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Pabna University of Science and Technology
An auspicious beginning
Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu
THE academic activities of the newly established Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) have begun with a positive note. The inauguration program was held on the university campus on June 5. The PUST has started its journey with the dream to build a quality generation.
Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal A K Khandakar inaugurated the academic activities of PUST. He stressed on the importance of removing crime and corruption from the university campuses and urged to build lives through proper education.
 “We must root out corruption, irregularities and crime from the universities. Unless we are able to do that, the establishment of huge universities would be meaningless. So it is our first and foremost duty to remove corruption and crime from the university so that the students can build their career with proper qualities.” Khandakar said.
“Education enlightens men. So we have to teach reall education to the students so that they can be enlightened. We have to change our poor mentality. We will only be able to change our poor mentality when we achieve proper education.” He said in his speech.
Vice Chancellor of PUST Dr. Amin Uddin Mridha chaired the inauguration program. Adviser to the prime minister in education and social welfare, Dr. Alauddin Ahmed, Lawmaker of Pabna-4 constituency Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu, Lawmaker of Pabna-3 constituency Md. Mokbul Hossain, Chairman of University Grants Commission Professor Nazrul Islam and the Vice Chancellor of Ahsanullah Science and Technology university Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain (who is also the regent member of PUST) spoke as special guests.
All the guests emphasised the role of universities for building efficient and skilled manpower for the nation. The speakers also said that to face the challenges of the 21s century, students should be trained in the field of science and technology. The speakers also said that the newly built PUST will play a vital role in this regard.
 Dr. Ahmed said that the present government has talked about building a digital Bangladesh. So people equipped with the skills and knowledge of technology are essential for building the promised digital country. This is high time to acquire the skills of science and technology if we want to reach our goal.
Professor Islam said that the people who have the ability must come forward to help the university. “The government initiative is not enough. People should extend their hands for the university,” he said.
 Dr. Mridha commented that PUST started its journey with the noble intent of creating a skilled generation not necessarily comprising of only the brilliant students. “We want the students of the university to be brilliant. But they have to be men and women of noble qualities as well.” Dr. Amin Uddin Mridha, the VC of PUST told.
The Vice Chancellor said that PUST has started its journey with a number of shortcomings but with big dreams in mind.
"We want to build quality teachers and brilliant students", he said. Focusing on the shortages of the university the VC urged the government to ensure necessary support.
 He mentioned that the Pabna University of Science and Technology has resumed its activities in the current academic session. The government initiative for establishing the university was started on March 29, 2008. Later the Vice chancellor of the university was appointed on December 11, 2008, following which, the university activities started formally.
Initially, PUST was started with four departments including Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Mathematics and Business Administration. Two hundred students were admitted in four departments in the university in the first batch in the current academic session.
Classes of the university have started on April 4 this year when noted teachers of different universities took the first classes on that day. Though the inauguration program was held on June 5, the academic activities of the university started recently.
Initially, the university activities had started at Pabna Teachers Training College (TTC) at Rajapur village in Pabna Sadar upazila. The infrastructure of the university is yet to be established. Some 30 acres of land would be acquired at Rajapur village where the university foundation stone was recently laid.
(The writer is Pabna Correspondent of The Daily Star)
PUST hopes to build a quality generation
 DR. Amin Uddin Mridha, Vice Chancellor of Pabna University of Science and Technology gave an exclusive interview with Star Campus, taken by Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu.
The Vice Chancellor of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) said that he is trying to build quality students in this new university. He also said he was determined to make the university free from political influence. The number of programs the university is offering would soon be increased, he said.
“It is my dream that I will try my best to perform my job without any political influence. We have admitted students here according to their merits. We will recruit teachers who are not politically biased and will avoid including teachers who are involved in direct politics.”
“I will try to free Pabna University from student politics from the very beginning. I think that all the students and the parents will want a good academic atmosphere. I hope,with the help of everyone we will be able to make the university free from political influence from the very beginning for the sake of education.”
When asked about the mission and vision of the university,Dr Mridha said, "With the establishment of the Pabna University of Science and Technology, I have certain mission and vision of my own. I think the advancement of the academic and administrative workings will be more dynamic with the following missions and visions:
Mission:
Quality Teachers: Teachers and students are the part and parcel of this university. Qualified and meritorious teachers are the key to the success of this university. Without any kind of bias and pressure I have selected meritorious, brilliant and talented lecturers in different departments.
Scholarship: To discover and harness the intellectual students we have a number of different scholarships. Many meritorious students will hopefully be able to get scholarships from the university fund.
Parents Participation: PUST will regularly sit with parents and guardians to share views and expectations in order to ensure quality education.
Vision:
Sound and Healthy Campus: Today, session-jam has become the major obstacle towards quality education. Due to political unrest, valuable and important years are lost from the lives of the students; hence no political activities will be allowed in this campus. It will keep the students free from any kind of political pressure and they will be able to prepare themselves for the examinations.
Foundation of English: English is the main language of present day communication over the world. So it is of utmost importance to build up the foundation of our students in English and make them fluent both in spoken and written English. We have programmes to upgrade the basic foundation of our students in English.
Students Welfare, Counselling and Guidance Centre: PUST will provide students support, assistance, counselling and guidance, so as to resolve personal as well as other problems affecting academic development.
Faculties and Department: At present there are only two faculties and four departments in our university. As our country is dependent on agriculture, very soon we will be opening agriculture related courses as well. In the future more job-oriented subjects will be open so that the graduates from this university will get proper jobs in home and abroad."
Dr Mridha concluded by saying "Finally I would like to convey my best regards to those who were associated in establishing the Pabna University of Science and Technology. Also I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks to them who were constantly helping me in site selection, admission test, selection of teachers and employees and other activities of this university."
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