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Bangladesh’s rapidly transforming economy is driving demand for international qualifications and stronger cross-border education partnerships.
Australia is already a popular choice among Bangladeshi students. Bangladesh is currently Australia’s fifth largest source market for international students, with more than 22,000 students enrolled.
To strengthen Australia’s position as a preferred education destination for Bangladeshi students, Austrade hosted a delegation of Australian education institutions to Bangladesh in May.
Australian Education Week in Bangladesh featured a targeted program connecting Australian institutions with local schools, private universities, transnational education (TNE) partners, pathways and diploma providers, and key government stakeholders.
‘Australia is well placed to continue meeting the demand for high-quality education in Bangladesh, as well as support the Bangladeshi Government to modernise and internationalise local institutions,’ says Vik Singh, Trade and Investment Commissioner for Education, Austrade.
‘Australia brings strong capabilities in partnership delivery to support the aspirations of Bangladesh’s youth for global qualifications and employment opportunities.’
Engagement with government leaders
Recognising the importance of government engagement, the visit program started with delegates meeting the new University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairperson. The meeting helped them understand the country’s new TNE policy and plan future joint university roundtables to boost cross-border collaboration.
Later, the group met with the Executive Director of Bangladesh’s National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) to discuss alignment with Australian government priorities in skills development. They also discussed opportunities to bring Australian vocational training providers into Bangladesh to fill critical local skill shortages.
The group also met with the Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies to explore opportunities to connect Australian expertise in education with local economic policy.
The launch of the Australian University Forum in Bangladesh, a platform to promote stronger relationships between Australian and Bangladeshi institutions.
Launch of the Australian institutions Forum
During the week, Austrade officially launched the Australian University Forum in Bangladesh. The platform for Australian institutions based in Bangladesh aims to promote stronger academic partnerships, student engagement, TNE, research collaboration, and higher education opportunities.
The launch was a crucial milestone in the Australia-Bangladesh education relationship and will support closer engagement with Australian government, institutions and stakeholders in Bangladesh.
Building stronger institutional ties
The delegation also visited several Bangladeshi institutions that offer TNE programs. The first visit was to the Australian International School, the first to offer an Australian school curriculum (WACE) in Bangladesh. The team looked at opportunities to develop future training and foundation pathways.
The second visit was to Universal College Bangladesh, which offers Monash College pathways and diploma programs. Discussions explored opportunities to deliver full Australian degrees in Bangladesh.
Discussions with leading private universities in Dhaka, including North South University and American International University Bangladesh, focused on joint degrees, PhD collaboration and new programs in areas such as cyber security and sport.
To learn more about education opportunities in Bangladesh, contact Austrade Dhaka.
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