Volume V, Issue IV
March, 2021
Spring XXI
Brac University: Now a member of the ACU Community Rusafa Hussain Journalist Brac University has officially joined the Association of Commonwealth Universities, ACU, comprising more than 500 member universities. This global community of universities operates under the same goal of paving the road to a better world through education. Professor Vincent Chang, President and Vice Chancellor of Brac University, has been welcomed to ACU’s South Asia Regional Committee by Dr Joanna Newman, Chief Executive and Secretary General of ACU. On having been invited to serve on the committee, Professor Chang said, “I am honored to have been asked to make a strategic contribution to the ACU on behalf of one of the most important economic regions in the world.” This opportunity will enable BracU in addressing, planning, and strategically resolving high priority issues. The ACU speaks on behalf of its members at various international forums, including the Commonwealth ministerial meetings and the United Nations. The ACU will also aid BracU to tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Thus, this partnership sets in motion new projects and initiatives that will facilitate international collaboration on various challenges such as climate change, access/inclusion of education, and supporting research. This membership will additionally lead to significant advantages enjoyed by students and faculty alike, such as conference grants, participation at themed ambassadors’ summits, and grants fellowships in member countries. Staff will be able partake in thematic networks and communities.
Brac University now a member of the ACU Community
Preparation of Vaccinations for BRACU students Deera Mahasin Journalist BRAC University students have recently received an email where they were asked to fill out a questionnaire for necessary arrangements of COVID-19 vaccines. According to the email, the Government has directed the BracU authority to send student data, confidentially to the Health Ministry so that arrangements can be made for all domestic students to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. It is to be noted that the questionnaire was only applicable to domestic students. It was further mentioned in the email that there will be some different arrangements for the foreign students. This vaccination questionnaire can be seen as the beginning of the preparation that is to be taken for re-opening the campuses in May, as per UGC’s instructions. Moreover, The email for vaccination also strictly emphasised on providing the student NID number and instructed the students without NID to apply for it immediately. A major part of the questionnaire asked for the detailed present and permanent address of the students. So, it is assumed that the COVID-19 vaccines might be distributed district-wise for the convenience and outreach of all the students.
BracU students win Blockchain Olympiad Priyong Sabastini Journalist Organised by a Professor of Brac University, Mohammad Kaykobad, the Blockchain Olympiad Bangladesh is a platform for students from all over the country to solve real-world issues using remote applications with the help of blockchain technology. The olympiad has a total of six themes, where one winning team is selected from each category. This year, the winners of the E-governance theme consisted of fellow BracU students Naweed Kabir ( Junior, CSE) and Tahsinur Rahman Rafsan ( Junior, CSE). In the competition, the contestants have a month to learn how to create their system. Afterwards, they have to describe their project in front of a panel of esteemed judges. Our winners chose to tackle the difficulty in registering for businesses due to tedious procedures. Their solution was “DigiDesk”, which would allow them to reduce any redundancy in the process by removing all the extra steps that business owners and government officials would normally take, thus expediting the application process. Although the contestants did not face any major challenges per se, they stated that they had concerns given that blockchain is still relatively new technology. However, the betatesting phases prior to the main audience helped make their work more structured and less abstract. “The experience was really overwhelming, but the satisfaction when you see the biggest minds of Bangladesh agree to our idea is indescribable. So yes, I had a great time!” says Naweed Kabir, one of the winners. In winning the national round, our contestants have qualified for the International Blockchain Olympiad. Rafsan adds, “We hope to present our idea to the world and get acknowledged. Getting to the top is our first priority.” Their participation will set the stage, not only for BracU students but also Bangladeshi students, for a future with wider possibilities.
Naweed Kabir (extreme left) and Tahsinur Rahman Rafsan (extreme right)