Shaping the future of education: AIUB focuses on quality graduates and research

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam, Vice Chancellor, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Kuratoli, Khilkhet, Dhaka

Compared to when the university was first established, how many of the goals from back then have you been able to achieve so far? Where do you want to see your institution in the next 10 years?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: If we look back to 1995 when the university first began its journey, the future appeared unpredictable in terms of the goals to be achieved and the methodologies to follow. At that time, the most important goal of private universities was to provide opportunities for students in the country who were considering studying abroad for their undergraduate degrees. We were uncertain about how a university would survive, or how it would secure qualified teachers to maintain a high standard of education.

As the years passed, we found our way. We have grown significantly in terms of the space, number of teachers, university administration staff, supporting personnel, office space, classrooms, facilities, and modern teaching aids. We have built our own campus, complete with student relaxation spaces, a well-equipped auditorium, cafeteria, seminar halls, sports facilities, gymnasium, and swimming pool, in addition to the core facilities required for teaching and learning. In terms of the university's growth, our achievements are considerable.

We are now capable of hosting multiple international conferences each year. Our research activities have also expanded, with most of our faculty members actively involved in research and publishing papers in international journals, alongside local publications.

Currently, we are focused on enhancing the quality of teaching and producing high-calibre graduates. To this end, we are working on recruiting top-quality faculty members and admitting students with greater academic potential.

In what areas do you see the most potential for research growth within the university? Are there any specific fields or projects you want to prioritise?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: For research, we encourage all departments to come forward. Considering the significant advancements in techniques, technologies, and materials, Electrical and Electronic Engineering is an area deserving of special attention. Likewise, the ongoing developments in computational techniques, the application of computer technologies across various domains of human life, software development, man-machine interface technologies, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence—all of these have made Computer Science and Engineering a particularly strong area for research. We aim to follow the global trends in these fields. Areas of Physics and Chemistry also hold similar importance.

Many Bangladeshi universities struggle with limited research funding. How do you plan to address this challenge and improve your university's research output?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: To start a research project, funding is not always the most critical factor. However, once a research plan is in place, funding becomes necessary for specific purposes, such as acquiring journal research papers, buying equipment and instruments, consumables for experiments, chemicals for laboratory work, computers for computational research, expenses for field investigations, data collection and surveys, stationery, and article publication fees. We are currently bearing these expenses within a tight budget. For larger research projects, particularly those involving equipment and experimental research, more substantial funding is required.

What steps are you taking to ensure that students are graduating with the skills required by employers? Do you plan to introduce curriculum reforms?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: We focus on the application of knowledge in the job market and practical fields while keeping an eye on global trends. Accordingly, we revise our course curriculum periodically to ensure it aligns with industry demands.

How do you plan to support students with entrepreneurial ambitions, especially in light of the growing startup culture in Bangladesh?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: We encourage students to develop entrepreneurial ideas and start their own ventures. We offer guidance through knowledge-sharing and discussions to help them along the way.

How do you plan to improve collaboration between your university and international institutions to promote research, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for students to study or work abroad?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: At present, our plan includes teacher and student exchanges in small groups, as well as joint research programmes. We have a large number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign universities, and we are already facilitating teacher and student exchanges under these agreements. We are currently involved in two foreign-funded joint research programmes with several foreign universities and look forward to expanding this collaboration with more joint research projects soon.

What steps are you taking to make engineering and business faculties more aligned with the demands of Bangladesh's growing economy?

Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam: In this regard, it is clear that engineering institutions require knowledge and expertise in business subjects. We will work to promote knowledge sharing and initiate joint research projects between the Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, and Business departments in the near future.