Former Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor Anwarullah Chowdhury has said that ensuring students’ welfare and standing by them in times of difficulty should be a teacher’s prime responsibility, as all activities of an educational institution revolve around students.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at the closing ceremony and certificate distribution event of a four-month basic training programme for university teachers held at the Central Conference and Training Centre of Bangladesh Open University (BOU) on Monday.
“A teacher who does not care about students’ welfare cannot be a good teacher. Teachers must stand by students during difficult times, treat them like friends and remain willing to learn from them,” he said.
Describing teaching as more than just a profession and a lifelong pursuit, Anwarullah Chowdhury said teachers must enrich themselves through continuous study and knowledge development.
“Quality changes in higher education require skilled and knowledgeable teachers,” he said.
He thanked the University Grants Commission (UGC) for introducing structured basic training programmes under its Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project to improve professional skills among university teachers.
Calling on teachers to acquire and share new knowledge, he urged them to develop proficiency in English alongside Bangla.
UGC Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed chaired the event, where UGC member Professor Masuma Habib and BOU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Anisur Rahman spoke as special guests.
In his speech, Mamun Ahmed said students, universities, society and the state have distinct expectations from university teachers.
He said the HEAT project aims to provide training to around 5,000 teachers and higher education managers from public and private universities. He added that work was underway to establish a University Teachers Training Academy.
HEAT Project University Teachers Training Academy Dean Professor Laila Noor Islam, Project Director Professor Asaduzzaman and training course director Professor Mohammad Zahir Raihan also spoke at the event.
BOU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Sirajul Islam, Treasurer Professor Rafiqul Islam and officials from the UGC, BOU and HEAT project were present.
A total of 58 lecturers and assistant professors from 33 public and private universities participated in the four-month professional development training programme.
