Conference of academics of 70 Asian univs begins

[Sultan Mahmud Sujon]

A three-day conference of academicians and presidents of 70 Asian universities begins in Dhaka today with a focus on showcasing the universities’ best practices and entrepreneurial education. 

At least 200 participants, including presidents, rectors, and vice-chancellors of 17 Asian countries’ universities, would join the 18th Asian University Presidents Forum (AUPF) 2019.

Daffodil International University (DIU), in collaboration with Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), will organise the event, for the first time in Bangladesh.

Education Minister Dipu Moni will attend as the chief guest at the opening ceremony in Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, while APUB Chairperson Sheikh Kabir Hossain will be present as the special guest.

AUPF standing committee member Sabur Khan said the theme of this year’s event would be “Future of Entrepreneurship Education and Experiential Learning: Determinants of Developing Successful Entrepreneurial Eco-System in Asian Economies”.

“This is a significant event as the Asian universities will showcase their best practices at the programme so that other universities can learn from it and replicate it if they want,” said Sabur, also chairman of DIU board of trustees.

“Decision makers and academicians will participate in the programme. This would be an incredible opportunity for the participants to interact and collaborate with other university presidents and leaders.”

“We select the theme aiming for entrepreneurship development. For that, we will need to build a system among universities so that students can get the opportunity to become entrepreneurs. Nowadays, many investors are looking for innovative ideas to invest in these,” he said.

Baybars Altuntas, chairperson of World Business Angels Investment Forum, Turkey, will be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony.

Sub-themes of the conference are entrepreneurial education and experiential learning: Asian context; entrepreneurial education and fourth industrial revolution in Asian countries; road map to enterprise and entrepreneurship education; future teaching learning method: from entrepreneurial education point of view; and alternative fund for the growth of emerging entrepreneur, said DIU.

The conference will also illustrate different ideas and concepts which will lead to identifying research problems for conducting empirical research into relevant areas.

Sabur said of the 200 participants, 75 from 59 universities of 17 Asian countries would join the programme.

About 60 percent of the participating universities are private universities.

Meanwhile, participants attended a welcome dinner on the DIU campus last night.

AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, deputy minister for water resources, Sabur Khan, and DIU VC Prof Yousuf Mahbubul Islam spoke on the occasion.

In the afternoon, participants paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while visiting Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi.

On Monday, the closing ceremony of AUPF will take place on the DIU permanent campus at Ashulia in Savar. University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah will be the chief guest.

Originating from a friendly collaboration between institutions of higher education in China and Thailand, the AUPF was officially established in 2002 to include higher education institutions across Asia.

Since its inception, the AUPF has expanded throughout Asia and has congregated annually in different Asian countries. The last conference was held in Indonesia and the next one would be held in India.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/conference-academics-70-asian-univs-begins-1830736