UK Trade Envoy visits BRAC University to explore higher education partnerships

The United Kingdom's (UK) Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Winterton of Doncaster DBE, visited BRAC University's Merul Badda campus on October 9 to explore opportunities for collaboration in higher education between the two nations.

Baroness Winterton was welcomed by Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, and Prof. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University. Members of the university's senior leadership team were also present to receive the delegation.

Accompanying the Trade Envoy were Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Stephen Forbes, Country Director of the British Council in Bangladesh, and officials from the British High Commission in Dhaka.

During her visit, Baroness Winterton toured the university campus. The visit was followed by a meeting with university leaders, where discussions centred on expanding academic and research collaborations between BRAC University and UK institutions.

Baroness Winterton has long been a supporter of the transnational education partnership between BRAC University and SOAS University of London. The partnership, inaugurated in June 2025, includes a joint PhD programme designed to foster global research and academic exchange.

The visit highlighted BRAC University's growing role in strengthening Bangladesh's higher education landscape and its commitment to international partnerships that promote innovation and knowledge sharing.

Among those attending the meeting were Ariful Islam, Treasurer; David Dowland, Registrar; Prof. Fuad Hassan Mallick, Dean of the School of Architecture and Design; Prof. Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury, Dean of the BSRM School of Engineering; Manzoor Hasan, Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Justice; Mohammad Khairul Basher, Director of Communications; and Mohammad Sajedul Karim Chowdhury, Director of Operations.