American International University-Bangladesh's (AIUB) 2024 activities demonstrate a significant and proactive role in fostering relationships with regional NGOs and government for SDG policy. The university's strategy extends beyond mere compliance, positioning it as a key partner with direct involvement in, and providing critical input into, national government and regional body SDG policy development. This engagement is crucial for identifying problems and challenges and developing policies and strategies for national advancement. AIUB maintains a high-level strategic engagement and functions as a trusted partner for major national bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC), and non-governmental accrediting agencies like Board of Accreditation for Engineering and Technical Education (BAETE). By hosting preparation seminars, training programs, and being the first to submit a Self-Assessment Report to the BAC, AIUB provides direct feedback on the practical rollout of new accreditation policies, contributing to their refinement. This active role in monitoring and reporting on interventions helps shape national quality standards in higher education, directly aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17. Furthermore, AIUB's collaborative seminars and workshops with high-level officials from the Ministry of Finance, the ICT Ministry, and the Ministry of Agriculture serve as vital platforms for providing academic and research-based input into diverse national strategies. These collaborations address finance, technology, innovation, and climate adaptation, effectively "identifying problems" and "developing strategies" to achieve broader sustainable development goals.
#AIUB #SDG17 #PartnershipsForTheGoals #SDGPolicy #PolicyDevelopment #GovernmentPartnerships #NGOCollaboration #NationalStrategy #RegionalCollaboration #PolicyInput #StakeholderEngagement #GovernmentEngagement #PolicyDialogue #PublicSector #NationalDevelopment #SDGBangladesh #MonitoringAndReporting #AdaptiveManagement #PolicyMaking #SDGImplementation #SustainableDevelopment
Key Engagements and Initiatives for AIUB's Direct Involvement in National SDG Policy Development and Implementation
Courtesy Call by AIUB Delegates to UGC Chairman
Reinforcing its strong ties with national regulatory bodies, a high-level delegation from AIUB, led by Ms. Nadia Anwar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, met with the new UGC Chairman, Prof. Dr. SMA Faiz, on September 17, 2024. This courtesy call, attended by the AIUB Vice Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor, serves to maintain a strong, open channel for providing input into national government policy. The felicitation and discussion with the UGC leadership, including the Secretary and Prof. Dr. M. Anwar Hossen, solidify the institutional relationship required for effective SDG policy development. This continuous engagement ensures that the university's perspective is considered in developing policies that govern higher education, thereby supporting the national goals for SDG 4 (Quality Education) and fostering the strong institutional partnerships mandated by SDG 17.
#SDG17 #SDG4 #AIUB #UGC #Partnerships #HigherEducation #QualityEducation #Bangladesh #PolicyDialogue #PolicyDevelopment #NationalGovernment #InputInto
Link: https://www.aiub.edu/courtesy-call-by-aiub-delegates-to-ugc-chairman
Mr Ishtiaque Abedin Meets Newly Appointed UGC Chairman Prof Dr SMA Faiz
The meeting on September 18, 2024, between Mr. Ishtiaque Abedin, a Founding Member of the AIUB Board of Trustees and Secretary General of the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), and the newly appointed leadership of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC), exemplifies direct involvement in high-level policy development. The discussions with Prof. Dr. SMA Faiz (UGC Chairman) and Prof. Dr. M. Anwar Hossen (UGC Member) focused on developing policies and strategies for the private higher education sector, including nationally significant issues like PhD programs and scholarships at private universities. This dialogue provides direct input into the national government's primary educational regulatory body, identifying challenges and exploring collaborative opportunities. This robust partnership (SDG 17) is fundamental to strengthening academic excellence and fostering innovation and research (SDG 4) within the country’s higher education framework.
#SDG17 #SDG4 #AIUB #UGC #APUB #PolicyDevelopment #HigherEducation #Bangladesh #PartnershipsForTheGoals #QualityEducation #NationalGovernment #HigherEducationPolicy #AcademicExcellence #Research
Link: https://www.aiub.edu/mr-ishtiaque-abedin-meets-newly-appointed-ugc-chairman-prof-dr-sma-faiz
JICA delegates visited AIUB Campus
The visit of delegates from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on May 18, 2024, was a significant cross-sectoral dialogue between AIUB, an international cooperation agency (NGO-like), and the national government. The presence of Mr. Ziaul Haque, Director of the Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh, alongside JICA's chief representative and AIUB's leadership, turned the visit into a trilateral dialogue. The discussion focused on future collaboration in various modalities, highlighting AIUB's potential role in national development projects. This partnership (SDG 17) directly links AIUB's academic and infrastructural resources with national environmental policies (SDG 13) and international development goals (SDG 17).
#SDG17 #SDG13 #AIUB #JICA #CrossSectoralDialogue #GoB #Sustainability #NGO #DepartmentOfEnvironment #Collaboration #Partnerships #DevelopmentPartner
Link: https://www.aiub.edu/jica-delegates-visited-aiub-campus
Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC) conducts “Initial Preparation Seminar” at AIUB
On January 21, 2024, AIUB hosted the “Initial Preparation Seminar” conducted by dignitaries from the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC), including its Chairman, Professor Dr. Mesbahuddin Ahmed. Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC) is the sole government-approved and autonomous statutory body responsible for the accreditation of higher education institutions and their academic programs in Bangladesh. This event signifies AIUB's direct involvement in the rollout of national SDG policy for education, as five of its programs had submitted expressions of interest for accreditation. The seminar served as a crucial feedback loop, where BAC officials exchanged views on the accreditation procedure and the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF) with AIUB's quality assurance committees. This dialogue allows AIUB to provide direct input into the process, identifying problems and challenges in its practical application, which in turn helps the BAC refine its policy development for the entire nation, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships).
#SDG17 #SDG4 #AIUB #BAC #Accreditation #QualityEducation #PolicyDevelopment #HigherEducation #Bangladesh #NationalGovernment #IdentifyingChallenges #BNQF
AIUB becomes the first university in Bangladesh to submit Self-Assessment Report (SAR) for EEE program to Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC)
On May 21, 2024, AIUB achieved a national milestone by becoming the first university in Bangladesh to submit a Self-Assessment Report (SAR) to the Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC) for its EEE program. This pioneering act represents more than compliance; it is a form of direct involvement in and input into the practical implementation of national government SDG policy for education. By being the first to navigate this process, AIUB effectively reported on BAC's 10 Standards and 63 criteria, identifying problems and challenges in their application. This effort provides critical data for monitoring and reporting on interventions, enabling the BAC (the sole government-approved and autonomous statutory body responsible for the accreditation of higher education institutions and their academic programs in Bangladesh) to refine its policy development for all other universities. This directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships).
#SDG17 #SDG4 #AIUB #BAC #FirstInBangladesh #Accreditation #QualityEducation #PolicyImplementation #HigherEducation #NationalGovernment #InputInto #IdentifyingChallenges #MonitoringAndReporting #Accreditation
FE and FST faculties at the National Symposium on “Transforming Education for the Industry: Engineer’s Perspective in Achieving Vision 2041”
AIUB faculty participation in the National Symposium on “Transforming Education for the Industry” on April 20, 2024, demonstrates active input into national policy development. Organized by BAETE and attended by the Honorable Minister, Ministry of Education, the event was a high-level dialogue identifying challenges (the academia-industry gap) and developing strategies to achieve "Vision 2041." AIUB's faculty from Engineering (FE) and Science and Technology (FST) contributed to this crucial national government conversation, ensuring academic expertise helps align engineering education (SDG 4) with national goals for industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9) through effective cross-sectoral partnerships (SDG 17).
#SDG17 #SDG4 #SDG9 #AIUB #BAETE #MinistryOfEducation #PolicyDialogue #IndustryAcademia #Vision2041
Policy Engagement Workshop on collaborative research - "Social Innovation Through Technology Nudging: Developing a Behavioral Toolkit for Diffusing Solar Irrigation"
AIUB initiated a critical cross-sectoral dialogue by hosting the "Initiation of Policy Engagement Workshop" for a collaborative research project on solar irrigation on February 7, 2024. This event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including international partners (World Bank, ADPC, Durham University), national government (Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation - BADC, SREDA), and academia (AIUB, Rajshahi University, Khulna University). The workshop focused on developing a behavioral toolkit for diffusing solar irrigation, a technology crucial for achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This dialogue serves as a model for SDG 17, translating collaborative research into actionable national policy for sustainable development.
#SDG17 #SDG7 #SDG13 #SDG2 #AIUB #PolicyDialogue #CrossSectoral #Workshop #WorldBank #BADC #ClimateAction #SustainableAgriculture #NGOs #PolicyEngagement #SolarIrrigation
Seminar titled “Unlock Your Innovation Potential: A call for Research & Innovation By RIC”
On March 6, 2024, AIUB collaborated with the ICT Ministry, GoB to host a seminar on its "Research and Innovation By RIC" initiative, part of the national government's EDGE Project. This event serves as a platform for developing policies and strategies related to national research and innovation. By hosting Mr. Rusafi Alam, Project Manager for the EDGE Project, AIUB provided a direct channel for the government to communicate its policy to students and faculty, encouraging them to apply for research funding. This partnership is crucial for identifying challenges in research and developing strategies to resolve real-world problems, directly supporting the national "Smart Bangladesh" goal and advancing SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 17.
#SDG17 #SDG9 #AIUB #ICTMinistry #EDGEProject #Innovation #Research #PolicyDevelopment #SmartBangladesh #DevelopingStrategies,
AIUB hosts Dissemination Workshop on Solar Irrigation and Climate Adaptation
On December 11, 2024, AIUB hosted a major dissemination workshop for the “Social Innovation Through Technology Nudging” research project. This event, supported by the World Bank and ADPC (international regional non-government organisations), is a prime example of monitoring and reporting on interventions related to SDG policy. The research findings, presented to an audience including the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, provide direct input into developing policies and strategies for climate adaptation (SDG 13) and sustainable agriculture (SDG 2). By facilitating this high-level policy dialogue between international partners, academia, and national government, AIUB plays a pivotal role in identifying challenges and co-creating solutions for national sustainable development (SDG 17).
#SDG17 #SDG13 #SDG2 #SDG7 #AIUB #WorldBank #ClimateAction #PolicyWorkshop #SolarIrrigation #SustainableAgriculture #RegionalNGO #MinistryOfAgriculture #ClimateAdaptation #RegionalNGO
Link: https://www.aiub.edu/aiub-hosts-dissemination-workshop-on-solar-irrigation-and-climate-adaptation
FBA organized Seminar on “Public sector accounting- how far we are from accrual based?”
On April 30, 2024, AIUB's Faculty of Business Administration organized a seminar featuring Md Ruhul Quddus, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh (GoB). This event is a clear instance of providing input into national government policy discussions. The seminar focused on identifying problems and challenges in the nation's transition to accrual-based public sector accounting. By hosting this dialogue, AIUB provided a platform for a high-level government official to discuss policy development and assessment (SWOT analysis) with students and faculty. This direct engagement with the Ministry of Finance tackles complex issues of governance and fiscal transparency, contributing to SDG 16 (Strong Institutions), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships).
#SDG17 #SDG16 #SDG4 #AIUB #MinistryOfFinance #PolicyDialogue #PublicSector #Accounting #GoodGovernance
Read More about Relationships of AIUB with Regional NGOs and Government for SDG Policy