution can achieve international recognition through teaching programmes alone. Keeping the view in mind Uttara University has established a research institute namely Institute of Policy Research (IPR) within a very short span of time. Researchers from public universities such as Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Jahangirnagar are collaborating with IPR on various studies. Research activities of IPR can contribute immensely to higher education in Bangladesh.
Recently Uttara University conducted inter-university debating competition in which students of public and private universities participated. The university extends its helping hands towards flood and other natural disaster affected people. Students develop a kind of humanistic spirit in them through these programmes.
Apart from these, our students occasionally conduct immunisation and blood donation programmes voluntarily. Recently students of Uttara University have set up youth engagement and support (YES) Group backed by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Uttara University has successfully conducted its 2nd Convocation very recently on July 04. 2011. The institution is working to ensure quality education with a view to contributing to developing expert manpower. It expects wholehearted cooperation and constructive criticism from the government, the civil society and personages so that it can enable to keep this trend of developing human resources.
The writer, Dr. M Azizur Rahman is Vice-Chancellor of Uttara University. He can be reached at e-mail: ahmed_shamir@live.com
After 8 years the number of students has reached 7,000. Around 4.000 students have already graduated. It has also succeeded in achieving popularity and acceptability. Uttara University held its first Convocation on June 16, 2009 where 1,090 graduate and post-graduate students received their degrees. The ultimate aim of establishing of Uttara University is to provide quality, education at affordable cost. 25 per cent poor and meritorious students have got the chance of studying here by means of having full free studentship or half-tuition fees or getting scholarship. Uttara University offers scholarship worth of Tk. 1.5 crores every year to its deserving students.
The administrative structure of Uttara University is designed to institutionalise the academic and non-academic administration and the directives given by Syndicate and Trustee Board. The university absorbs 30% women faculty members. Training facilities are available for service holders in order to develop their skills in their own works. Furthermore, a congenial working environment is provided to the staff-and faculty member.
At present the university has 5 schools, 11 departments and 30 programmes. The university prefers job-oriented and professional programmes. Uttara University is the only university in Bangladesh where B.P.Ed and M.P.Ed. programmes are being run with the help of foreign experts. The university is proposing to open programmes like fashion design. It also offers credit transfer facilities for students from here to Bedfordshire and Worcester University.
There are BBA, MBA and MBA (executive) programmes under the department of Business Administration. LLB (Hon's), LLB (2 years): LLM (for LLB Hon's), LLM (for LLB 2 yrs) programmes are offered in the department of law. LLB (degree) holders from Uttara University students are making contribution to the field of law in different capacity and in different Bar Councils of Bangladesh. BA (Hon's,). MA (Preli), MA (Final) programmes are are there in the department of English in Uttara University. This department of Uttara University is proposing to open a programme of M.A in ELT.
About 15 fulltime teachers with higher degree achieved from North America and England are running several departments. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers B.Sc. (Hon's) in Computer Science. B.Sc. in CSE, M.Sc. Computer and Engineering. Uttara university has a Department of Mathematics which offers B.Sc. (Hon's). M,Sc. (2 years) and M.Sc. (Final) programmes. Uttara University also offers Department of Physics.
B.Ed. (Hon's). B.Ed.. M.Ed. programmes are offered in the Department of Education. B.P.Ed. and M.P.Ed programmes are offered in the Department of Physical Education. Among all the private universities of Bangladesh only Uttara University has B.P.Ed. and M.P.Ed. programme. For the purpose of having higher degree in Physical Education, students do not need to go abroad. Uttara University has recently opened a valuable Department of EEE. Education and research are closely associated. No institution can achieve international recognition through teaching programmes alone. Keeping the view in mind Uttara University has established a research institute namely Institute of Policy Research (IPR) within a very short span of time. Researchers from public universities such as Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Jahangirnagar are collaborating with IPR on various studies. Research activities of IPR can contribute immensely to higher education in Bangladesh.
Recently Uttara University conducted inter-university debating competition in which students of public and private universities participated. The university extends its helping hands towards flood and other natural disaster affected people. Students develop a kind of humanistic spirit in them through these programmes.
Apart from these, our students occasionally conduct immunisation and blood donation programmes voluntarily. Recently students of Uttara University have set up youth engagement and support (YES) Group backed by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Uttara University has successfully conducted its 2nd Convocation very recently on July 04. 2011. The institution is working to ensure quality education with a view to contributing to developing expert manpower. It expects wholehearted cooperation and constructive criticism from the government, the civil society and personages so that it can enable to keep this trend of developing human resources.
The writer, Dr. M Azizur Rahman is Vice-Chancellor of Uttara University. He can be reached at e-mail: ahmed_shamir@live.com