Written by: Iqbal Faruk:

………….by giving emphasis to practice based teaching/learning models that show how the real-world works. This is the distinguishing feature that separates the Canadian University of Bangladesh from all the other private and public universities in the country.

Professor William H Derrenger, Vice Chancellor (Designate), Canadian University of Bangladesh Says “We exist in order to help people solve their problems. This is what productive individuals do. They solve all kind of problems; housing problems, transportation problems, communication problems, foods & nutrition problems-all sorts of problems. At Canadian University of Bangladesh, we are training our students to be problem solvers. All kinds of problems-Business problems, Engineering problems, Computer-data handling problems, legal problems; so many problems to solve and CUB students are learning to solve them with applied, practice based learning. In order to solve a problem, we need to know something. Our students are here to learn what they need to know in order to do useful work. What is this useful work? Helping others to solve their problems. We are rewarded on the basis of our capacity to do this: big problem-big reward; small problem-small reward; no problem-no reward”.

The Awami League government has given utmost priority on higher education to facilitate country’s socio-economic development. In this regard, it adopted a modern, scientific and time-befitting Education Policy to ensure quality education. Private universities have become an integral part of government’s endeavours to build a knowledge-based society.

Canadian University of Bangladesh, being a new generation private university, began its journey in 2016. It is as an initiative of Bangladeshi born Canadian citizen Dr. Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees along with a group of renowned academicians from home and abroad. i.e Dr. A K Azad Chowdhury, Professor Emeritus, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Dhaka, Former Chairman, University Grants Commission, Dr. Atiur Rahman, Professor Emeritus & Former Governor, Bangladesh Bank, Mohammad A. Arafat, Chief Advisor, Board of Trustees, Dr. Md. Jamaluddin Ahmed, FCA, General Secretary, Bangladesh Economic Association, Professor William H. Derrenger, Vice Chancellor (Designate) while Brigadier General, Md. Asaduzzaman Subhani (Retd.) is the Registrar, Canadian University of Bangladesh, Former Director of Education, Bangladesh Army.  Its international advisory board is composed of Professor William H. Derrenger, Vice Chancellor (Designate), Mr. Michael Vourakes, President, Canadian Educational Institute of Technology, the Honorable Nathaniel Erskine Smith, MP, Member of Parliament, Toronto, Canada, Ms. Renee Kenny, Head of Operations, Canadian University of Bangladesh, Toronto Office, the Honorable Maria Minna, PC, Former Member of the Canadian Parliament, Beaches, East York, Ms. Roza Mukambetova, Director, International Affairs (Asia).

Presently the university is offering programs in Business: (BBA, MBA, EMBA), Science & Engineering: (CSE, EEE), Liberal Arts & Social Science: (Film & TV, Law, English). All of its faculties are highly qualified and committed to delivering its unique blend of practice based academic programs and to serving the needs of its highly talented pool of students drawn from the best schools and colleges from throughout the country. Their programs include a set of diverse workshops, seminars, talk shows, contests and academic activities.  Presently, more than 600 students are studying at the Canadian University of Bangladesh in different disciplines. The University is unique for its international level curriculum and state of the art infrastructure. Different student clubs have been formed in order to enhance leadership and managerial skills, boost creativity and make them fit for productive employment.

The university offers its students a state of the art academic environment with faculty members drawn from renowned Asian and North American universities. It offers job opportunities to its graduates under various bilateral agreements; imparting applied knowledge by way of private sector internship, and study tours to eight destinations throughout the Asian region to give students an international perspective. Hands-on-learning tutorials give them multiple opportunities for practice based work experience.

The university has implemented a number of professional affiliations e.g. a member of AACSB International (Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) which is the largest association of business schools. It has affiliations with several Canadian and other international educational institutions e.g. Cambrian college, Lambton College, Laurentian University and CEIT (Canadian Educational Institute of Technology), Canadian University of Dubai, North Ciang Mai University of Thailand and St. George’s University of USA. Canadian University of Bangladesh is now connected with 33,000+ of universities and educational institutes around the globe by AACSB.

To facilitate entry into the job market and avail internship opportunity Canadian University of Bangladesh has also signed MoU with renowned local and global institutions like Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), Begum Rokeya University-Rangpur, Alfred Nobel Open University, Hungary, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), Insurance Institute of India, Lambton College, Cambrian College University, Liaoning Communication University, China (LCU), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Saint George University, Universidad Tecnologica de Cancun (Mexico), Canadian University of Dubai, Canadian Educational Institute of Technology, Asian SIL, Bangladesh Chapter, ICT Division, Bangladesh and Information Systems Audit & Control Association, Dhaka Chapter (ISACA).

The Canadian University of Bangladesh is not a “Chip off the old bloc”. It has not been carved out of the Bangladesh education/learning experience. Rather it is a product of its Canadian/North American aspirations. The Canadian University of Bangladesh is fully authorized to offer tertiary level education in Bangladesh by the University Grants Commission; but it delivers its UGC approved syllabus differently. What is the difference?  It inspires Applied Knowledge; new generation practice based educational institution…….. it is the Canadian University of Bangladesh!

The writer is a Manager-Public Relations at Canadian University of Bangladesh
& earlier served as UN Peacekeeper in DR Congo & Ivory Coast with Bangladesh Army. He can be reached at: iqbal@cub.edu.bd, iqbalfaruk@gmail.com

BDST: 1608 HRS, NOV 19, 2017
SI