Redefining engineering education

BRAC University and the BSRM Group of Companies inaugurated the BSRM School of Engineering through a ceremony at the university's Merul Badda campus on April 30, alongside its theme "Shaping Tomorrow: Innovation for Sustainability", official logo, and website.

This first-of-a-kind collaboration between academia and industry is aimed at redefining engineering education in Bangladesh. The collaboration is set to embed innovation, ethics, and societal responsibility at its very core, preparing a new generation of engineers to build a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and humane.

Such academia-industry partnerships are very common in the West as well as in other parts of the world. These practices have helped institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford receive funding and resources to achieve various academic and research goals. In Bangladesh, such collaboration is rarely seen, that too on this scale.

This collaboration aligns with the BSRM's different social responsibility initiatives and BRAC University Founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's belief that education must be inclusive, impactful, and deeply connected to human dignity.

The school is already running critical academic initiatives such as funding advanced research, establishing laboratories, and providing inspirational scholarships for meritorious and financially insolvent students.

At Wednesday's event, Professor Arshad M Chowdhury, dean, School of Engineering, gave the welcome speech.

In his speech, Alihussain Akberali, chairman, BSRM, said businesses, regardless of size, can play a vital role in shaping society and should actively collaborate with the government and other sectors in driving national development.

"Stay here, work here, and build here. Your knowledge, your energy, and your ideas are needed here. If you build a legacy now, it will serve generations to come," he told students.

"We hope that in this partnership between BRAC University and BSRM, you will see a powerful example of what becomes possible when two strong, value-driven organisations come together," added Akberali. "We believe that this school and partnership will serve as a platform for nurturing the next generation of engineers – young minds who will be equipped not only with technical knowledge, but with strong moral values, a sense of responsibility, and a passion to serve the nation."

Tamara Hasan Abed, chairperson of the Board of Trustees, BRAC University, added, "Today, as we inaugurate the BSRM School of Engineering, we reaffirm that education must be a force for dignity, justice, and opportunity."

"We commit to fostering an environment where curiosity is celebrated, where diversity is cherished, and where every student believes they can be a driver of positive change," she said.

Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, vice-chancellor, BRAC University, said, "I believe that this partnership will ensure that knowledge of the industry is put together in a meaningful way by the academia and shared with the entire world."

"This partnership is an example for Bangladesh and, hopefully, for the global South," he added. "This is what the BRAC and BRAC University synergy is about, and it reflects how BSRM not only does business but also focuses on safety for humanity."

Following the speeches by the guests, an experience-sharing session was held where alumni, faculty members, and students talked about their experiences at the School of Engineering.