BUET, Nestlé Bangladesh explore joint research and student internship opportunities

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Nestlé Bangladesh have taken a step towards strengthening industry–academia collaboration through an industrial visit held on Thursday (25 September) at Nestlé's production facilities in Sreepur, Gazipur.

BUET delegation was led by Professor Dr Mohidus Samad Khan, Director of the Institute of Appropriate Technology (IAT), and included Professor Dr Iftekhar Uddin Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor Rifat Rahman, and students from the IAT and the Department of Chemical Engineering.

From Nestlé Bangladesh, the high-profile team was led by Manufacturing Director Md Rashedul Hasan Kayes Alhayat, alongside Major Habib Haq (retd), Senior Manager – Corporate Affairs and Security; Dip Raj Baidya, Corporate Affairs Manager; ASM Shamsuzzaman, Head of Engineering; Rezaul Karim, Head of Production; Ripon Kumar, Manager and Unit Head of Nutrition and Beverage; Md Ali Zobayer, Process Engineering Manager; and other senior officials.

During the visit, BUET students gained first-hand exposure to the application of global technologies in industrial product manufacturing and the management systems of a multinational enterprise. Nestlé officials highlighted the company's 158-year global journey, its presence in 185 countries with over 2,000 brands, and its uniform standards of quality control across all factories worldwide. Nestlé began its operations in Bangladesh in 1992.

Professor Dr Mohidus Samad Khan said, "Nestlé is a global brand with high reputation and state-of-the-art technology and compliance practices. Today's visit has provided BUET students with real-life insights into world-class production processes. BUET is strong in engineering teaching, research and project implementation, and we aim to establish a strong industry–academia partnership with Nestlé Bangladesh in areas such as joint research, technology transfer, and student internships."

Nestlé Bangladesh's Manufacturing Director, Md Rashedul Hasan said, "It is almost impossible to find someone who has not experienced a Nestlé product. Even in Bangladesh, we are producing products that meet international standards, supported by European-standard infrastructure. BUET is a highly reputed academic institution, and its graduates play a vital role in sustaining our world-class manufacturing processes." He expressed strong interest to build-up long-term collaboration between Nestlé Bangladesh and BUET.

Both sides discussed potential areas where BUET's local expertise could support Nestlé's technological innovation, agreeing to begin with priority initiatives that can deliver measurable impacts. The visit concluded with a photo session and tree plantation on the factory premises.