Construction of digital univ to begin next year

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/nov/03/met.html#2

Construction of digital univ to begin next year
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

The first ever complete information-based digital university will be set up in Gazipur as part of the present government’s vow to build ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021.

Construction work of the proposed university named Bangabandhu Digital University will begin next year and the university is expected to launch academic journey in 2013.

The university will be established on 18.4 acres of land at Kaliakoir of the district, according to sources at the science, information and communication technology ministry.

Infrastructure development, preparation of syllabus and educational curriculum will be conducted by the Bangladesh Computer Society while the government will allocate land and provide policy support.

South Korean KEXIN bank will provide $1.5 crore as soft loan to build the digital university as well as start its academic year.

An agreement between the government and the Bangladesh Computer Samity has been already signed in this regard, ministry sources said.

The BCS president, Mostofa Jabbar, told the news agency, ‘We would like to be a stakeholder in the huge commercial market of IT and we took the initiative of building a digital university in this regard,’ he said.

The university would be a different kind of educational institute, where teachers and students would not use any book, they will use compact disk with soft copies of text books.

‘No paper-based examination will be held and traditional trend of memorizing lessons, notes and guides will not be practiced,’ he said, adding ‘No one can even get any chance to adopt unfair means of copying at the examinations as those will be conducted in digital format and results will be published just after completing the exams.’

The BCS president said the university will have school section where education will begin at play group to secondary level.

The students of the university will get post graduation degrees through using third generation (3G) IT and they will get internet facilities at every corners of the campus.

Bashundhara, US varsity Jt venture on education

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/10/22/news0418.htm

Bashundhara, US varsity Jt venture on education

Staff Reporter

Business conglomerate Bashundhara Group and Emory University of the United States of America (USA) have taken a joint venture initiative to develop an international standard ‘Education Zone’ in Bangladesh.

Under the project, different types of educational institutions will be set up in the same zone which will be largest education campus in the country.

The proposed Education Zone will include university, medical college, nursing institute, dental college, medical technical institute, physiotherapy college, engineering college, textile college, vocational institute, agriculture institute and IT park.

Bashundhara Group and Emory University yesterday signed an agreement in this regard at a ceremony at Baridhara residence of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan.

Sobhan and Dr Gray S Hawk, Vice President of Emory University signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.

Members of the visiting 9-member delegation of Emory University, Adviser of Bashundhara Group AR Rashidi, Kaler Kantha Editor Abed Khan, industrialist Din Mohammad and senior officials of Bashundhara Group, were present during the signing ceremony.

There will be educational facilities from play group to the highest level of education.

According to the agreement, students will directly get employment opportunity abroad at lucrative salaries.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Sobhan said with the establishment of the Education Zone, local students would get an international standard education and the government would get foreign currency from foreign students.

The Vice President of Emory University said under the agreement they would extend all technical support while the Bangladesh part would finance in the project.

Govt to introduce new departments in public universities for technical education

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=65184&date=2009-10-18&PHPSESSID=770e71197ca416cbfaf9c43eaf710171

Govt to introduce new departments in public universities for technical education

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct 18 (BSS) – The government is going to open new academic departments in five public engineering universities to solve unemployment problem and expand technical education.

A Taka 146.3-crore project has been taken to create necessary infrastructure and laboratory facilities in the universities.

The project will be implemented by June 2013 in five universities – Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET).

Planning Division Secretary M Habib Ullah Majumder told BSS that the project already been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

He said to solve the unemployment problem and create new employment facilities is one of the election pledges of the present government and work is going on to implement this pledge.

There is no alternative to technical education to resolve the growing unemployment problem, the secretary said hoped that the
new project would help expand technical educational and employment opportunities for educated manpower at home and abroad.

Habibullah Majumder said department of glass and ceramic engineering will be introduced in BUET and RUET under the University Grants Commission (UGC) to develop glass ceramic technologists in the country.

When implemented, this project would create opportunities for local and foreign students to study, he added.

The secretary further said department of petroleum and mining engineering would be introduced in CUET while department of leather engineering in KUET and department of textiles engineering in DUET.

The project includes construction of academic building, expansion of academic building, building research and workshop buildings, expansion of existing research buildings and procurement of furniture, book and journals, scientific and research equipment, teaching materials and arranging training at home and abroad.

GP launches edn info service

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=146078

GP launches edn info service
bdnews24.com, DHAKA

Grameenphone has launched a new value-added service yesterday that would provide callers education-related information over the phone.

The service, Studyline, would be accessible from any GP connection by dialling 2255. It would offer admission information on local schools, colleges and universities along with admission procedures of renowned universities of the world, according to a statement by the company.

Queries on standardised tests like IELTS, SAT, GMAT, GRE along with student visa would be also available through the service, launched in partnership with content provider organisation, Evista Technologies.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at a city hotel, GP’s chief executive Oddvar Hesjedal said the move would decentralise access to education information from Dhaka.

“Studyline will be the most cost-efficient, time-saving means to secure accurate information on queries related to education,” he added.

The service would cost a caller Tk 15 for the first 3 minutes and Tk 5 per minute onward.

Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, who launched the service, however, said the charge was a bit too much for the rural population.

“I think the relevant people should consider lowering it in future so that the rural people can afford it,” he told the gathering.
The country’s largest mobile-phone operator hopes that through this initiative it would contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the country.

People at the rural level will be able to get quick and easy access to information on higher studies, the company said in a press release.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission chairman Zia Ahmed and Evista Technologies CEO Syed Khairul Hassan also spoke on the occasion.

Edexcel to assists in teachers’ training

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=56898&date=2009-09-06&PHPSESSID=bb6eeb52db416d4b0b03f24b69c3214a

Edexcel to assists in teachers’ training

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Sept 6 (BSS)-Edexel will assist the government in providing skilled development training to the high school teachers, says an official release today.

The UK-based education board will also help the government to improve the English language skills of teachers and students.

International Business Manager of Edexel David Davies offered the assistance when he met Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at his office here today.

The education minister welcomed the Edexel executive for his offer and advised him to send a detailed proposal regarding the matter.

David Davies also advised the government to take step to improve further the quality of education so the qualified people especially with technical and vocational background can have greater acceptance in the global job market.

First ever ICT university at Kaliakoir soon

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/08/27/77326.html

First ever ICT university at Kaliakoir soon

Mehdi Musharraf Bhuiyan

The country’s first ever ICT university is set to be established at Kaliakoir in Gazipur exclusively for the higher learning and research on information and communication technology.

Aimed at diversifying the future IT human resource pool in the country, the university would be located within the premise of the High Tech Park currently under construction at Gazipur and would be run and administered by Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS).

The government and the BCS is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with regard to the establishment of the university in the city tomorrow (Saturday).

Initially Tk.1.0 billion was allocated for the establishment of the university during the fiscal year 2009-10. However, the actual project cost may exceed Tk. 1.5 billion, an official of the Ministry of Science and ICT said.

“A 5-acre land would be allocated at the site of the ongoing High Tech Park project for setting up the university,” the ministry official said, adding that the South Korean corporate giant Samsung is entirely funding the project.

Declining to give any specific timeframe for the establishment of the university, the relevant authorities said that the work of the project would start at the earliest once the MoU is signed.

When asked about its possible curriculum and courses, President of BCS Mostafa Jobbar said, “The university would produce skilled IT professionals keeping in mind domestic and international IT market trend”.

DU and Japanese varsity signed MoU to promote cooperation in higher education

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=50621&date=2009-08-05&PHPSESSID=dcc547abcf4cbc70168ebe3517135468

DU and Japanese varsity signed MoU to promote cooperation in higher education

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Aug 5 (BSS) – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Dhaka University (DU) and Japanese Rikkyo University to promote cooperation in higher education.

DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Harun-Or-Rashid and Rikkyo University Pro-VC Dr Kasahara Kiyoshi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at DU Senate building conference hall.

After singing of the MoU, they said the agreement would promote academic excellence and research programmes on science and technology and others subjects of arts and humanities between the two renowned Asian universities.

Under the agreement, both universities would promote cooperation in the fields of academic and research activities and exchange teachers, researchers and Ph.D students.

DU Treasurer Prof Mizanur Rahman, Prof ABM Faruk, Prof Kitayama Siichi, Prof Kinoshita Yaushiko, Prof Kwak Yargehoon, Prof Osa Yukie and Dr Naseer Uddin Jamadar, among others, attended the programme.

Each varsity to get net connectivity

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=96132

‘Each varsity to get net connectivity’
Staff Correspondent

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Nazrul Islam on Tuesday said all the universities of the country would be brought under internet connectivity and libraries be digitised under ‘Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP)’.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on ‘Academic innovation fund’ at the commission’s office in the city, the UGC chairman said, “Such project to enhance the quality of higher education has been undertaken for the first time in the country.”

Fund starting from Tk 21 lakh to Tk seven crore would be granted for research and training projects which would be selected through competition, he said.

Gradually, the private universities would also be included in the project, he added.

Earlier on May 14, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid inaugurated the ‘Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP)’ funded by the World Bank.

The workshop was also addressed by UGC member Prof Md Tajul Islam and HEQEP Project Director Ruknuddin Ahmed.

Around 84 representatives, including registrars, deans and directors (planning and development) of the 28 public universities, were present.

Three more public universities under education plan

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=92214

Three more public universities under education plan
Staff Correspondent

The government yesterday promised more teachers, three more public universities, and one technical institute in every upazila as part of a massive injection of funds into the education and technology sector in the budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 (FY10).

Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed Tk 14,387 crore for the education and technology sector, with Tk 6,611 crore for Mass and Primary Education ministry, Tk 7,395 crore for the Education ministry and Tk 381 crore for the Science, Information and Communication Technology ministry.

As part of government efforts to narrow regional disparity in higher education, Muhith announced plans to establish a university each in Barisal, Rangamati and Gopalganj.

“In response to increasing demand for diversified and improved quality of higher education and proper management of Universities, the Government has been preparing Private University Act, 2009,” he said in his speech.

The minister also declared the government’s commitment to ensure 100 percent enrolment at the primary level by 2010 and to prevent dropouts.

He said the budget also includes a provision to construct 1500 new primary schools in less-served areas and reconstructing 370 primary schools which were destroyed or damaged by flood and river erosion.

Muhith stressed on recruiting more and better teachers, saying the government has developed a medium term programme to recruit science teachers and setting up science laboratories in each secondary school.

The government target is to recruit a minimum of five teachers for each primary school in order to bring down the teacher-student ratio by 2011-2012.

“We are determined to bring down the teacher-student ratio from 1:50 to 1:40 by 2011-2012 in order to remove illiteracy from the country within 2017,” he said and

The government has an ongoing project to construct a model school with modern equipment and amenities in 306 selected upazilas in the current fiscal year.

Muhith said the government is planning to introduce appropriate recruitment procedures to appoint qualified and trained teachers in educational institutions.

He said the government proposed to disburse Tk 3,904 to non-government teachers and an additional Tk 112 crores to non-government institutions for FY10.

The finance minister placed a particular focus on boosting vocational education, rising its allocation by 56.3 from last fiscal year’s budget to allot Tk 322 crore for FY10.

“Only 3-4 percent of the total students are currently enrolled in technical and vocational education at secondary and higher secondary levels. We want to engage our youth more in vocational education and to that end we have introduced vocational and technical courses at secondary and higher secondary levels,” he said.

The government is planning to establish one technical institute at each upazila in phases, he said, adding the government will also introduce compulsory computer and technical education at secondary levels by 2013 and 2021 respectively.

The number of students receiving stipends will also rise in FY10, with 79 lakh students expected to receive stipends in the next fiscal year, a massive jump from the 48.25 lakh students who are currently on stipends.

The government has taken up a priority programme to increase the percentage of stipend beneficiaries from 40 percent to 100 percent in poverty-stricken Monga, slum areas and areas affected by river erosion and cyclone.

Muhith also said 4.77 crore textbooks would be distributed among primary school students for free in 2009, with an additional future programme to distribute free textbooks to all primary school students.

He also proposed to allocate Tk 300 crore in the next fiscal year for free distribution of textbooks to secondary school students to achieve the target of removing illiteracy from the country by 2014.

The finance minister also proposed to provide grants to registered and community primary school teachers to generate momentum in the primary education system.

Scholastica students build low-cost car for Science Fair

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=123742

Scholastica students build low-cost car for Science Fair
Economic Reporter

A few creative students of Class IX have successfully built a cheap car, which they believe will cut down environmental pollution because it runs on batteries, and will also allow more people to have access to cars because of the low price.

The Science Fair 2009 was held recently at Scholastica Senior Section Uttara amid enthusiasm of young scientists displaying various innovative projects. Wasima Parveen. Deputy Chairperson, and Madiha Murshed, Head of Academics, were among the judges who assessed all the projects at the fair.

Some of the outstanding projects of the Science Fair were on heart disease and fermentation, the pangea, the star chart and solar system, and double circulation. Students were looking for problems to local solutions as well, such as flooding, load shedding and global warming.

The Science Fair was a platform for students to develop both their research and creative skills and the event was greatly enjoyed by the students, parents and management of the school.

MOU signed between Hiroshima University, BAU

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/03/31/news0516.htm

MOU signed between Hiroshima University, BAU

BAU Correspondent

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Hiroshima University, Japan and Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) at the Vice-Chancellor’s office

Professor Dr. Yukinori Yoshimura, Vice-Dean, Hiroshima University, Japan and Vice-Chancellor of the Bangladesh Agricultural University Professor Dr. M. A. Sattar Mandal signed the Memorandum to the Academic and Educational Exchange Agreement between their respective institutions.

Under the agreement, the two Universities will promote mutual understanding between the two institutions through educational and academic collaboration and exchange of faculty members, students, promotion of joint research. They also agreed to exchange research outcomes, academic publication and other academic information to contribute to the advancement and progress of learning.

Japanese Professor Dr. Teruo Maeda, Professor Dr. Abdul Halim Khan, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Mahiuddin Ahmed, Dean-in Charge, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Professor Dr. M. Ali Akbar, Dean, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Professor Tofazzal Hossain Miah, Dean, Faculty Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology. Professor Dr. Md. Abul Khair Chowdhury, Students Affairs Adviser, Professor Dr. S.M. Bulbul, Professor Dr. Sultan Uddin Bhuiyan, Professor Dr. Sachidananda Das Chowdhury, Md Nazibur Rahman, Registrar and Diwan Rashidul Hassan, Director, Public Relations and other high officials of the administration were present at the meeting.

Later, Dr. Yoshimura formally presented a University crest to the BAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mandal and exchanged pleasantries to the faculty members of the University.

5,000 pry teachers to be appointed very soon: PM

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/03/05/60464.html

5,000 pry teachers to be appointed very soon: PM

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina told the House Wednesday that 5,000 more teachers would be appointed very soon in the current 2008-2009 fiscal under the Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP), reports BSS.

Besides the programme, appointment of about 15,000 more assistant teachers was in the final stage, she said while replying to a question raised by treasury bench member M Abdul Latif.

The PM said, 30,000 posts out of 45,000 assistant teachers, had already been created in government primary schools under the 2nd PEDP and of them 20,000 teachers had been appointed.

She said, the government has a plan to hand over primary and secondary education to the local government to raise the quality of education. “The government has also a plan to introduce free education for all,” she said.

Allowances and numbers of FF to be increased

Meanwhile, Leader of the House told the Jatiya Sangsad that number of freedom fighters (FFs) and their allowance would be increased.

Responding to a question of Aktaruzzaman Chowdhury (Chittagong-12), Sheikh Hasina informed the House that number of allowance-users would be increased while the amount of allowance would also be increased in phases.

Replying to a question of AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad (Cox’s Bazar-2), the PM said, now in each upazila complex there are staff quarters for gazetted and non-gazetted officials and employees but staff quarters would be constructed in phases in the newly created upazilas on the basis of class.

In reply to another question of Muhammad Emajuddin Pramanik (Naogaon-4), the Leader of the House said, the Land Ministry was working hard for formulating a policy by amending the existing one fast aiming to give settlement of khas wetland and jalmahal among the real fishermen.

Germany keen on exchanging teachers with Dhaka Univ

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jan/23/met.html#2

Germany keen on exchanging teachers with Dhaka Univ
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

Two German universities have showed their eagerness to launch a joint educational project with Dhaka University to exchange teachers and researchers among the universities.

Hans-Peter Muehlbach, professor of Hamburg University, and Professor Engineer Saifullah Khandaker of Berlin University of Technology of German discussed this issue when they called on Dhaka University vice-chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique at his office on Thursday.

During the meeting, they discussed different bilateral educational issues between the two countries and feasibility of the project, said a press release.

Professor Arefin Siddique thanked the visiting German professors for their eagerness to DU and Bangladesh under a joint exchange programme.

Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, a physics professor of Dhaka University, and Shah Mohammad Keramot Ali, professor of Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, were also present at the meeting.

Private Univ Ordn 2008 promulgated

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/jan/06/front.html#19

Private Univ Ordn 2008 promulgated
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

The government has promulgated the Private University Ordinance 2008 with effect from December 30 last, an official handout said Monday.

With the effect of new ordinance consisting of 52 clauses, the previous Private University Act, 1992 (Act 32 of 1992) will be considered as repealed.

However, initiatives that have done under the previous act would be treated as the activities of the new ordinance, the handout added.

All private universities established under the previous act have to follow all the conditions under the new ordinance from the day of its effect. The full ordinance is available at www.moedu.gov.bd web site of the ministry of education.

Bangladesh makes remarkable achievement in girls education

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/22/content_10542158.htm

Bangladesh makes remarkable achievement in girls education
by Wang Xuemei

DHAKA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) — Bangladesh has made remarkable achievement in increasing girls enrollment in primary level since early 1990s with the ratio of girls and boys at schools standing at 1:1 currently, a senior official said.

Secretary of Ministry of Primary and Mass Education M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told Xinhua recently in an exclusive interview that “The Bangladesh government has made tremendous efforts in getting more girls to schools and successfully achieved gender parity.”

Now the net enrollment rate at the primary level in the country is 91.1 percent, of which male is 87.8 percent and female is 94.7 percent, while percentage of girls at schools is 50.7 among total 16.3 million students, he said.

Musharraf said, various measures have been taken to increase girls enrollment since the Compulsory Primary Education Program, covering grade 1-5, was implemented all over the country in 1993 after the Compulsory Primary Education Act was passed in 1990.

Under the program, tuition and textbooks are free of cost for all the students. The government also gives stipend to poor schoolchildren including both girls and boys. However, for grade 6-10 only girls are given stipend as the dropout rate of girls is much higher after grade 5.

There are also provisions for certain schools to attain gender parity.

According to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry, the total number of the primary-level educational institutions in the country is about 81,000, among which 46.2 percent are government schools, 24.7 percent are Registered Non-Government Primary School(RNGPS) and 19 percent are religion schools.

For private-initiated RNGPS, the government extends 85-95 percent salary support to the teachers there. However, they must attain the gender parity with number of girl students accounting for 50 percent.

Besides, to eliminate gender disparity and ensure wide participation of women in development activities, 60 percent of new teachers post have been reserved for female teachers. As a result, the percentage of female teachers in the government primary schools has already reached 50.2 percent.

Massive social mobilization programs, including some initiated by teachers’ associations, have been undertaken to encourage guardians to send the girl child to schools.

Meanwhile, when enrolling the student, the names of both the mother and the father are registered. For payment of stipend money to the students, the bank account has to be opened in the mother’s name.

“These steps have contributed to the increase of the girl enrollment and the attainment of gender parity,” Musharraf said.

“Girls’ education has very positive impacts. For example, an increase in the education of girls decreases the rate of early marriage,” he said.