Our goal is to get students equipped with challenges of 4IR

A valiant freedom fighter and renowned educationist Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan Chowdhury is currently serving the World University Bangladesh (WUB) as the founder vice chancellor. With honors as an Honorary Fellow of Bangla Academy and recipient of numerous Gold Medals in the areas of Education, Administration, and Liberation War, Dr. Chowdhury recently discussed various facets of his university with Anjan Chandra Deb of The Daily Messenger

Question: How do you see the change between the university before taking charge and the current situation?

Answer: The transformation at the university since I assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor has been remarkable. There has been tremendous growth in various aspects including student enrollment, faculty, administrative staff, and infrastructural facilities. When I first became associated with the university, we had only 144 students, 12 teachers, and 21 staff members, occupying a building of 10,000 square feet. Presently, the university has experienced substantial expansion with a significantly larger student body, faculty, and administrative staff. We have also transitioned to teaching in a permanent campus, providing improved infrastructure for education.
Over time, the number of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, common areas, sports facilities, canteens, and educational resources has increased significantly. Most notably, there has been a noticeable enhancement in the quality of education delivered. We have implemented measures aimed at improving educational standards, ensuring adherence to the academic calendar, and timely issuance of certificates and transcripts to students. Additionally, we have been conducting convocations regularly, reflecting our commitment to academic excellence and student success.

Question: What steps have you taken to improve the quality of university education?

Answer: Several measures have been prioritized to enhance the quality of higher education at the World University of Bangladesh. These initiatives include the modernization of teaching and assessment methods, as well as the introduction of new and updated course curricula. Curriculum modification, enhancement, and development have been undertaken to elevate engineering education to international standards while maintaining internal parity.

To ensure a high standard of education, the university maintains a limited number of knowledgeable, experienced, and highly educated full-time and part-time teachers. Additionally, occasional classes and seminars are conducted with external teachers, bulletins are published, and centers of excellence are established to encourage research and the publication of quality journals.

Admissions to the university are selective, with a focus on admitting qualified and meritorious students. Admissions are based on written and oral examinations, and a limited number of students are admitted to ensure personalized attention and academic excellence. Upon admission, students are introduced to a tutorial-cum-counseling and mentoring system to support their academic and personal development.

Furthermore, the university employs rigorous measures to maintain academic integrity, including daily progress reviews, attendance monitoring for students and teachers, and assessments conducted in a copy-free environment. Course outlines are provided before classes begin, and timely assessments, including midterms and finals, are administered.
Additionally, the university provides intensive training for the top five and bottom five students in each class to ensure that all students receive the support and resources they need to succeed academically. These comprehensive measures underscore the commitment of the World University of Bangladesh to providing a high-quality educational experience for its students.

Question: Do you have any exchange programs with foreign universities?

Answer: We are pleased to announce that the World University of Bangladesh has achieved membership status within the prestigious Association of Commonwealth Universities. This membership provides us with valuable educational and research affiliations with 38 esteemed foreign universities and institutes, fostering collaboration and exchange of knowledge on a global scale.

Furthermore, we have established exchange agreements with notable institutions such as Northumbria University and St. Patrick's International College in Britain, offering our students enriching opportunities to study and engage in academic exchange programs abroad.
In addition to these partnerships, we have signed a research agreement with the Center for Development and Institutional Studies at Dhaka University, further enhancing our commitment to advancing research and academic excellence within Bangladesh.

Question: Please tell us something about the overall progress of your university.

Answer: To summarise the overall progress, the university has already been able to continue teaching in the permanent campus. Received permanent certificate from Ministry of Education. Successfully completed five convocations. About 20,000 graduates have been successfully engaged in the workplace or as entrepreneurs. Above all, it has been able to play a role in the development of the society, the country and the nation and to represent Bangladesh on the world map even if only a little.

Question: How is the position of university students in co-educational programs?

Answer: Various activities, including annual sports competitions and the expansion of outdoor sports facilities, observance of national important days, hosting of annual banquets, organizing study tours both domestically and internationally, and the enhancement of sports and cultural activities, have been implemented. Additionally, efforts have been made to invigorate existing clubs such as debating, photography, research, cultural, and language clubs to foster the development of students into thoughtful individuals.

To ensure a healthy learning environment and facilitate the quality improvement process, class sizes are capped at a maximum of 35 students per class, maintaining a teacher-student ratio of 1:21. These measures are aimed at providing students with ample opportunities for personalized attention and fostering a conducive atmosphere for learning and growth.
Question: What facilities are there for students in the university library?

Answer: The modern teaching, learning, and assessment methods introduced by UGC are being continued, ensuring that students have access to comprehensive educational materials and state-of-the-art facilities. The university now boasts a considerable collection of approximately 19 thousand books in its library, providing students with ample resources for their academic pursuits.

Moreover, access to a vast array of online educational materials has been facilitated, with approximately 1 crore books, 50 lakh journals, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, and other resources available online. These online resources offer students the opportunity to engage with a wide range of academic content and stay updated with the latest developments in their fields of study.

Question: Tell us about your future plans for the university.

Answer: Dr. Abdul Mannan Chowdhury emphasized that the upcoming challenge for graduates lies in adapting to the fourth industrial revolution. In order to thrive and sustain progress, it is imperative for graduates to be well-versed in the concepts of this revolution. Students must prepare themselves accordingly to meet this challenge. To facilitate this preparation, the university has already integrated the principles of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) into the curriculum.

Question: What kind of facilities are you giving to the talented students from the university?

Answer: Financial assistance plays a crucial role in ensuring that education is accessible to all, especially for talented yet financially disadvantaged students. At our university, nurturing talent is a core objective, and to achieve this, we offer various forms of support such as scholarships, fee waivers, and part-time job opportunities for deserving students. Our fee rates are among the lowest in the country, and through scholarships, most students are able to study with nominal fees.

We firmly believe that the quality of education should not be compromised by financial constraints. Our university has demonstrated that it is possible to provide high-quality education at affordable fees. Over 27.57 percent of our students, including children of freedom fighters, are granted the opportunity to study without paying any fees. Additionally, between 80 to 90 percent of students receive fee waivers ranging from 20 to 90 percent. Moreover, if there are siblings enrolled at our university, at least 50 percent of the fee is waived for one of them.

We are committed to promoting gender equality and providing opportunities for female students. Therefore, we offer a minimum of 50 percent fee waiver for female students. Furthermore, students from economically disadvantaged regions and girls from all areas receive assistance to ensure access to residential facilities.

To recognise academic excellence, we have established a merit scholarship system ranging from 20 to 100 percent. This includes rewarding students who achieve the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions in each class examination. These initiatives underscore our dedication to making high-quality education accessible to all students, regardless of their financial backgrounds, and empowering them to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.

Question: How are your university students doing in the workplace and job market?

Answer: Graduates from our university have made significant strides in their careers, holding key positions in various sectors both domestically and internationally. They are actively contributing to the development of our country and nation through their work in government, private, autonomous, and multinational companies.