Honourable Speakers
Dr. Dipu Moni MP
Honorable Minister, Ministry of Education Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Dr. Dipu Moni, MP is the Education Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Prior to this position, she was the Foreign Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chairperson of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Human Rights in the Bangladesh National Parliament. She was the first female Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and South Asia. Dr. Dipu Moni, MP was also the first female and the first South-Asian Chairperson of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). Apart from working for the country’s overall growth, her priority areas have been working for Quality Education, Women’s Rights, Foreign Affairs, Health-policy and Management, Health Financing, and the Socioeconomic Development of Bangladesh under the constitution.
Mr. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, MP
Honorable Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Mr. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, MP is currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Education and a Member of Parliament for the Chittagong–9 constituency. Chowdhury was also a partner of The Legal Circle and an advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh before his ministerial appointment. From 2016 to 2019, he held the position of Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League in the party’s Central Committee, and he was one of the youngest to hold this position. As the Deputy Education Minister, he has been working to bring transformational changes in the education sector of Bangladesh, including initiating new curriculums, improving the quality of education, promoting technical education, and many more.
Professor Dr. Md. Mashiur Rahman
Vice Chancellor, National University
Professor Dr. Md. Mashiur Rahman is the Vice Chancellor, National University. Dr. Rahman completed BSS and MSS both from the Department of Sociology, University of Dhaka securing first class. He obtained his Ph. D degree from Lund University (2011), Sweden followed by a Post-Doctoral from the same institution in 2015. He started his career as a lecturer at the Department of Sociology, University of Chittagong in 1998. Later, he joined the University of Dhaka as a lecturer of Sociology & now a professor in that same department. Currently he is on deputation from home department at University of Dhaka. During his 23 years of teaching and research career, Dr. Rahman has published his Doctoral dissertation along with a good number of articles and book chapters in reputed National & International Journals. He has presented research papers in conferences, seminars and workshops held in the USA, Sweden, Denmark, China and Bangladesh.
Professor Mohammad Bin Kashem, PhD
Dean, Post-Graduate Studies, Training and
Research Centre, National University
Mohammad Bin Kashem is a Professor of Sociology at the National University. He received his B. A (Hon’s) and M.A. in Sociology from the University of Chittagong, M.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore, Maryland, USA, and PhD in Criminology from the University of Queensland. Australia. Before joining National University Kashem was a faculty member in the department of Sociology at the University of Chittagong where he taught for more than 15 years. In June 2005 Kashem moved to National University as an Associate Professor of Sociology. At the National University, he had previously served as Dean (In-Charge) of the Curriculum Development and Evaluation Centre, Chair, Social Science Group, and Registrar (In-Charge). Kashem was a Fulbright Scholar in Residence in the Henry Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven, Connecticut, USA in the year 2011-2012. As part of professional development, he also completed a four-month Australian Government’s Endeavour Executive Fellowship -2016 in the Policing and Security Cluster, School of Social Science at the University of Queensland. His research interests include homicide clearance, comparative policing, police reform, and prisoner reintegration.
Professor Nehal Ahmed
Director General, Directorate of Secondary
& Higher Secondary
Professor Nehal Ahmed is a highly accomplished educator, specializing in English literature. He currently serves as the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary & Higher Education, where he uses his expertise to support and guide the growth of education in Bangladesh. Previously, Professor Ahmed held the prestigious position of Chairman of the Dhaka Board. Before that, he held the roles of principal and vice-principal at Dhaka College, demonstrating his dedication to the advancement of education and his commitment to educational leadership. With his extensive experience and proven track record, Professor Nehal Ahmed is a respected voice in the education sector and a valuable asset to the government and academic community.
Professor Dr. Syed Md. Golam Faruk
Member, Public Service Commission, Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Syed Md. Golam Faruk is a distinguished member of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission. He has extensive experience in the field of education, having served as the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and the National Academy of Education Management (NAEM). Prior to these positions, he served as the Director of Secondary and Higher Education in the Chittagong region. Dr. Faruk started his career in 1993 as a lecturer in the English Department of a BCS (General Education) cadre and has taught at various government colleges in Bangladesh, as well as serving as a professor of English at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia. He received his BA and MA in English from Jahangirnagar University and went on to earn his PhD in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching from Chittagong University. His post-PhD research also focused on this subject and he has published 15 research papers in international journals. He has also participated in more than 20 international conferences.
Professor M. Tariq Ahsan, PHD
Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka
Professor Dr. Mohammad Tariq Ahsan has been working at the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of University of Dhaka since 2001. Dr. Ahsan completed his PhD from Monash University, Australia on Teacher Preparation on Inclusive Education in Bangladesh. His specialization areas are Educational Change, Curriculum and Pedagogical Reform, Equity and Inclusion in education, and Teacher preparation. Tariq has vast experience for the development of National Frameworks/standards in the areas of specifically focusing on National Curriculum Framework Development, Detail Curriculum and Material Development, equity and inclusion, SDG 4, Global Citizenship Education (GCED), ECCD, Education in Emergency (EiE) for Geographically Displaced Children, Adolescent Skill Development. Tariq conducted a significant number of research studies on education and published more than 100 papers in the forms of national and international journal articles, books, conference proceedings, periodicals and reports. His research manuscripts were published in high impact prestigious journals like Oxford Encyclopedia and Cambridge Journal of Education.
Professor Mesbahuddin Ahmed
Chairman, Accreditation Council Bangladesh
An eminent Physicist, Professor Mesbahuddin Ahmed have had his education in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Kent, Manchester and Cambridge in the UK and International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy. Professor Ahmed did his BSc (Hons in Physics) and MSc (Thesis Group) from the University of Dhaka in 1967 and 1968, respectively. In 1973, he obtained PhD from the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK. for his research in Condensed Matter Physics. The work was eminently productive and the discovery of anomalous features and their explanation in dilute magnetic alloys are recognized. He completed his post-doctoral studies in Manchester and in Cambridge where he worked on Superconductivity and Spin Glasses. He was a visiting Professor in Manchester, UK. for one year in 1990-1991 on a Fellowship from the Royal Society. Since 1974, he has been an academic member of the Department of Physics, University of Dhaka with particular interest in teaching and research of Condensed Matter Physics. He wrote a Book on Basic Physics in Bangla, published by Bangla Academy. He was the Editor of “Dhaka University Journal of Science in 2002-2008”. He was one of the Associates and Senior Associates of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy in 1993-1999 and 1999-2009, respectively.
Professor Biswajit Chanda
Member, University Grants Commission
Professor Biswajit Chanda is currently serving as a full-time Member of the University Grants Commission and an Honorary Member of National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh. Previously he served as a Member of Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission; Professor and Dean of Law at Rajshahi University (RU); Founding Director of Academic Development and the Centre of Excellence in Teaching & Learning, RU, a hub for the training of teachers of all public and private universities in North Bengal; founding Chairman of the Department of Law & Land Administration, RU; and p/t Coordinator of the Department of Law & Human Rights at Varendra University Rajshahi. In London, as a part-time teacher or guest teacher, he has taught law at SOAS, LSE, Queen Mary University of London, and in Berlin, at German Federal Foreign Academy. Professor Chanda holds a PhD in Law from the renowned School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), London.
Dr. Mohammad Yunus
Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
Dr. Mohammad Yunus is a renowned economist and senior research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BID), a premier development research organization in Bangladesh. With nearly 31 years of experience in the field of development economics, Dr. Yunus has focused on research in areas such as food security, poverty, agriculture and rural development, local government finance, international trade, industry, SME development, transit, trade facilitation, renewable energy, and impact evaluation. He has contributed over 50 publications, including journal papers, books, chapters in edited volumes, research monographs, and reports. His work has been published in both national and international journals and has been widely recognized in the development community. Dr. Yunus has made substantial contributions to national-level policy formulation, working with various government agencies, including the Ministry of Food, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Planning, and the Planning Commission. He is an expert in capacity building programs for government officials and the private sector, and has conducted research for several international organizations such as ADB, AED, DFID, European Commission, FAO, IDRC, IFC, IFPRI, IGC, ILO, IOM, UNDP, UNESCAP, UNICEF, USAID, World Bank, WFP, and WHO. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at a private university in Bangladesh and has presented his research at international seminars and conferences in various countries.
Professor Dr. Farid Uddin Ahamed
Department of Anthropology, University of Chittagong
Dr. Farid Uddin Ahamed is a renowned professor of Anthropology at the Chittagong University in Bangladesh. He holds a BSS (Honors) and MSS in Sociology from Chittagong University, as well as an MPhil and PhD in Anthropology from Cambridge and London Universities respectively, both awarded under the Commonwealth Scholarship. He has also completed a Post-doctoral fellowship in Social and Cultural Geography at Durham University in the UK. With 33 years of experience in teaching and research, both domestically and abroad, Dr. Ahamed is a seasoned scholar with a wealth of knowledge. Throughout his career, Dr. Ahamed has been actively involved in numerous collaborative research projects, working with organizations such as UNICEF, the British Academy, and the University Grants Commission. He has authored three books and has contributed to numerous research articles and book chapters. In 2018, he co-authored a research article published in the prestigious journal Nature. His recently edited book, “Rethinking Development in South Asia,” is set to be published by Cambridge Scholar Press in February 2021. In addition to his professorship, Dr. Ahamed currently serves as the Chairperson of the newly established Department of Development Studies. He has also served as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Director of Social Science Research Institute and Central Research Cell, and Visiting Professor at Cambridge University’s Centre for Research in Arts and Social Science. With a long career in research and academia, Dr. Ahamed has extensive experience in areas such as financial and social inclusion, migration and diaspora, climate change and adaptation, and more.
Professor Md. Shahedul
Khabir Chowdhury
Director, College & Admin, DSHE
Professor Md. Shahedul Kabir Chowdhury is a highly accomplished educator and administrative professional. He is the Director of Admin & College at the Directorate of Secondary & Higher Education in Dhaka, & previously held the position of Secretary to the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. He started his career in the BCS Education Cadre as a Lecturer of Economics and has been actively involved in conferences and workshops throughout his time in the field. In addition to his impressive work record, Professor Chowdhury has also been elected as the President of the BCS Education Cadre Association. His experience, expertise, and leadership make him a valuable asset to the educational community.
Professor Dr. AQM Shafiul Azam
Director, Planning & Development, DSHE
A member of Bangladesh Civil Service, Professor Dr AQM Shafiul Azam has about 30 years of professional experience in the education sector with strong national, regional and international linkages. He has obtained PhD from Monash University for his research in educational psychology, leadership and system reform. He has had his education also from Cambridge University, IoE London, Roehampton University, and Birmingham University in the UK, Charles University in Czech Republic, Fontys University of Applied Science in the Netherlands and Chittagong University in Bangladesh. He was awarded International Post-Graduate Research Scholarship (IPGRS) and Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS) for his doctoral studies and ERASMUS MUNDUS fellowship (European Commission scholarship) for M.A in Education (SEN). He worked on a number of research projects in Monash University, Australia and in European universities. He presented papers and participated as a panel member at various national and international conferences/seminars. He is the author of a significant number of articles and papers published in peer-reviewed journals.
Professor Dr. Md. Nizamul Karim
DG, National Academy for Education & Management (NAEM)
Dr. Md. Nizamul Karim is a respected member of the Bangladesh Civil Service (General Education) cadre. He began his career as a Lecturer in Management at Comilla Victoria Government College in 1993 and was eventually promoted to the rank of Professor in 2017. Today, he serves as the Director General of the National Academy of Education Management (NAEM). Throughout his career, Dr. Karim has held various influential positions in education administration and teaching management. Before joining NAEM, he served as the Secretary of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board and held positions as an Associate Professor of Management and Head of Marketing at Victoria Government College, Comilla. He has also served as the Sub-Project Director (Finance & Administration) in TQI-II Project, a College Inspector in Comilla, and Assistant Director in the Secondary Education Sector Development Programme. After obtaining his Secondary and Higher Secondary certifications from the Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Comilla, Dr. Karim earned a Master’s Degree with Honors in Management from Chittagong University. He went on to further his education by completing a PhD in Management from the Institute of Bangladesh Studies (IBS) at Rajshahi University, with a research focus on “Social Responsibility of Private Sector Business in Bangladesh – A Study of Selected Enterprises”.
Ratan Kumar Majumder
Principal, Puran Bazar Degree College, Chnadpur
Ratan Kumar Majumder is a dedicated educator who has devoted over 30 years of his life to teaching and shaping the minds of young individuals. Born on January 1st, 1961, he started his teaching career in 1988 at Chandpur Government College after earning his master’s degree in geography and environment from Dhaka University. The following year, he joined Puran Bazar Degree College as a lecturer, where he not only taught but also became involved in various social activities. With his hard work and passion for education, Ratan has now risen to the position of Principal of Puran Bazar Degree College, where he continues to make a positive impact on the lives of students and the community.
Professor Supriya Bhattacharjee
Principal of Eden Mohila College, Dhaka
Professor Supriya Bhattacharjee is the Principal of Eden Mohila College, Dhaka, which is the largest women’s college in Bangladesh. She did her master’s in management with a focus on HRM and strategic management at the University of Chittagong. Prof. Bhattacharjee started her teaching career as lecturer in 1991 and worked in different colleges throughout the country. She is also the national commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts looking after girls in scouting and the senate and syndicate member of Dhaka University. As an administrator she is trying to develop skills among the students to become a graduate with multiple qualities. Her research interests lie in social psychology to develop novel ways to deal with stress as a woman in the ever changing and complex societal landscape.
Professor Sharif Atiquzzaman
Principal, Brajalal College, Khulna
Professor Sharif Atiquzzaman has been serving as a teacher of English language and literature for over 29 years in different Government Colleges, developing his skill both as an academician and a creative writer. He graduated from the University of Rajshahi in 1986 and received his Master’s Degree in English literature from the same University in 1987. He joined the BCS (education) cadre service in 1993. In December 2018, he was appointed the vice-principal of Government Brajalal College, demonstrating his ability to use his initiative and motivate his colleagues. Since then, he helped run extracurricular activities for students as well as organized Book Fairs, Science Fairs, and Seminars and helped promote social awareness programmes for all, and edited an international journal. He also attended many seminars in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Hungary onsite and online. He is a prolific writer of literature, art, and culture.
Professor Mohammad Yusuf
Principal, Dhaka College
Professor Mohammad Yusuf is a prominent academic and educational leader, currently serving as the Principal of Dhaka College. He has a wealth of experience in the field of education, having begun his career as a lecturer of Bangla as part of the 14th BCS Education Cadre. He earned his Masters and Honors degree from Jahangirnagar University and went on to hold several notable positions, including Director of Secondary and Higher Education in the Dhaka region and Senior Specialist of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. Throughout his long service life, Professor Yusuf has been an active participant in various conferences and training programs, furthering his knowledge and expertise in the field of education.
Dr. Md. Ahsan Habib
Professor, Institute of Education and Research (IER)
Dr. Md. Ahsan Habib is a professor at the Institute of Education and Research (IER) of the University of Dhaka. He has been working as a faculty member in the University of Dhaka since 2005. He received his doctoral degree from the faculty of Education of the prestigious Monash University, Melbourne. He has a wide range of research interests including teacher training, Inclusive and Disability study, reflection practices, student voice, sense of belonging, ECCD. Several of his research papers and book chapters have been published by national and international publishers. Dr. Habib has been working as a research lead and consultant in several international and national projects including USAID, World Bank, UNICEF, and Government of Bangladesh. He was awarded the Monash Post Graduate Publication Award PPA -2015, International Postgraduate Research Scholarship 2011-2015, Monash Graduate Scholarship 2011-2014, European Union Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2008-2009 and Chinese Government Scholarship 2002-2003.
Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman
Professor of Economics, Daffodil International University, Dhaka
Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman, is a Professor of Economics at Daffodil International University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In his academic role mostly engaged with participatory action research and teaching development economics, managerial economics etc. He is also the university’s Director of Students’ Affairs, and in that role, has developed different training and skills building tools for young people to develop social and employability skills. He has created a course called “Art of Living” jointly with Dr. Sabur Khan to develop young people with basic humanitarian qualities; it is attended by 22,000 students each semester. He holds a Ph.D. in the Political Economy of Mass Media. In addition to his university work, Syed has been conducting training and psychosocial support for women and children affected by poverty, catastrophic cyclones, and other disasters for the last 20 years. He is also volunteering with a national level rights-based organization, Consumer Association Bangladesh (CAB) as organizing secretary.
Dr. Md. Abdul Halim
Professor and Director Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University
Dr. Md. Abdul Halim is a highly regarded Professor and Director of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University. With a focus on Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Assessment, and Mathematics Education, he has established himself as a leading researcher in the field. Dr. Halim’s expertise is reflected in the numerous books and manuals he has written on mathematics and education, as well as the articles he has published in both national and international journals. He earned his Ph.D in 2005 from the M S University of Baroda in India and holds dual master’s degrees, one in mathematics and one in education from Dhaka University. Dr. Halim’s contributions to the field have made a significant impact and he continues to be a valuable asset to the education community.
Professor Sanjoy Kumar Adhikary
Member, Accreditation Council Bangladesh
Sanjoy Kumar Adhikary is a Professor of Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna. He graduated from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh under the Faculty of Agriculture in 1979 and also obtained Masters in Plant Pathology from the same University in 1982. He obtained a PhD degree in the year 2000 from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur. He started his career as Lecturer, Patuakhali Agricultural College, Patuakhali (now Patuakhali Science and Technology University) in 1981 and transferred to Hajee Mohammad Danesh Agricultural College, Dinajpur (now Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University). He joined Khulna University, Khulna as a Professor in October, 2001. Adhikary was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Noakhali Science and Technology University by the Honorable Chancellor of the universities in May, 2008. After going back to Khulna University from Noakhali, in 2012, he entered into the Quality Assurance in Higher Education, a new ocean of knowledge with a Self Assessment sub-project under Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) implemented by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh. In April, 2014 he joined as Quality Assurance Specialist in University Grants Commission of Bangladesh and became Head of Quality Assurance Unit in April 2017. He received much training from in and outside the country for academic and professional development. Adhikary published 45 papers in different peer reviewed journals.
Professor Mostafa Azad Kamal
Treasurer, Bangladesh Open University (BOU)
Professor Mostafa Azad Kamal joined as the Treasurer of Bangladesh Open University (BOU) on May 5th, 2021. Previously, he was a professor in International and Development Economics and the Dean of the School of Business, BOU. Professor Azad is the first professor of BOU who has been appointed in a statutory position of BOU by the honorable Chancellor of the university. As a proud son of a freedom fighter, Professor Azad is highly motivated and inspired by the spirit of the liberation war of Bangladesh. He always believes that patriotism, innovation, sincerity, and recognition are the key to change! Philosophically, he supports empowerment over traditional educational practices. He believes that traditional education already lost its mainstream usefulness and the focus should be on Empowerment. According to him, a transformation is a must in educational design and practices at all levels to make the graduates ready for the 21st century; otherwise, it will be difficult to exploit the benefits from the 4th industrial revolution. He strongly desires to see BOU at the forefront of the 4th Education Revolution.
Professor Asit Baran Das
Principal, Chandpur Govt College
Professor Asit Baran Das is a visionary educator and researcher in the field of blended education. Currently, he serves as the principal of Chandpur Government College and has been instrumental in implementing innovative measures to enhance the quality of education at the college. Professor Das started his career as a lecturer of Political Science at Chandpur Government College and has been working tirelessly for the improvement of comprehensive and quality education, especially in the wake of the fourth industrial revolution. His efforts are focused on promoting interconnectivity and smart automation in the education sector. As a renowned researcher in blended education, Professor Das brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his role as the principal of Chandpur Government College.
Fahim Mashroor
Co-Founder, AjkerDeal and Bdjobs.com
Fahim Mashroor has over two decades of experience in the tech industry of Bangladesh. One of the most successful serial entrepreneurs in the country, Fahim Mashroor founded Bdjobs.com (the online employment exchange in Bangladesh) in 2000. Bdjobs.com has been one of the most successful internet ventures in the country. It is also one of the top five job sites in South Asia. In 2015, SEEK Australia, the largest job board network in the world, became part of Bdjobs.com as a strategic investor. He founded a few other tech start-ups including AjkerDeal.com (retail marketplace), Delivery Tiger (retail logistics and fin-tech) and Beshto (social media). In 2012 he was elected as President of BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services. He represented the IT industry as a member of the working committee that drafted ICT Policy 2009. Currently Fahim Mashroor is serving as the Chairman of BASIS Standing Committee of ‘Fin-tech and Digital Payment’.
H.M Asad-Uz-Zaman
Strategy and Innovation Specialist, Aspire to Innovate - a2i
Mr. H.M Asad-Uz-Zaman is working as the Strategy and Innovation Specialist of Aspire to Innovate – a2i. He is playing a significant role in reshaping skills development through appropriate planning, monitoring, coordination and policy formulation. He is leading the “National Intelligence for Skills, Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship (NISE)” platform of the government to ensure effective matchmaking between the supply and demand side. One of his core focuses is to ensure employment opportunities for the National University graduates. He is also leading the South-South Cooperation (SSC) and Expatriate Digital Centre (EDC) teams of a2i. He has established partnership with the governments of Fiji, Philippine, Turkey, Yemen, Jordan, South Sudan, Somalia, and replicating different a2i initiatives in those countries. He has also established Expatriate Digital Centre in KSA, Malaysia, Oman, Italy and few more countries to ensure services at the doorsteps of expatriate Bangladeshis. Asad earned his post-graduation degree in Educational Psychology and graduation in Psychology from University of Dhaka. He also obtained a Masters in Development Studies from East West University, Dhaka.
Mohammad Tazib Uddin
Director (Quality Assurance & National Qualifications Framework), Bangladesh Accreditation Council
Mohammad Tazib Uddin, Associate Professor in Sociology, works as Director (Quality Assurance & National Qualifications Framework) at Bangladesh Accreditation Council. He has a multifold work experience in classroom teaching and educational management. He worked as Deputy Inspector of Colleges at the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, and as Assistant Director at the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. Both services made him insightful regarding institutional management comprehensively. He also gained a unique experience in the public sector and training management during his deputation at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) as Deputy Director. He did his masters in Sociology from the University of Dhaka. During his long career, he received various training from home and abroad. He did a certificate course on research methodology from Bournemouth University, the United Kingdom. His research on ‘Education for Sustainable Development: Role of Tertiary Colleges of Bangladesh’ is a notable work.
Md. Shefatul Islam
Education Technology Expert, Aspire to Innovate - a2i Lecturer of Economics, DSHE
Md. Shefatul Islam is a highly skilled education technology expert employed at Aspire to Innovate (a2i), ICT Division. He joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 2017 as a lecturer of Economics and holds a Master’s and Honors degree in Economics from Dhaka University. In 2016, he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Office Service Innovation Fund for the development of interactive educational content on science subjects at high school level. He is also a member of the team responsible for creating the Blended Education Master Plan of Bangladesh (2022-2041) and works with the National Curriculum & Textbook Board to design new curricula and write textbooks. Shefatul has published several papers on various journals, including “Assessing Science Education at Secondary Level in Bangladesh” in the NAEM journal. He specializes in instructional design, particularly for teacher training and project-based learning in both online and in-person settings.
Md. Hafiz Iqbal
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics,
Government Edward College, Pabna
Hafiz is an interdisciplinary researcher. His expertise includes climate change adaptation and mitigation, impact assessment, non-market valuation, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, cost-benefit analysis, randomized control trials, econometric model construction, Q-methodology, and data analysis. Hafiz began his career in banking and moved into the Bangladesh Civil Service in 2005. Hafiz received his Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) from Rajshahi University and his Master of Social Science (MSS) in Economics from the same institution. Later, he earned his Master of Science (MS) from Hiroshima University, Japan, his Master of Science (MSc) in climate change and development from Independent University, Bangladesh, and his PhD from Bangladesh University of Professionals. He was a participant in Nottingham University Malaysia’s education leadership program. He is an Assistant Professor (Economics) at Government Edward College in Pabna and a visiting Professor (Earth and Environment) at Florida International University in the United States. He has written book chapters and journal articles and presented his research works in several conferences worldwide.
Professor Mujibur Rahman
Principal, Govt Teachers' Training College (Women),
Mymensingh, Bangladesh
Prof. Mujibur Rahman is the highly experienced and dedicated Principal of the Govt. Teachers’ Training College for Women in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. In his role, he oversees the administration and management of the college with the support of his colleagues. With a background in head teacher training at the secondary level in Bangladesh, Prof. Rahman has a wealth of experience in improving teacher-student relationships, classroom environments, and internal management to increase enrollment rates. He has received international training in Teacher Education from Christchurch College of Education in New Zealand and in Professionalizing In-service Teacher Education from SEAMEO-INNOTECH in the Philippines. He worked as a Member of Gender Resource Group (GRG) with the PROMOTE (Programme to Motivate Train and Employ female teachers in rural secondary schools) project, a joint venture project of the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) & European Union (EU) in 2003.
Dr. Titus O. Awokuse
Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Partnership,
International Studies and Programs, Michigan State University
Titus Awokuse is the associate dean for research and strategic partnerships of International Studies and Programs, facilitating MSU’s international engagement, advancing international research and engaging with MSU’s stakeholders in addressing global sustainable development challenges. He previously served as chairperson of MSU’s Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics and, prior to joining MSU, served as chairperson of the Department of Applied Economics and Statistics at the University of Delaware. Awokuse’s research interests and activities examine how international trade and food market liberalization policies enhance economic growth, improve food supply chains and promote food security in developing countries. As an internationally respected scholar, Awokuse has consulted for national governments, international development agencies, NGOs and private businesses. He currently serves as an elected member of the Agricultural and Applied Economic Association and is on the executive board of the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium. He earned a Ph.D. in applied and agricultural economics from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Jiaguo Qi
Director of Asia Hub, Professor of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, International Studies and Programs,
Michigan State University
Dr. Jiaguo Qi is the Director of Asia Hub in International Studies and Programs and a Professor at the Department of Geography at Michigan State University (MSU). In his role directing Asia Hub, he brings together partners from MSU and across Asia to tackle global issues related to water, energy, food, and climate change. He is also the former Director of the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations and Co-Director of MSU’s Office of China Programs and serves in numerous international programs and projects. Dr. Qi has a broad interest in global change with a focus on complex interactions among land, water, climate, and society using process-based models, geospatial technologies, and in-situ and remote observations. His recent research efforts center on the water-energy-food (WEF) Nexus framework, focusing on interactions among land, humans, the environment, and climate change for sustainable development in developing countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and East Africa.
Dr. Steve Pueppke
Emeritus Professor of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Michigan State University
Dr. Steve Pueppke is Emeritus Professor of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University and a long-time contributor to the Asia Hub. He is currently a Faculty Affiliate of the Center for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies and the Center for Global Change and Earth Observations at MSU. Dr. Pueppke is the past President of the Board of the US National Council on Food and Agricultural Research, past Chairperson of the US National Agricultural Biotechnology Council and a past member of the US Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture. Dr. Pueppke spent most of his professional career as a laboratory researcher/research administrator, including several years as Director of MSU AgBio Research and Associate Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies at MSU. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy in Washington and as Section Editor-in-Chief (Water, Agriculture, and Aquaculture) for the journal Water. His current research interests center on the relationships between water, energy, and food, especially in Asia and Eurasia.
Dr. Samantha Caughlan
Curriculum Coordinator – Global Education Engagement Office of International Studies in Education, College of Education,
Michigan State University
Dr. Samantha Caughlan is the Curriculum Coordinator for the College of Education’s Global Education Engagement program. Dr. Caughlan has coordinated curriculum and directed short-term training of international educator groups since 2015. Her previous projects and roles include: Coordinator for a two-week professional development program for faculty and instructors from Open University China: “Online Education to Meet the Needs of the Adult learner;” Facilitator of the course “Advanced Training on Pedagogy” at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission; and Director of PRESTASI, a USAID program for Indonesian teacher educators, where she was responsible for building strong connections between all program elements and leading the action plan thread as well as the M&E plan. Prior to this experience, she was faculty head of English language arts teacher preparation at two universities. She is widely published in the areas of teacher preparation, English education, and discourse analysis. Prior to earning her Ph.D., she was an English and theater teacher.
Dr. Yadu Pokhrel
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
College of Engineering, Michigan State University
Dr. Yadu Pokhrel is an expert on climate and human- induced changes in the water cycle and their impacts on water, environmental, and social systems. His research focuses on improving the understanding of the changes in the water cycle due to combined effects of human activities and climate change. He uses climate, hydrological, agricultural, and ecological models to examine how changes in climate extremes (e.g., floods) affect water, energy, agricultural, infrastructure, and livelihood systems. His combines models with satellite data to examine these impacts from global to local scales. His leads projects in many regions including the Himalayan region, southeast Asia, Amazon River basin, and southwestern US. His research is funded primarily by the NSF and NASA. He has published 85+ peer-reviewed articles and is an Associate Editor for Water Resources Research (WRR) and Journal of Hydrology. He is a recipient of many awards including the NSF Early CAREER Award and Fulbright US Senior Scholar Award.
Dr. Isabella Tirtowalujo
Associate Director, Asia Hub & Asian Studies Center, International Studies and Programs, Michigan State University
Dr. Isabella Tirtowalujo holds a PhD in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from the MSU College of Education. As the Associate Director of the Asian Studies Center, she develops and implements programs to enhance MSU’s capacities and expand opportunities for teaching, research, and outreach work related to Asia. Through her work in the MSU Asia Hub–a platform to innovate partnerships and build network-of-networks among various types of research, educational, funding, and policy-making institutions toward synergies to co-generate global solutions and develop global citizens, Dr. Tirtowalujo facilitates strategic partnership-building focusing on key collaborators in Southeast Asia. Her own research explores issues of social context of education, related to out-of-school children; rurality, youth, and schooling; and capacity development in the context of decentralization of education in Indonesia. Prior to joining MSU, she worked in education development projects supporting central and local governments in Indonesia, and international development partners including UNICEF and the Asian Development Bank.