Brac University

Coordinates: 23°46′24″N 90°25′29″E / 23.7732°N 90.4246°E / 23.7732; 90.4246
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Brac University
ব্র্যাক ইউনিভার্সিটি
Logo of Brac University
Other name
BracU
MottoInspiring Excellence[1]
TypePrivate research university
Established2001; 23 years ago (2001)
FounderFazle Hasan Abed
Accreditation
AffiliationUniversity Grants Commission (UGC)
ChancellorPresident Mohammed Shahabuddin
Vice-ChancellorSyed Mahfuzul Aziz [2]
Academic staff
649
Students16,375 (2023)
Undergraduates10,029
Postgraduates1171
Address
Kha 224 Bir Uttam Rafiqul Islam Avenue, Merul Badda
,
Dhaka
,
1212
,
Bangladesh

23°46′24″N 90°25′29″E / 23.7732°N 90.4246°E / 23.7732; 90.4246
CampusUrban
LanguageEnglish
Colours   
Blue, Black, Gray
Websitewww.bracu.ac.bd

Brac University, (Bengali: ব্র্যাক ইউনিভার্সিটি, also known as BracU) is a private research university located in Merul Badda, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established in 2001 as a branch of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's BRAC under the Private University Act 1992.[3]

History[edit]

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed founded BRAC University in 2001, under the Private University Act.[4] Located at Merul Badda, Dhaka, the university is based on the American liberal arts college model. The university began with just three departments and around 80 students in 2001 at Mohakhali, Dhaka.[5][6] It held its first Convocation in January 2006. As the university grew, it increased the number of programs and introduced master's degrees.[7] The development of a library with high academic standards was important to Sir Abed. The Ayesha Abed Library was digitized shortly after its inception.[8] The university had 11,200 students in 20 schools, departments, and institutes in 2020.[citation needed]

Campus[edit]

Permanent Campus[edit]

BRAC University has a permanent campus in Merul Badda, Dhaka, a campus designed by WOHA Designs Pte Ltd., an architectural firm based in Singapore.[9] Construction of this facility began in 2017. The university building has 14 floors and a total area of 157,935 sq. meters. The facilities include an auditorium with 700 seats, a multipurpose hall with 1850 seats, classrooms, labs, design studios, lecture theaters, an IT data center, UPS, CCTVs, a cafeteria, an e-library, a parking lot, recreation facilities, and a rooftop playground.[10] The new campus is 2017 LafargeHolcim Asia Pacific- Bronze Winner awarded by LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. Until November 2023, the educational programs were conducted at the temporary campus of Mohakhali, but from now on, all the activities will be conducted at the permanent campus of Merul Badda.[11]

Residential Campus[edit]

The Residential Campus at Savar was founded in 2003 and substantially expanded in 2012.[12] Students spend a semester on the Residential Campus, where they take specific courses and fulfill community tasks during the week. Residential Semester is mandatory for every student. On Fridays and Saturdays, they visit orphanages, nursing homes, and landmark sites.

Inside the BRAC University residential campus (Tarc)

Resources and facilities[edit]

  • Ayesha Abed Library[13]
  • Counseling Unit at RS[14]
  • Courseware Moodle
  • Fabrication Lab[15]
  • MSDN Academic Alliance

Organization and administration[edit]

Leadership and management[edit]

The current structure was established in 2011.[16] The President of Bangladesh is BRAC University's Chancellor. The board of trustees is the highest policy-making body of BRAC University.[17] It has 12 members, one of them being the Vice-Chancellor. Chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, the Syndicate supervises the academic and administrative functions of the university.[17] The Academic Council, also chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, makes education policy recommendations and reviews curricula and academic progress.[17]

Administration[edit]

The university administration is led by the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, and the Heads of academic units.[18]

Vice Chancellors[edit]

Year of Joining Expiration of Tenure of Office Name
2001 2010 Jamilur Reza Choudhury
2010 2014 Ainun Nishat
2014 2018 Syed Saad Andaleeb
2019 2023[19] Vincent Chang
2023 present Syed Mahfuzul Aziz

Academics[edit]

Diverse academic units serve the mission of BRAC University. Departments have degree-granting programs, schools support strategic initiatives, institutes are autonomous research entities, and centers are project-based entities.

Schools and institutes[edit]

University founder Sir Fazle Hasan Abed delivering speech at the 11th Convocation
  • BRAC Business School
  • School of Data and Sciences
  • BSRM School of Engineering
  • School of Law
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • School of General Education
  • School of Pharmacy
  • James P. Grant School of Public Health
  • School of Architecture and Design
  • BRAC Institute of Languages
  • BRAC Institute of Educational Development
  • BRAC Institute of Governance and Development
BRAC University 11th Convocation

Departments[edit]

  • Department of Architecture
  • Department of Computer Science and Engineering
  • Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Economics and Social Sciences (School of Humanities and Social Sciences)
  • Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering
  • Department of English and Humanities (School of Humanities and Social Sciences)
  • Department of Anthropology
  • Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
  • Department of Pharmacy
  • Department of Bachelor of Business Administration

Centres[edit]

  • Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research
  • Centre for Emotional Intelligence and Innovation
  • Centre for Entrepreneurship Development
  • Centre for Inclusive Architecture and Urbanism
  • Centre for Peace and Justice
  • Professional Development Centre
  • Centre for Mathematical Sciences
  • Centre for Life Sciences

Financial aid[edit]

BRAC University was founded to support financially disadvantaged students. One of the early donors was the BRAC Ford scholarship program. The university has developed several scholarship programs for national and international students. The Open Society Foundation and the Open Society University Network have supported student activities and education.

Student life[edit]

The Office of Student Life (OSL) was created in 2019. OSL supervises the Department of Career Services, Alumni Affairs, and Clubs & Societies.

Many of the private university students of Bangladesh live with their parents during their university life. However, BRAC University has a mandatory residential semester at their Savar residential campus.

Notable people[edit]

Faculty[edit]

Alumni[edit]

Controversies[edit]

Asif Mahtab, a part-time teacher of BRAC University[28] held a teacher's conference in January 2024 following the continuation of the textbook controversy in Bangladesh, demonstrated anti-transgenderism by tearing the pages of the seventh grade textbook.[29] In response to this protest, BRAC University authorities fired Asif Mahtab.[30] When the incident went viral on social media, many criticized BRAC and called for a boycott of all BRAC-related products and services.[31]

Students of BRAC University staged a protest in response to the dismissal of teacher Asif Mahtab and calling for clarification of BRAC University's position on transformation.[32] In the protest rally, the students announced a boycott of all BRAC-related products, services and university classes. In addition, the Islami Andolan Bangladesh called for a boycott of Aarong and BRAC university as part of the anti-transformation protest.[33][34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Message from the Vice Chancellor". Brac University. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, PhD". 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Message from the Founder and Chairperson Emeritus". 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Südasien-Institut. Universität Heidelberg". Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Brac University Annual Report 2009" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  6. ^ BRAC (1998). Brac University Project Proposal and Application, Submitted to: Education Ministry and University Grants Commission. p. 8.
  7. ^ BRAC (1998). Brac University Project Proposal and Application, Submitted to: Education Ministry and University Grants Commission. p. 10.
  8. ^ BRAC (1998). Brac University Project Proposal and Application, Submitted to: Education Ministry and University Grants Commission. pp. 9, 10.
  9. ^ "VIDEO-BRACU NEW CAMPUS - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  10. ^ "New Campus". 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Floating University in Bangladesh". www.holcimfoundation.org. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Residential Campus". 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Welcome to BRACU Ayesha Abed Library | BRACU Ayesha Abed Library". library.bracu.ac.bd. Archived from the original on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Counseling Service at Residential Semester of BRACU". Dhaka Tribune. 5 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Fabrication laboratory opens at BRACU". The Independent. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b c "Organization and Administration". Brac University. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Administration". 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  19. ^ Desk, SHOUT (25 January 2023). "BRACU VC bids farewell as tenure ends". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, PhD was the first Vice Chancellor of BRAC University". BRAC University Website. 19 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Professor Ainun Nishat". BRAC University. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb, Ph.D." BRAC University. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Prof Vincent Chang new VC of Bracu". The Daily Star. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Prof Vincent Chang joins BRAC University as vice-chancellor". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  25. ^ Hossain, Rafi (1 April 2017). "Mithila – A Symbol of Empowerment". The Daily Star. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  26. ^ Karim, Elita (6 January 2017). "1 minute please". The Daily Star. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Biography of H.E. Ambassador Sadia Faizunnesa.pdf". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Controversy over inclusion of 'transgender' chapter". bangladeshpost.net.
  29. ^ Sakib, Sadman (24 January 2024). "Two pages ripped, an entire nation torn apart". The Daily Star.
  30. ^ "BRAC Univ teacher Asif terminated". www.newagebd.net. 21 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Aarong responds to criticism".
  32. ^ Correspondent, Staff (29 January 2024). "Brac University won't renew contract with Asif Mahtab". Prothom Alo.
  33. ^ "Inclusion of transgender rights chapter in Bangladesh school textbooks sparks debate". Benar News.
  34. ^ "Outrage at Mahtab's Dismissal: Students close B..."

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BRAC University.
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