IUB hosts symposium on business school accreditation

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted a symposium on 1 October, bringing together academic leaders, business school deans, quality assurance directors and accreditation experts to discuss the role of international accreditation in strengthening business education.

Organised by IUB's Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) at the DMK Lecture Gallery, the symposium focused on academic quality, institutional recognition and the global competitiveness of business schools, according to the press release.

The programme began with an IQAC video presentation, followed by a welcome address by Professor Dr Md Abdur Razzak, director of IQAC at IUB.

Professor Dr Md Mamun Habib, head of IUB's Department of Management and principal contact person for AACSB and ACBSP, delivered the keynote presentation titled "From Local Excellence to Global Recognition: The Role of International Accreditation".

Habib also serves as a virtual ambassador of AACSB International, an ACBSP evaluator and chair of ACBSP International's Member Relations Committee.

His presentation explored how international accreditation can enhance institutional quality, academic standards, stakeholder confidence and global recognition. He compared AACSB, ACBSP and Bangladesh Accreditation Council (BAC) standards and proposed applying "Accreditation by Recognition" to internationally accredited universities in Bangladesh under the relevant BAC framework.

Following the keynote, Dr Ikramul Hasan, head of IUB's Department of Human Resource Management, read out a message from Professor Imran Rahman, dean of the university's School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

IUB Vice-Chancellor Professor M Tamim reaffirmed the university's commitment to quality assurance across disciplines, including business education. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Daniel W Lund shared his international experience of business school accreditation at various universities.

Bangladesh Accreditation Council Chairman Professor Dr Akther Hossain Khan attended as the chief guest and addressed the symposium.

A sharing session titled "Why International Accreditation Matters: Quality, Recognition, and Global Competitiveness" gave participants an opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives. Habib moderated the discussion.

Representatives attended from BRAC University, North South University, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), Daffodil International University, United International University, IUBAT, World University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Jahangirnagar University, State University of Bangladesh, City University, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, International University of Scholars, Leading University in Sylhet and Uttara University.

Participants included Professor Dr Anwar Hossain, dean of AIUB's Faculty of Business Administration; Professor Dr Mohammad Mujibul Haque, dean of BRAC Business School; Dr Ziaul Huq Adnan of North South University's School of Business and Economics; and Professor Dr Mohammad Rokibul Kabir, dean of Daffodil International University's Business School.

Also present were Dr Mohd HR Joarder, ACBSP evaluator at United International University; Professor Khandker Saif, IQAC director at IUBAT; Professor Dr Musfiq Mannan Choudhury, vice-chairman of World University of Bangladesh's Board of Trustees and ACBSP champion; and Dr Mizanur Rahman Mizan, dean of the Centre for Higher Studies and Research at Bangladesh University of Professionals.

Other participants included Professor Dr Ireen Akhter, director of Jahangirnagar University's Institute of Business Administration; Professor Dr Sarwar Uddin Ahmed, pro-vice-chancellor of State University of Bangladesh; Professor Dr Zulfiqar Hasan, dean of City University's Faculty of Business and Economics; Dr Naznin Sultana Chaity, additional director of IQAC at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology; and Professor Dr Bashir Ahmed Bhuiyan, dean of Leading University's Faculty of Business Administration.

The symposium provided a platform for academic leaders and accreditation professionals to exchange knowledge on strengthening quality assurance and advancing business education through national and international accreditation frameworks.