The University of Portsmouth keen to enrol more Bangladeshi students

The University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom (UK) has expressed strong interest in admitting more Bangladeshi students and expanding academic and training cooperation with Bangladesh, with a focus on transnational education and institutional partnerships.

The interest was conveyed while Bangladesh's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Abida Islam visited the city of Portsmouth on Monday, according to a message received here.  

The visit aimed to explore opportunities for higher education and training cooperation-particularly in the field of transnational education (TNE)-alongside discussions on trade, investment and cultural collaboration with city council representatives and Bangladeshi community stakeholders.

During the visit, the High Commissioner held meetings with the University of Portsmouth's Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Galbraith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement and Student Life) Chris Chang, and other senior university leaders. 

The discussions focused on expanding TNE opportunities for Bangladeshi students and strengthening institutional cooperation between the University of Portsmouth and universities and training institutions in Bangladesh.

The University of Portsmouth requested the Bangladesh government to consider establishing a "Blue Bangladesh Chair" to facilitate research, development and knowledge exchange on blue governance for Bangladesh.

The High Commissioner said the proposal was submitted to the government in November 2024 and is currently under review. 

She added that both sides could continue to explore further areas of cooperation, including joint academic programmes with Bangladeshi universities and specialised courses in collaboration with government training centres and academies to enhance the capacity of public officials.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Chris Chang said the University of Portsmouth consistently welcomed Bangladeshi students and offered a wide range of programmes across business, humanities, science and technology, and engineering, providing students with diverse academic choices.

Referring to challenges faced by international students, he said the university offers scholarships to help ease financial pressures and remains committed to providing maximum support on academic and administrative matters, including visa-related guidance.

He also emphasised that Bangladeshi students are warmly welcomed not only at the University of Portsmouth but across the city as a whole.

As part of the visit, High Commissioner Abida Islam delivered an open lecture at the University on "Artificial Intelligence and Diplomacy," highlighting how artificial intelligence is reshaping diplomatic practice and discourse. 

She underscored the need for dialogue among states on emerging security risks, ethical frameworks, and the challenge of AI-driven misinformation in international relations.