Developing human resources by Department of English at NUB

Since its inception in 2003, the Department of English at Northern University Bangladesh  (NUB) has imparted education to the students to meet their 'realities of life', avoiding the 'ivory tower' attitude towards life. Aiming at the purpose, the department has designed the courses on the English Language, Literature and English Language Teaching.
The programmes the department is offering are:  four- year BA (Hons) in  English Language and Literature, one-year MA in English Literature, two-year MA in English Literature, one-year MA in English Language, and two-year MA in English Language.
The students attending BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature, and MA in Literature are attaining sound command of the language, being able to demonstrate necessary linguistic and communicative competence, and also  the adequate understanding and evaluating abilities in Anglo-American, Continental and Postcolonial literature. Besides, the courses on cultural and critical theories including civilisations and contemporary ideologies give the students an insight into studying literature and culture critically.
The English Language programmes are committed to producing competent teachers of English. These programmes, therefore, offer updated courses related to skill (listening, speaking, reading and writing) development, English Language Teaching (ELT) theories and practices, and Applied Linguistics.  The students who have completed MA in English Language from the department have proved themselves to be resourceful teachers in different private and public institutions.
In the department, the students are also trained in conducting research as part of completing their degree, showing their analytical and problem solving abilities. They get the opportunity to acquaint themselves with sampling, evaluating and scrutinising data, case study, action research and all relevant aspects of research methodology.
The department is serious not only about academic activities, but co-curricular activities as well.  In the department, different organisations like Literary Club, Language Club, Cultural Club, Debating Club and Study Circle are working to enhance the students' creativity, rationality and mental recreation. Recently, the department has opened Career Club which is creating professional expertise in the students.
The graduates produced by the Department of English, NUB are employed in different private and public sectors including the civil service. It is obvious that an eleven-year journey of a department is not long enough. However, the department has occupied an outstanding position among all the departments of English irrespective of private and public universities in the country, contributing a lot to the development of human resources in the field of English Language Learner (ELL) and English Language Teaching (ELT). A team of dedicated, trained and experienced teachers is working here in a congenial academic atmosphere. It may be mentioned that Professor S M Amanullah, an author of numerous books including phonology, works as Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and Head of the Department of English, and   one of   the legendary English Professors, Dr Sadruddin Ahmed, is Advisor to the department. The atmosphere is caringly fostered by Professor Dr A Y M Abdullah, Chairman of NUB Trust.

The writer is assistant professor in the Department of English, Northern University Bangladesh. He is a PhD fellow,
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