Engineering education must balance technical excellence with environmental responsibility: Rizwana
"With the growing number of engineering graduates and private universities, curriculum alignment with international benchmarks is now vital," she said
The real quality in engineering must reflect environmental justice, social equity and climate resilience, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said.
She made the remarks today (9 December) while addressing the 4th International Symposium on "Quality Assurance in Engineering Education through Accreditation" held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, according to a press release.
The environment adviser called for an engineering education system that meets international accreditation standards while remaining socially and environmentally responsible.
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"Particularly in cities like Dhaka, where earthquake risks, river erosion and flooding threaten vulnerable communities," she said.
She also emphasised that while many engineering interventions aim to protect people and property, they must consider long-term environmental impacts, community needs and sustainability.
The adviser said that engineers undertake decisions that shape national development; hence, accreditation must embed ethical responsibility, environmental awareness and problem-solving that goes beyond conventional planning and infrastructure design.
"With the growing number of engineering graduates and private universities, curriculum alignment with international benchmarks is now vital," she said.
Expressing hope for concrete outcomes, Rizwana said, "The symposium should lead to enhanced curriculum standards, better practical training and stronger institutional capacity, enabling engineers to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Speaking as Special Guest, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser, said that the symposium has created valuable pathways for improved collaboration between academia and industry, strengthening employability, research capabilities and skills development.
Among others, Professor Dr Nur Yazdani, Tseng Huang Endowed Professor, University of Texas at Arlington; Professor Ir Megat Johari Megat Mohd Noor, Chair of the Dublin Accord; and Professor Dr Md. Sabbir Mostafa Khan, honorary general secretary, Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, attended as Special Guests.
The event was chaired by Professor Dr Tanvir Manzur, chairman of the Board of Accreditation for Engineering & Technical Education (BAETE).
The symposium concluded with a call for follow-up actions to enhance accreditation practices and modernise engineering education in line with international standards and national development priorities. Awards were also distributed amongst the engineers.
