Encouraging students to participate in co-curricular activities

Universities from all across the country are now focusing on extracurricular activities alongside academics, and clubs have been arranging various programmes to enhance the skill sets of students. Midas Financing Limited Presents Campus Club Summit 2020, a joint initiative of Midas Financing Limited, The Daily Star and Excellence Bangladesh, was conducted on November 6 and 7. The summit featured fruitful discussions and recognised top student clubs across Bangladesh for their work. Star Youth, The Daily Star, was the youth engagement partner of the programme.

The panel discussion, 'Leadership: Nurturing the change within organisations', was moderated by Tanjim Ferdous, National Consultant of the United Nations in Bangladesh. It shed light on the role of extracurricular activities in boosting essential skills. The panelists were Elita Karim, Editor Arts & Entertainment and Star Youth, The Daily Star, Sheikh Shabab Ahmed, Head of External Affairs, BAT Bangladesh, Shuvashish Roy, Digital Marketing Manager, The Daily Star and Ayman Sadiq, Founder and CEO, 10 Minute School.

Elita Karim termed extracurricular activities as the lifeline of university life and urged young students to enjoy the moments and participate in diverse events. Sheikh Shabab Ahmed appreciated the role of club activities in promoting networking skills and instilling leadership qualities among students.

Ayman Sadiq, an enthusiastic participant of business, ideation and entrepreneurship competitions, said that such contests are crucial for overcoming stage fear and providing exposure. On the other hand, Shuvashish Roy asserted that club activities helped him greatly in his professional life and played a major role in getting him the Chevening Scholarship. Extracurricular activities furthermore taught him to think out of the box and developed his innovative skills.

Moderated by Rafeed Elahi Chowdhury, Co- Founder of Torun Digital, 'The effectiveness of clubbing beside academics', was an engaging panel discussion with Md Rashedur Rahman, Executive Director- Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, ICE Center at University of Dhaka, Arif Zaman, Dean, School of Business at Canadian University of Bangladesh and Shibli Shahriar, Qualified and Certified Mentor, Faculty of Business and Entrepreneurship at Daffodil International University.

Md Rashedur Rahman asserted that youths are truly motivated to play a role in the development of co-curricular clubs. Shibli Shahriar added that classroom theories are just one of the fourteen abilities important for employability, and that leadership, negotiation, collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking are essential skills that clubs help develop. Arif Zaman explained the significance of co-curricular activities in testing students' knowledge and skills.

Md Tajdin Hassan, Head of Marketing at The Daily Star, Jabed Sultan Pias, Head of Digital Business at Prothom Alo, and Imran Kadir, Founder of Mission Save Bangladesh, made up the panel for the discussion, 'Branding extracurricular activities in the media', with Benjir Abrar, Founder & CEO of Excellence Bangladesh as the moderator. "The competitiveness in the club culture is at its peak right now and it depends on the institutions as to how they can transform the interest for extracurricular activities among the students," expressed Tajdin Hassan.

Meanwhile, Benjir Abrar asserted that for the past few decades, the media has been inspiring the youth and their extracurricular activities and showing support for their work rigorously.

Imran Kadir focused on how the pandemic has affected the conventional extracurricular activities of the youth, but on a positive note, he added that online summits, seminars and activities hosted during these times will stay on the internet, offering a great opportunity for students to look back and keep learning.

The panel discussion, 'Debating: What's in it for students', was moderated by Tanjim Ferdous. It featured Zunaed Rabbani, CEO, The Right Kind and AIRN, Nobonita Chowdhury, Director, Gender, Justice and Diversity, BRAC and Sakib Bin Rashid, Curriculum and Material Development Specialist, BRAC Youth Platform.

Zunaed Rabbani focused on the need to diversify club interests. He said that debating generates a sense of competitive spirit and teamwork, while also boosting interaction skills. While discussing the pros and cons of debating, Nobonita Chowdhury emphasised on the importance of quality content and research. She also spoke on how female students across the country are restricted from participating in these activities, due to safety reasons.

Debate circuits have been successful in creating more spaces for talks, and promoting inclusivity and acceptance, noted the panelists. Among several other traits, debaters also learn conflict-management. Sakib Bin Rashid said that confidence and encouragement paved his journey and that debating made him rational and empathetic.

Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star, was actively involved in extracurricular activities, particularly debating, during his youth. He spoke about the many characteristics of extracurricular activities and shared his experiences from Notre Dame College, Dhaka University, and the Liberation War of Bangladesh, at a keynote session, before the closing ceremony.

After receiving nominations, an independent jury panel selected five clubs for the 'Best Clubs Awards'. The winners were NSU YES! Club, Jahangirnagar University Debate Organization, BUET Career Club, Dhaka University Career Club, and Chittagong University Debate Society. Also, BUP Business and Communications Club, Jagannath University Rover Scout Group, Gono Bishwabhidyalay Debating Society, JKKNIU Skill Development Club and ULAB Digital Marketing Club were awarded for their social activities during the pandemic. Overall, the summit aimed to encourage students to participate in different club activities, and take their talents to greater heights.

Maisha Islam Monamee likes to read her way through life, and you can always find her scribbling and planning. To send recommendations and help, reach out to her at mislammonamee@gmail.com.

Sadia Tahsin is a final year marketing major at North South University. She believes someday she will become a marketing mastermind, be able to read human minds and reveal all their secrets to the aliens. To know her secret plan, email her at iloverachelgreenclub@gmail.com.