UGC urges universities to take initiatives for Erasmus scholarships
City Desk:
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has called upon university authorities to take proactive measures to bring more Bangladeshi students under the prestigious Erasmus Scholarship Programme by raising awareness about the opportunities it offers.
Professor Dr. Masuma Habib, Member of the UGC, made this call while addressing as the chief guest at an awareness session titled “Erasmus. Information Day” held on Wednesday (12 November) at the UGC auditorium, says a press release.
The programme was organised by the UGC to expand opportunities for higher education, joint research, and scholarships for Bangladeshi students at various universities across Europe. UGC Member Professor Dr. Mohammad Ayub Islam and Baiba Zarina, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU), attended the event as special guests. The session was presided over by Jesmin Parvin,Erasmus, National Focal Point and Director (Current Charge) of UGC’s International Collaboration Division.
In her speech, Professor Dr. Masuma Habib highlighted that Bangladeshi students currently rank third globally in terms of receiving Erasmus Scholarships-an achievement of which the nation can be immensely proud. She noted that through the Erasmus programme, Bangladeshi students are not only enhancing their competencies but also establishing academic linkages with various European universities and showcasing their talents on the global stage. She also urged the EU delegation to further expand higher education opportunities for Bangladeshi students.
Speaking as a Special Guest, Professor Dr. Mohammad Ayub Islam observed that there is a significant shortage of skilled human
resources in Bangladesh’s job market. He pointed out that many public and private universities are failing to adequately equip students with the necessary skills due to institutional limitations. He suggested that the European Union could play an important role in strengthening human resource development and providing training to enhance skills in Bangladesh.
Baiba Zarina, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, said that the European Union attaches the highest priority to ensuring quality education and good governance. She expressed optimism that the Erasmus Information Day would help Bangladeshi students gain better understanding of the scholarship opportunities and enable a larger number of them to participate in the coming years.
The event also featured sessions on various aspects of the Erasmus Programme, conducted by Jesmin Pervin, EU Programme Manager Jui Chakma, Regional Manager (Asia) of the European Commission Dr. Ashiqur Rahman, Academic Expert Dr. Jenny Lynd Elmaco, Executive Director of EU Centre in Taiwan Dr. Marc Cheng, Country Representative of the Erasmus Mundus Association Bangladesh Shouvik Roy Snigdho, and Deputy Director of Daffodil International University Syed Rayan-ul-Islam.
Relevant teachers and students from 60 universities, along with officials from the UGC and the European Union, took part in the event