Campus Life :
The Department of Economics and Social Sciences, BRAC University and The University of Kent, organised a virtual event on 30 November to mark a recent collaboration between these two universities. The event was streamed live on BRAC University’s official Facebook page. These two universities signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to co-deliver the MSc in Development Economics programme recently.
This collaboration, effective from Fall ’21, encourages two way exchange of the students. The students who opt for the co-delivery arrangement will spend the first stage of the program at Kent. Upon successful completion of first stage (125 credits), students proceed to second stage, when they will write their dissertation at BRAC University.
The Honourable British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Robert Chatterton Dickson and Professor Biswajit Chanda, Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Professor Vincent Chang, Vice Chancellor, BRAC University, and Dr. Anthony Manning, Director and Dean for Global and Lifelong Learning, The University of Kent, joined the live event and shared their reflection on this partnership. Other speakers included – Professor Farzana Munshi, Interim Chair, Department Of Economics and Social Sciences, Dr Dave Dowland, Registrar, BRAC University, Professor Samia Huq, Dean of General Education, BRAC University, BRAC University, Dr. Andrey Launov, Director, Graduate Studies, The University of Kent and Dr Zaki Wahaj, Reader in Economics, The University of Kent. Professor Farzana Munshi commenced the event with her introductory remarks on the journey of this partnership. She highlighted the aspirations of the Department of Economics and Social Sciences (ESS) since the beginning of its journey. Professor Munshi mentioned about the growing interest amongst the students for the UK as destination for higher studies.
BRAC University’s overarching goal is to become a proud, international institution from Bangladesh in global map by end of this decade, said Professor Vincent Chang. Quality education goes hand in hand with internationalization. Such collaboration has far-fetching impacts that will make it stand out on the global map in coming days, he added.
Dr. Anothony Manning gave an overview of the University of Kent and its engagement in developing new forms of inclusive education across borders. Dr. Manning said that extensive and well rooted research links all are testimony to what Kent sees as the essence of the institution working together with universities.
Professor Biswajit Chanda praised several initiative and successes of BRAC University’s in his speech. This type of collaboration will create a new horizon of opportunities for the students and faculty members in future, he added.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr. Robert Chatterton Dickson praised this collaboration in his speech. This combined effort of The University of Kent and BRAC University will help to address the challenges that lie ahead of Bangladesh. This collaboration will allow the students to identify the challenges towards the development of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s development journey is going to be an exemplary one, he added.
Professor Samia Huq shed light on the imperative development in human capital to harness the growth and the position that the University aspires to reach. Such initiatives are indeed the way forward, as Bangladesh will require such human development.
Dr. Dave Dowland shared his concluding remarks on this academic partnership. This partnership opens new opportunities for students and staffs of these two universities both domestically and internationally, he added.
