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Workshop on BRAC University Digital Institutional Repository

O A Zakir

BRAC University has conducted a workshop entitled 'Developing a Digital Institutional Repository at BRAC University: Experiences and Challenges' recently. Library professionals from different universities and institutes participated in the workshop. The Vice Chancellor of the university Professor Dr. Jamilur Reza Choudhury inaugurated the newly established Digital Institutional Repository (DIR) program. The workshop provided an overview of the issues and challenges faced by BRACU library in setting up a Digital Institutional Repository service using DSpace(dspace.bracu.ac.bd/dspace). A university-based digital repository is a service that fosters teaching and research by giving academics and researchers access to relevant materials, a higher profile to university research and providing public access to work carried out at the university. BRAC University is one of the pioneering private universities in Bangladesh. The university is determined to create an integrated and digital library system in order to support and enrich the academic and research activities of the university.

Professor Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury spoke on importance of digital libraries. He urged the library professionals to establish their own repositories and make a network of university libraries for a greater benefit of the teaching-learning communities. While delivering the welcome address the Pro Vice Chancellor of BRACU Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed mentioned that a library is the heart of creating and disseminating knowledge in any university. Then he explained the different benefits of DIR and impacts for other universities in order to improve quality of teaching-learning and research activities. He mentioned that BRAC University is the first university in Bangladesh to establish Digital
Institutional Repository using open source software DSpace. The main purpose was to house and preserve the intellectual output of BRAC University. The repository will also increase access to and expands the visibility of the university's scholarly output.

The librarian of BRAC University Ms Hasina Afroz made a presentation on digital institutional repository and later conducted a demonstration and discussion session on the newly established DIR program. The participants showed their great interest in the digital repository program and expressed their willingness to receive training on the DIR program.

The librarian of BRAC University assured the participants that training program will be conducted for library professionals if they want to set up their own repository programs. The BRAC University Digital Repository Program including the workshop was funded by International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP), UK.

Primeasia University welcomes rainy season

Students of the department of Pharmacy, Primeasia University (PAU) staged a colorful cultural program in celebration of the rainy season amidst heavy rain on Wednesday 25 Ashar 1415 BS (10 July 2008). The yearning verse of the program was "Prokriti amader shomridhdho koro!!!" (Oh ! Nature !! Enrichen us in all aspects!!!). Students sang songs on rain and decorated the department with fresh bunches of Kadam. A student recited the famous poem "Polli Borsha" by Jasimuddin. The cultural program was followed by a discussion on the merits and demerits of the rainy season, water logging and its way out etc. The program was chaired by Professor Sk Feroz Uddin Ahmed, Head, Department of Pharmacy PAU. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Dr Gias uddin Ahmad graced the chair of Chief Guest. The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Heads of other departments of PAU were also present in that program.

Inter Semester Parliamentary Debate Competition held at Premier University

Md. Minhazul Islam

2nd Inter Semester Parliamentary Debate Competition organized by PROCCHAYA, Debate Club of Law Department, Premier University was held recently at Premier University, Chittagong. Eight teams, each consisting of three participants, took part in the competition. The team of the fourth semester led by Urme Acharjee clinched the winning trophy after defeating the sixth semester team in the final.

“This house proposes that, not political reforms- free, fair and participatory election is the only solution to meet the present crisis.”- was the motion of the Final round. Fourth semester played the role of Government, while sixth semester that of opposition. The winning team comprised Urme Acharjee, Asadul Hoque, and Sharmin Ferdousi; while the runner up team comprised Novonita Guha, Asifa Sultana and Tahmina Sanjida Shaheed. All the participants received fabulous prizes in the event. Government whip Sharmin Ferdousi deservingly received the best debater award. Bodiul Alam Pavel, Lecturer Dept. of Law was the Speaker of the session. Minhaz, President PROCCHAYA, Debate Club of Law Department, Premier University conducted the prize giving ceremony. Professor Dr. M. Badaruddin Chairman, Department of Law, Premier University, was the chief guest of the event while Mr.Shariar Parvez, Modeator PROCCHAYA, and Assistant Professor Dept. of Law, Premier University inaugurated the occasion. After the final the new executive committee for 2008-2009 session was announced, where the name of Novonita Guha, sixth semester and Urme Acharjee fourth semester, were declared the President and Secretary respectively. Arefin Risvi, Secretary, PROCCHAYA, Debate Club of Law Department, co-coordinated the entire programme. “KAMPUS”, a web designing firm sponsored the competition.

Closing ceremony of communication certificate course at East Delta University

Sajal Kanti Barua

The closing ceremony of the 10-day “Communication Certificate Course for the Professionals”, designed to be of global standard, was held on Sunday, 13 July 2008, at East Delta University (EDU), Chittagong. The certificates were handed over to the participants by EDU's Vice Chancellor (Designate) Prof. Dr. Syed Giasuddin Ahmed, who also presided over the occasion.

The Chief Guest on the occasion was the well known TV personality, Professor Dr. Rajib Humayun of North South University, formerly Professor and Chairman of the Department of Linguistics, University of Dhaka. The special guests on the occasion were Mr. Momtaz Ali Khan, ex-Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar, Chittagong and Mr. Mohammad Nurul Absar, PhD Research Fellow at Chittagong University. EDU's Registrar In-Charge Mr. Sajal Kanti Barua; faculty members Mr. Kamruddin Parvez and Mrs. Tarana Karim were also present on the occasion.

The course participants from the various public-private organizations and Universities made their group presentations on different contemporary issues based on the modern concept of Andragogy-Tell, Show and Do- under the direction of EDU's Academic Coordinator Prof. A. Qaiyum Chowdhury.

Research Methodology Workshop @ ULAB

Prof Rafiqul Islam, Vice Chancellor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh inaugurated a three-week workshop on "Research Methods for Business and the Social Sciences" on 3 July 2008 at its own premises. Coordinated by Dr Syed Saad Andaleeb, Professor and Chairman of Marketing, Penn State University, Erie, USA, and Editor of the Journal of Bangladesh Studies the workshop is being participated by twenty two young faculty members from ULAB, EWU, NSU, IUB, BRAC University and UIU, and other organizations."

AIUB's English department organizes verbal razzmatazz

M. Hamidul Haque

It is the kind of literary competition which is meant to materialize a simple expectation: 'Let's brighten and smarten the students!' AIUB's Department of English has rightly organized a unique extravaganza of literary excellence called 'English in Action' that is currently holding the weeklong 'Elimination Round'.

Over two hundred first & second semester students from Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Science and Engineering departments are contesting in 5 creative categories titled 'Oration', 'Impromptu Speaking', 'Manuscript Reading', 'Dramatic Monologue' and 'Choral Recitation' as per their choice to qualify in the Grand Finals on 24 July. It will witness the battle of 4 best contestants from each of the first four categories and 4 best 10-15 member groups from the final category in front of a panel of nationally renowned judges.

While all the finalists will get certificates of excellence, the champions of each category will receive medals. And the most interesting part of it is, the English teachers of the medal-winners will also get special awards for being their trainers.

Most of the credit in fact goes to Dr. Charles Villanueva, the extremely popular orator-singer Dean of Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, for conceptualizing and planning this event. Narrating how Bangladeshis as a whole are very dynamic orators, he stressed the need of nurturing students in the beginning when their minds are widely flexible to accept creativity. “I nourish this idea of organizing this event in the inter-university level in near future for the sake of our greater student community,” he added.

Dr. Faheem Hasan Shahed, Head of the English department, is therefore passing gleefully hectic moments in quest of speech-artists from all over AIUB. “We aimed at dragging out the hidden creative beings out of our junior students,” said Dr. Faheem, “and I am really happy the way my colleagues are assisting me.”

Let's keep our fingers crossed for the grand success of this unique event!

(The writer is a faculty of English Dept in AIUB)

Study Tour by EWU MBA Students

Ayesha Bari

A practical experience is always considered an effective tool in bridging the gap between what is suggested by text and what is to be done on real ground. Appreciating this fundamental truth, a group of MBA students of East West University, undergoing 'Entrepreneurship' course took a venture for Akij Food & Beverage Ltd. (AFBL), Krishnapura, Dhamrai on 12 July 2008 led by Dr. Nazrul Islam, Professor and coordinator, Graduate Studies and Bijoy P. Barua, Associate Professor & Chairperson, Department of Social Science, EWU.

The main objective of the academic study tour was to offer a hand on experience to the students and build a triangle relationship (academic, business and research) with the largest manufacturing plant of Akij Group.

At the beginning of the session Mr. Shaikh Abdur Rahim, Sr. General Manager, AFBL conducted a class on how AFBL managed to be successful after so many obstacles and what competitive advantages they achieved over other companies in the market. He also described how to be a successful entrepreneur by answering the queries of the students and faculties. Later Mr. Md. Hanif Munshi, Production Manager, AFBL took the students on a tour of the production lines of AFBL like MOJO, Akij Farm Fresh Milk, SPA drinking water, Speed Energy Drink etc.

Department of graduate studies, EWU is extremely thankful to AFBL for an academic partnership for the benefit of the students and also for providing research facilities to the faculties. The generosity of the management of AFBL towards the students and faculties of EWU shows their true spirit and interest in the field of modern education system.