BRAC University Annual Report
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Editorial Team Dr. Rubana Ahmed Rukhsana Rahim Chowdhury Mehetaz Chowdhury Farzana Rahman Khan Coordination Shafik Waes Photography Office of Communications Cover Design Dulal Bala, Color Line Illustration and Printing Color Line June 2019 Message from Founder and Chairperson, Board of Trustees 5 Message from Vice Chancellor 6 GOVERNANCE Board of Trustees 8 Syndicate 9 Academic Council 10 Brac University Logo & Anthem 11 Profile of Brac University 12 Highlights of 2018 14 Assembly on Higher Education in Bangladesh 14 Seventh Regional Meeting of the South Asian Think Tanks 15 Celebration of International Mother Language Day 2018 16 Observance of Independence and National Day 17 'Science Expo 2018' 18 Ruminations of a Freedom Fighter 19 Brac University Career Fair 20 Launch of country's first “Empathy Lab” to instil change maker skills in students 21 Group Life and Medical Insurance for Brac University Employees 22 Brac University New Campus 35 SCHOOLS Brac Business School (BBS) 26 James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) 30 School of Law (SoL) 35 DEPARTMENTS Department of Architecture (ARC) 44 Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) 48 Department of Economics and Social Sciences (ESS) 52 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) 56 Department of English and Humanities (ENH) 59 Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MNS) 61 Department of Pharmacy (PHR) 63 INSTITUTES Brac Institute of Educational Development (BIED) 66 Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) 69 Brac Institute of Languages (BIL) 71 CENTRES Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) 76 Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) 78 Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) 80 Professional Development Centre (PDC) 83 Centre for Inclusive Architecture and Urbanism 87 RESOURCES AND SERVICES Office of the Vice Chancellor 90 Ayesha Abed Library 91 Logistics and Support Services Department 96 Counseling Centre 98 Finance and Accounts Department 101 Human Resources Department (HRD) 102 Information Technology Department (IT) 103 Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) 104 Medical Centre 105 Office of Academic Advising 108 Office of Co-curricular Activities and Office of Career Services and Alumni Relations Office of Communications (OoC) 113 Office of the Registrar 114 Procurement Department 116 Relationship Management Office (RMO) 119 Residential Semester (RS) 122 Office of the Controller of Examinations 126 Partners in Education 128 COMMITTEES Finance Committee 131 Faculty Selection Committee 132 Disciplinary Committee 133 Auditor's Report 134 List of Acronyms 168 Message from Founder and Chairperson Board of Trustees Over the last seventeen years, Brac University has tirelessly worked to establish itself as an educational institution of excellence in the region. Since 2001, the University has been actively pursuing the dual goals of providing the highest quality of teaching and instilling values essential for the leaders of tomorrow. Brac University has endeavoured to develop certain important capabilities and qualities in the nearly 9,000 students who have graduated from the University to date and the 9,498 students who are currently enrolled: the ability to think critically and express their thoughts articulately; the capacity to collaborate with others; an appreciation of the arts and sciences; and a global perspective. We also endeavour to inculcate empathy and other humanistic values. We at Brac University firmly believe that our students are the leaders and the change-makers of tomorrow. Evidence of this can be seen in Brac University's institutes, schools, departments and centres where both students and faculty are continuously engaged multidisciplinary research, collaborating on a host of initiatives to benefit society. I am pleased to inform you that the construction of the new University campus, comprising of a 14- storey building of 1.7 million square feet on 5 acres of land, is progressing well and is on track for completion by June 2021. Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG Founder & Chairperson, Board of Trustees Brac University Message from Vice Chancellor Brac University has been ranked highly in this country. This is a great achievement and it is worth celebrating. However, in the global landscape of higher education, we are still off the map. We are behind the world's best in our practices and standards. But we do not intend to stay that way. We choose to aim ambitiously high. In the next four years, we shall advance on three fronts and build the capabilities that will help put the university on the map – we shall internationalize our standards and management, we shall foster a unique Brac University student experience that is both inspirational and disciplinary, and we shall build a portfolio of global excellence that is relevant and impactful. I believe these new capabilities are perhaps all first of its kinds in Bangladesh. We shall benchmark ourselves against world's best institutions and eventually become one of them. Achieving such a goal demands a long vision, a brave heart and an unwavering commitment. And it is an undertaking that requires the dedication of the entire community of stakeholders. This is surely not an easy journey, nor is it quick. We may not be able to get there during my tenure as Vice Chancellor, but I am sure we will get there. Professor Vincent Chang, PhD Vice Chancellor Brac University GOVERNANCE Board of Trustees Syndicate Academic Council 8 | Annual Report 2018 GOVERNANCE Chancellor Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid Hon'ble President, People's Republic of Bangladesh Professor Vincent Chang, PhD Mr. S. N. Kairy Vice Chancellor Treasurer Professor Mohammad Tamim, PhD Lt Col Md. Foyzul Islam (Retd) Pro-Vice Chancellor Registrar BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees (BoT) is the highest policymaking body of Brac University. It is responsible for ensuring that the highest level of educational and administrative standards are set and maintained at Brac University. The current BoT consists of the following eminent personalities of Bangladesh: Chairperson Sir Fazle Hasan Abed KCMG Founder & Chairperson, BRAC Professor Anisuzzaman, PhD Ms. Sonia Bashir Kabir National Professor Managing Director Professor Emeritus Microsoft Bangladesh Dhaka University Mr. Abdul-Muyeed Chowdhury Ms. Tamara Hasan Abed Advisor, Former Caretaker Government of Senior Director, Enterprises Bangladesh BRAC Former Secretary, Government of Bangladesh and Former Executive Director, BRAC Dr. Ahmed Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury Ms. Sadaf Saaz Siddiqi Former Vice Chairperson Director & Producer, Dhaka Lit Fest, Poet BRAC & Writer, Culture & Curator, Activist and Entrepreneur and an Alumni of Brac University Ms. Rasheda K. Choudhury Professor Mustafizur Rahman, PhD Advisor, Former Caretaker Government of Distinguished Fellow Bangladesh and Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Executive Director, Campaign for Popular Former Professor Education (CAMPE) University of Dhaka Mr. Syed Nasim Manzur Member (ex-officio) Managing Director Professor Vincent Chang, PhD Apex Footwear Ltd. Vice Chancellor, Brac University Secretary Lt Col Md. Foyzul Islam (Retd) Registrar Brac University MEETINGS Three meetings of the Board of Trustees took place on March 29, June 28 and December 20, 2018. Annual Report 2018 | 9 SYNDICATE The Syndicate is the highest executive body that exercises administrative and supervisory control on academic, administrative and management activities of Brac University. Chairperson Professor Vincent Chang, PhD Vice Chancellor, Brac University Members Professor Anisuzzaman, PhD Professor Mohammad Tamim, PhD National Professor Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Emeritus Brac University Dhaka University Professor Mohammad Mahboob Rahman, PhD Ms. Tamara Hasan Abed Dean, Brac Business School Senior Director, Enterprises Brac University BRAC Mr. S. N. Kairy Treasurer Professor Mustafizur Rahman, PhD Brac University Distinguished Fellow Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and Professor AFM Yusuf Haider, PhD Former Professor, University of Dhaka Chairperson Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Dr. Md. Mahamud Ul Hoque Brac University Additional Secretary (Development) Secondary and Higher Education Division Professor Md. Abdul Mottalib, PhD Ministry of Education Chairperson Bangladesh Secretariat Department of Computer Science and Engineering Brac University Professor Sitesh Chandra Bachar, PhD Professor & Chairperson Member-Secretary Department of Pharmacy Lt Col Md. Foyzul Islam (Retd) University of Dhaka Registrar Brac University MEETINGS Three meetings of the Syndicate took place on March 22, June 10 and December 19, 2018. 10 | Annual Report 2018 ACADEMIC COUNCIL The Academic Council recommends the educational policies of Brac University and determines the curricula and courses that can help achieve high educational standards. The council is currently composed of the following academics and professionals: Chairperson Professor Vincent Chang, PhD Vice Chancellor, Brac University Members Ms. Rasheda K. Choudhury Professor Firdous Azim, PhD Advisor, Former Caretaker Government of Bangladesh and Chairperson Executive Director, Campaign for Popular Education Department of English and Humanities (CAMPE) Brac University Professor Iqbal Mahmud, PhD Professor AFM Yusuf Haider, PhD Professor Emeritus & Chairperson Former Vice Chancellor, BUET Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Brac University Dr. John D Clemens Executive Director, icddr,b Professor Shahidul Islam Khan, PhD Professor Mohammad Tamim, PhD Chairperson