Campus Report :
The British Council revealed the impacts of – International Strategic Partnerships in Research and Education-(INSPIRE), a project of the British Council and the University Grants Commission (UGC) Bangladesh. The impact of the project was revealed on Monday at the British Council, Fuller Road at Dhaka University Campus through a celebration programme.
INSPIRE is a British Council project designed to grow high-level strategic relationships between UK and Bangladeshi higher education institutions which began in 2009 in a number of strategically selected countries, one of which was Bangladesh
The INSPIRE project, launched in 2009 in Bangladesh with 9 projects, is closing to end with sustainable strategic partnerships that have worked in the following priority subject areas: Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, English Language with a focus on Teaching Methodology, Renewable and Alternative Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Theatre and Fashion and Fine Arts. In total, INSPIRE has provided support to 23 projects involving 20 universities in Bangladesh and 23 universities in the UK. The last of the INSPIRE projects are due to be completed in 2018.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid MP was present at the programme as chief guest, along with special guest Prof Abdul Mannan, Chairman of the UGC. In addition, Barbara Wickham, Country Director, British Council, project leads of INSPIRE, external consultants and British Council officials were present at the programme.
Barbara Wickham, Country Director, British Council said “We are overwhelmed by the impact of INSPIRE on individuals, insitutions, higher education sector and the society more generally. In addition, it created an excellent platform to build further collaboration towards strengthening the society. It also fosterted technology transfer, policy development, and innovation”.
Nurual Islam Nahid Education Minister said “The projects played a key role in developing the higher education sector through a sustainable partnership between Bangladesh and UK. The impact of the projects is vast in magnitude, and when seen from a macro perspective the impact will culminate in sustainable social development.”
The objective of the impact revelation programme was to share the results of the impact assessment with the sponsors and the implementers. In addition, the result will help the British Council reflect on and learn from the outcomes to determine appropriate follow up action in lights of all the achievements.
A review was conducted by the British Council (and led by a UK consultant) showed that the strategic partnership is an effective initiative, both in terms of its scale and the impact created in both the participating countries.
