Education News

Cambridge hosts South Asia schools conference

The International Education group at Cambridge hosted its second annual South Asia Cambridge Schools Conference in Delhi-NCR on 27 to 28 March 2025, bringing together 400 educators, school and thought leaders from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. As demand for Cambridge qualifications grows across the region, the conference reinforced Cambridge commitment to supporting schools, teachers and learners in navigating the rapidly evolving education landscape.
The conference is set against the backdrop of a global demand for 44 million new teachers by 2030. In recognition of this need, Cambridge highlighted its commitment to empowering the region educators through new professional development programmes and qualifications, upskilling courses, pre-service teacher training, and short-term e-learning modules to grow the region teaching capacity.
Cambridge other key initiatives for learners include Climate Quest for shaping climate resilience, Cambridge Connect, a programme to meet the needs of national high-stakes examinations, the March exam series to align with local admission needs, Integrated Learning & Assessment for developing English as a skill, and Young Pioneers to foster an entrepreneurial mindset.
Panel discussions featured eminent speakers that centred on the use of AI in the classroom, digital high-stakes examinations and career pathways of the future. Key topics discussed also included shaping mindfulness in the classroom, rethinking college-readiness for evolving career pathways, and equity in access to quality education. Several schools were recognised for their academic excellence through the Cambridge School Recognition Awards given out during the conference.

Beximco Pharma signs MoU with NSU for research collaboration

Beximco Pharmaceuticals and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of North South University (NSU) have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering research, innovation, and career development in the pharmaceutical sector.
The MoU was signed on Monday ( 5 May 2025) by Mr. Rabbur Reza, Chief Operating Officer of Beximco Pharma, and Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of NSU, on behalf of their respective organizations.
Under this MoU, Beximco Pharma will provide financial support and access to world class research facilities to selected MPharm students from NSU, facilitating their thesis work on specific topics.
This collaboration underscores Beximco Pharma commitment to nurturing future talent and advancing pharmaceutical research in Bangladesh.
“This partnership with North South University marks an important step in bridging the gap between industry and academia. At Beximco Pharma, being a socially responsible entity, we recognize the immense potential of industry-academia partnership in accelerating scientific research to meet the need of our patients. This will also help us build new capabilities to move up the pharmaceutical value chain”. — Rabbur Reza, Chief Operating Officer, Beximco Pharmaceuticals.
“We are deeply committed to fostering academic excellence through meaningful partnerships with industry. We believe this collaboration will bring together the best talents and help create an ecosystem of innovation in the country.” — Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor, North South University.

DU literature festival underway at TSC

Three-day Dhaka University Literature Festival 2025, organised by the Dhaka University Literature Society from Monday, is underway at its TSC Payra Chattar in the city. Marking the festival, an Entrepreneur Fair is being held at the Chattar. University students are selling their own products at the fair. Some are selling various types of handmade pies. Some are selling leather bags made in their own factories. A total of 25 stalls have various types of products. Entrepreneurs were seen passing the time busy at food stalls at the Payra Chattar. Mohammad Nowfel, a student of the universitys Arabic Department, is selling various types of handmade pies. Talking to BSS, he said a kind of festive atmosphere has been created at TSC. "Sales are also going well. Such fairs are important for university students who start small businesses," he added. Sohan Iqbal, a student of the Department of International Relations, who came as a visitor, said that in such a festival, literature and the thoughts of young entrepreneurs can be seen in one place. "I bought books and also ate many things. It was really an enjoyable time," he added. Apart from university students, students of various colleges and other universities are participating in this literature festival and entrepreneurial fair. The closing ceremony of the literature festival will be held tomorrow. The closing ceremony will include discussions and cultural performances.

IAU VC or Islamic education to build non-discriminatory moral society

Vice-chancellor of Islamic Arabic University (IAU) Professor Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam here today said there is no alternative to Islamic education in building a non-discriminatory moral society. “The IAU is working to build an ideal society through contemporary Islamic and modern education to create skilled manpower for building a discrimination-free, prosperous moral society. For this, Madrasa education is very important,” he said. He said Madrasa education simultaneously encompasses modern, contemporary and religious education. The Vice-chancellor said this in his speech as the chief guest at the Rangpur divisional views-exchange meeting titled "Improving the Quality of Madrasa Education" organized by the university at the District Shilpokola Academy auditorium. Principals and vice-principals of 178 madrasas from all eight districts in Rangpur division participated in the event. IAU Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Shahidul Islam and Treasurer ASM Mamunur Rahman Khalili were present as special guests. Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. M. Abu Jafor khan presided over the event moderated by Registrar Md. Ayub Hossain. Dean of the Universitys Kamil (Postgraduate) Education, Training and Research Center Professor Dr. Mohammad Oli Ullah, Dean of the Curriculum Development and Evaluation Center Professor Dr. Muhammad Shazaat Ullah Farooqui, Registrar Md. Ayub Hossain and Controller of Examinations Mohammad Ali participated in the discussion. The Vice-chancellor said that religious education is of immense importance in building a corruption-free society. Therefore, for building a healthy society and the state, Madrasa students must be made capable citizens to run the society and the state. He said, “We want the madrasas to produce qualified scholars and competent manpower. They should contribute to building a prosperous society and state free from injustice, irregularities and corruption.” “The IAU will be free from session jams in a very short time. The universitys course curriculum will be timely and of high quality. Opportunities for higher research are being created,” he said. Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Shahidul Islam said that Madrasa education can play a key role in building a nation without discrimination. In the Madrasa education system, worldly and afterlife issues are given equal priority. Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Dr. M Abu Jafor Khan said that modern and contemporary education should be spread in madrasas. Madrasa students should be made worthy citizens. The participating principals and vice-principals said that the government should increase the allocation to madrasas and teachers should be provided with training.