Bangladesh Open University (BOU) and the National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in education, research, training and technology transfer, with a focus on biotechnology and related fields.
The agreement was signed at the conference room of the Ministry of Science and Technology on Tuesday.
Md Anwar Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, attended the signing ceremony.
NIB Director General Dr Md Sagir Ahmed signed the agreement on behalf of his institution, while BOU Registrar (Acting) T M Ahmed Hossain signed on behalf of the university.
Speaking at the event, Secretary Md Anwar Hossain said the partnership would create opportunities to strengthen research in biotechnology and related fields. It could also facilitate joint research initiatives, the introduction of updated academic curricula and new initiatives related to medical science and fertilisers, he added.
BOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan said the university currently offers around 55 formal academic programmes through seven schools, 12 regional centres and 63 sub-regional centres.
He said BOU was committed to making education accessible to people from all walks of life and expanding opportunities for lifelong learning.
The vice-chancellor expressed hope that the MoU would open new avenues for cooperation in education, research, training and the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two institutions.
He added that the partnership would create opportunities to develop skilled human resources, promote research-based learning and expand technology-driven education.
Highlighting the complementary roles of the two institutions, he said BOU was working to broaden access to open and lifelong education, while NIB was contributing to biotechnology research and skills development.
Combining their expertise, experience and institutional capabilities would help improve the quality of education and research, he said, expressing hope that the agreement would strengthen institutional ties and facilitate joint academic, research and training programmes in the future.
Among those present at the ceremony were Professor Dr Md Abdul Majid Mondal, dean of BOU’s School of Science and Technology; Md Ashraful Islam, private secretary to the vice-chancellor and joint director; Dr Md Shawkat Ali, joint director of the Training and Research Wing of the Administration Division; Deputy Director Ashraful Alam Bhuiyan; and NIB senior scientific officers Dr Md Abdul Alim, Dr Md Mahmud Hasan and Dr Sabina Yasmin.