Gazipur: The two-day-long workshop focused on updating the university-level curriculum on Social and Behavioral Change (SBC) successfully concluded at Rajendrapur BRAC CDM in Gazipur. Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) jointly orchestrated the event, as noted in a press release issued today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, UGC member Professor Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain served as the chief guest during the closing ceremony. Special guests included UGC members Professor Dr Masuma Habib and Professor Dr Mohammad Ayub Islam. The event was presided over by Jasmine Parveen, Director of the International Cooperation Department of UGC.
Various sessions of the workshop were conducted by Associate Professor Syed Tanvir Rahman of Dhaka University, Associate Professor Sarkar Barbak Karmal of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, and UNICEF SBC Programme Manager Md Badrul Hasan. Professor Dr Anwar Hossain emphasized the importance of including communication for development and addressing the needs of backward communities in the SBC curriculum. He announced that UGC, with the assistance of UNICEF and university faculty, would take the initiative to create a curriculum template for this purpose.
Professor Dr Masuma Habib remarked on the timeliness of developing a curriculum centered on social and behavioral changes. Professor Dr Ayub Islam suggested that the SBC curriculum could be implemented as an independent degree or as part of existing degree programs or certificate courses.
The event concluded with Professor Masuma Habib and Professor Mohammad Ayub Islam presenting certificates to participants. Attendees included Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Treasurer Professor Dr Md Ismail Hossain, Agricultural Extension Education Department of Bangladesh Agricultural University Professor Dr M Hammadur Rahman, and educators and researchers from Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, Barisal University, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Patuakhali University of Science and Technology, University of Liberal Arts, and Khwaja Yunus Ali University.