Hult Prize at ULAB kicks off its 2025-26 edition
The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) held the opening ceremony of "Mentors' Study Abroad Presents Hult Prize at ULAB 2025/26" on 15 November at the Forum Hall of its permanent campus, marking the launch of one of the most anticipated social entrepreneurship events of the academic year.
Recognised globally as the "Nobel Prize for Students", the Hult Prize engages more than a million students from over 120 countries to develop innovative start-ups addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges. ULAB is once again participating in this global movement for youth-driven social impact.
The ceremony was attended by Professor Jude William Genilo, pro-vice-chancellor of ULAB; Professor Sarwar Uddin Ahmed, dean of the School of Business; Dr Shamsuddin Ahamad, assistant professor and director of the EMBA Programme; and Zeeshan Ahmed, adviser for Hult Prize at ULAB. National Hult Prize leaders — Md Abid Shaharia, national community coordinator; and Md Aminul Islam, national coordinator — were also present. Tahiya Islam, country manager for Bangladesh at HerWILL, delivered a featured session titled "Cracking the SDG Code: Building Businesses with Purpose".
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Speakers said Hult Prize at ULAB is more than a competition — it is a launchpad for changemakers, promoting an entrepreneurial mindset through mentorship, workshops and real-world problem solving aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
ULAB expressed its appreciation to its title sponsor, Mentors' Study Abroad, for supporting youth leadership and helping students pursue sustainable futures, and thanked all event partners for their continued collaboration.
This year's competition includes three major phases:
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Abstract Presentation Round: 5 December, 2025
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Project Development Round: 15 December, 2025
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Grand Finale: 17 January, 2026
The winning team will advance in pursuit of the global USD1 million seed-funding opportunity.
The opening ceremony concluded with a call to action, encouraging students to dream boldly and collaborate fearlessly. Salman Al Farsy, campus director for the Hult Prize at ULAB 2025/26, declared, "This is just the beginning… Welcome to Hult Prize at ULAB 2025/26!"
