Rangpur: Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) Member Professor Dr Masuma Habib has emphasized the importance of developing emotional skills to enhance students’ mental health and emotional control. “Students have to set goals and use their own good qualities. They should always maintain good relations with family members, especially with their parents,” stated Professor Dr Masuma Habib during her address at a “Peer-to-Peer Orientation Learning Session on Social Emotional Wellbeing (SEW)” held at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized by Bangladesh UGC and UNESCO Bangladesh at the Independence Memorial Ground of the university. The session aimed to ensure the social and emotional health of students, with BRUR Vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Showkat Ali presiding over the event. The day-long session saw participation from teachers and 1,100 students across various departments of the university.
Vice-chancellor Professor Showkat Ali underscored the necessity of both physical and mental health for students to effectively carry out their educational activities. He expressed gratitude towards the UGC and UNESCO Bangladesh for organizing the session, stating, “Such a learning session will provide students with proper guidance to achieve the right goals in life.”
Special guests at the event included Director of the International Cooperation Department of UGC Jasmine Parveen, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology of Dhaka University Syed Tanvir Rahman, and Representative of UNESCO Bangladesh Shawkat Islam. Contributions were also made by Director of the Office of the Students’ Affairs of BRUR Professor Dr Md Ilias Pramanik, Proctor Dr Md Ferdous Rahman, and student Shamsur Rahman Sumon.
The speakers highlighted that ‘Social Emotional Wellbeing’ is a pilot project implemented in 22 universities across Bangladesh. Previously, the ‘Rapid Need Assessment’ concept was adopted, involving teachers, health experts, and mental health researchers from Dhaka University.