Bridging education and industry: How UIU prepares market-ready graduates

Since its establishment in 2003, the United International University (UIU) has grown rapidly to become one of the most influential private universities in Bangladesh. Starting with just 76 students under the auspices of the United Group, UIU has made significant strides in higher education. It now stands as a beacon of academic excellence, research and innovation both in Bangladesh and the South Asian region.

Central to UIU’s mission is its vision of becoming a center of excellence in education and research, not only locally but regionally.

In this interview with The Business Standard, UIU vice-chancellor Dr. Md Abul Kashem Mia describes the institution’s progress since its founding, shares its goals for the next decade, and explains how UIU is preparing students to meet the demands of UIU. an ever-changing global job market.

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

We’re proud of how far we’ve come since our early days. Our initial goals were to provide quality education and create a research culture, and I believe we have made significant progress in these areas. Over the next decade, I envision UIU becoming a global leader in research and education with an even stronger presence in the South Asian region.

We aim to develop deeper collaborations with international universities, expand our research output and ensure that our graduates continue to be successful in competitive job markets at home and abroad.

In which areas do you see the most potential for research growth at the university? Are there specific areas or projects you want to prioritize?

We see tremendous potential in Computer Science and Network Security, Financial Innovation and Economics, and Biodiversity and Environment. In fact, some of our faculty members already rank among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in these fields.

Going forward, we are also committed to advancing research in Digital Healthcare, Renewable Energy Technologies, Cyber ​​Security, and Blockchain and Islamic Finance.

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

At UIU, we have made research a top priority. We allocate Tk3 crore specifically for research activities every year. We have two institutes and two dedicated research centers to foster innovation, including the Institute for Advanced Research (IAR), which collaborates locally and internationally with academia and industry.

To further encourage research, we provide cash rewards of Tk 15,000 for student research papers and Tk 25,000 for faculty publications. We also cover publication expenses, which can go up to Tk4 lakh per paper.

Since private universities in Bangladesh are yet to offer PhD programmes, we recruit Research Assistants (RAs) from our final year students and offer them Tk 30,000 per month to engage in research projects.

What steps are you taking to ensure students graduate with the skills employers need? Are you planning to make curriculum reforms?

Our aim is to ensure that every graduate leaves UIU with the knowledge and skills the job market demands. We regularly update our curriculum based on industry feedback, ensuring it suits the needs of the market.

Representatives from different sectors actively participate in our curriculum committees to provide input. In addition to academic programmes, we offer market-focused courses through the Institute for Business and Economic Research (IBER) and the Center for the Development of IT Professionals (CDIP).

These courses are designed to give students a competitive advantage by equipping them with in-demand skills.

Given the growing startup culture in Bangladesh, how do you plan to support students with entrepreneurial aspirations?

We emphasize both academic excellence and extracurricular activities to foster entrepreneurship. UIU hosts 16 clubs and 15 forums where students participate in social, cultural and professional development activities.

Through these platforms, we help students develop basic skills such as communication, negotiation and problem solving by organizing workshops, seminars and symposiums with the participation of industry experts.

These activities play a vital role in preparing students for both corporate jobs and entrepreneurial ventures.

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

Strengthening international partnerships is one of our main priorities. UIU aims to collaborate with renowned universities around the world to promote research, teaching and scholarship. Through these partnerships, our students and faculty gain access to global learning experiences, scholarships, and research opportunities.

We believe these exchanges are crucial to shaping global careers and enabling our students to succeed in international environments.

What steps are you taking to make engineering and business schools better suited to the demands of Bangladesh’s growing economy?

We understand that interdisciplinary knowledge is essential in today’s global economy. Our engineering and business curricula are designed to meet the evolving demands of the market. We offer advanced subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, Machine Learning, Supply Chain Management and Data Analytics to ensure our graduates are equipped with future-ready skills.

IU’s journey over the past two decades has been remarkable. With its focus on research, innovation and skills-based education, the university is well positioned to shape the next generation of leaders and professionals in Bangladesh.