A view exchange meeting held among PUST VC and Cambridge Professor

Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) newly appointed vice chancellor Dr. S M Abdul-Awal arranges a view exchange meeting with Dr. Alex Webb; a professor of the plant sciences department, University of Cambridge. The meeting was held on Thursday (September 26) night. On Friday (September 27) morning, the vice-chancellor gave the journalists a brief about the meeting discussion.

PUST VC said, 'I have discussed many issues with Dr. Alex Webb. I asked various questions about how my university and the universities of Bangladesh can move forward in higher education and research and he answered them in detail.'

When asked Alex Webb, how students of different universities of Bangladesh, including PUST can get the opportunity to study in the top universities of the world he said, 'Only very talented students get the opportunity to study in the top universities of the world. It isn't easy to get a chance in the top universities unless you are very talented and extraordinary. The percentage of Bangladeshi students in these places is deficient. The admission process in these universities is different from the admission process of other universities. Here a student is given the opportunity of admission after checking many qualifications. Those from Bangladesh who want to study at the world's top universities should do their master's from any foreign university, it can be a Chinese university, a UK university, or any foreign university. After that, if they apply for Ph.D in the top universities of the world, it will be easy to get admission in the top universities.'

When asked what should do PUST if wants to coordinate higher education and research with UK universities, Alex Webb said, 'If your university or any university in Bangladesh wants to coordinate higher education and research with any UK university, then contacting the Pro-VC (International Affairs) of UK universities they will provide detailed guidelines on how to coordinate with their universities. Then you will coordinate with them according to the guidelines. If you go in coordination with a university, it will be easier for your university students to get scholarships and research opportunities in that university.'

How Bangladeshi universities receive funds for research from the UK or European Union countries, Alex Webb said, 'Universities in your country receive very little money for research from the government. In that case, you have to bring funding from outside the country. UK universities once received a lot of money for research from the European Union. But after Brexit, the European Union cut funding for UK universities. And some countries of the former Soviet Union took advantage of this opportunity. They contract with the European Union to seek funds for their universities. So if your universities and your government can communicate properly with the European Union or the UK then you will also get funding. Also in the UK, there is an organization called BBRC which provides funds for research in various universities. Brazil and India are receiving a lot of funding for research in collaboration with this institution. So you can also contact them. If you can cooperate with them, your university or any university in your country can get funds from them.

In response to the question of how to advance Bangladesh in research, Alex Webb said, 'I found a similarity between the recent revolution in Bangladesh and the Chilean revolution. Chile has progressed rapidly in research. That's why you can find out how Chile has progressed rapidly in education and research and if you work on their good aspects, I think you too can progress very quickly in research.'

PUST VC said at the end, 'Alex Webb talked about many things beyond these issues. He wished us good luck for the new Bangladesh and hoped that something good would happen in the new Bangladesh.'