How private universities are building a global mindset in students

Walk into any private university campus in Bangladesh today and you'll notice something different.

The students aren't just preparing for grades — they're preparing for the world. Whether it's a marketing simulation mirroring a Unilever campaign, a research collaboration with an international faculty, or an internship at British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), the country's top private universities are quietly training students to think and act beyond borders.

This shift didn't happen overnight. When private universities first emerged they aimed to fill gaps in higher education. But three decades later, institutions like North South University (NSU), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), American International University‑Bangladesh (AIUB), and BRAC University have evolved into breeding grounds for global competency. Their students aren't just learning academic theory; they're learning how to navigate a world shaped by global trade, digital collaboration, and cultural diversity.

What's driving this? Exposure.

At NSU, that exposure starts early. The university's Office of External Affairs runs a portfolio of international partnerships that send students to summer schools and exchange semesters abroad. Even for those who stay at home, visiting professors from overseas and globally oriented syllabuses keep classrooms connected to international standards. NSU's frequent collaborations with multinational companies add another layer. Through MoUs with firms like BATB, students get structured internships, practical workshops and industry mentorships that mirror global apprenticeship models.

These partnerships do more than pad resumes—they change perspectives. Students learn the rhythm of corporate life: project deadlines, cross-cultural communication, remote teamwork—long before they graduate. NSU's track record speaks for itself: NSU alumni hold positions in multinationals like Grameenphone, HSBC, BAT and Standard Chartered. Because the university has deliberately aligned its training with international expectations.

IUB takes a similarly ambitious approach. Its campus has become a hub for what it calls "global citizenship." The university's participation in the Hult Prize Regional Summit in Mumbai, for example, isn't just a competition entry—it's a demonstration of confidence on the global stage. IUB's Career & Networking Day drew over a hundred local and international employers, making the campus itself a recruitment ecosystem. IUB's international partnerships allow students to complete semesters abroad and engage in joint research initiatives. These experiences translate directly into employability in sectors that demand international collaboration—tech, finance, marketing and policy.

AIUB, on the other hand, has turned global mindset-building into a structural goal. Its "Outcome Based Education" framework—aligned with Washington Accord standards—forces every programme to measure not just what students learn but how well they can apply that knowledge across cultures and disciplines. AIUB's Department of Media and Mass Communication runs projects that simulate global media production workflows, exposing students to how cross-border content creation actually works. Business and IT students participate in regional competitions via Asian networks, giving them first-hand senses of regional industry demands.

BRAC University offers another compelling example. Through collaborations and joint programmes, BRAC is pushing its students into global-ready spaces. It has signed MOUs with overseas institutions, joined global university networks, launched a blockchain academy in partnership with international tech firms, and engaged in research projects with European universities. For instance, BRAC partnered with the SOAS University of London for a joint PhD in global development, blending Bangladeshi field-based expertise and UK academic perspectives. BRAC's serial industry partnerships — for example with Grameenphone for education, research and skill-training — further underline how students are being placed into global-industry contexts. What stands out is that BRAC is not just preparing students for Bangladesh, it's preparing them for globally-connected challenges.

Together, these examples point to a single truth: global readiness is not an after-thought anymore—it's embedded in the DNA of private higher education.

But global thinking isn't built by classrooms alone. It's built by culture. Student clubs and societies at these universities now act like miniature global workplaces. Debate teams hold cross-campus tournaments judged by international adjudicators. Entrepreneurship clubs collaborate with startup incubators abroad. Cultural clubs organize exchange projects with foreign embassies. Even events like NSU's Model UN or IUB's Global Village simulation help students experiment with diplomacy, problem-solving and leadership in multicultural settings.

This focus on soft-skill development is what global employers value most. When a graduate from a Dhaka campus joins a multinational's Dhaka office, they're expected to adapt instantly—across departments, with offshore teams, across consumer markets. That adaptability comes from exposure to collaborative spaces where leadership and empathy develop naturally.

Illustration: TBS

Another important piece of the story: apprenticeship-style preparation. Apprenticeship programmes bridge the gap between education and employment by letting students train within industries under real-world supervision. While Bangladesh doesn't yet have a formal nationwide apprenticeship model, several private universities are already building internal versions of it. Through MoUs with companies like BATB, Grameenphone and Unilever, universities like NSU, IUB and BRAC embed internship-based modules that mimic international apprenticeship structures. Students don't just shadow professionals—they work on live projects, receive evaluations from corporate mentors, and often transition directly into full-time roles.

Universities that invest in these international adaptations are the ones whose alumni you'll find in boardrooms at global banks, telecom giants, and FMCGs. The logic is simple: when a university simulates global professionalism on campus, its graduates walk into multinational firms already fluent in their language—both literally and operationally.

There's a psychological shift too. For many students entering private universities from traditional schooling the first real test of independence isn't academic—it's cultural. Suddenly they're surrounded by peers from different cities, social classes and educational backgrounds. When faculty bring in global perspectives or visiting lecturers discuss international policy it normalises diversity and critical thinking. The result is a generation more confident collaborating across borders—something firms like Citibank or BAT consider essential.

Of course challenges remain. Not every private university has the infrastructure or resources to deliver truly global exposure. Exchange programmes are often limited to a small percentage of students who can afford them. Language proficiency remains a barrier for many. Some universities still treat internationalisation as an "optional extra" rather than integrating it deeply across the curriculum. And there's invariably a risk that "global mindset" becomes just a slogan.

Yet even with these limitations the progress is undeniable. Private universities are redefining what it means to be a Bangladeshi graduate in the 21st century. They are proving that global awareness doesn't have to come from studying abroad—it can be cultivated right here, through curriculum design, international collaborations and industry-linked programmes.

In practical terms this means a graduate of NSU, IUB, AIUB or BRAC can walk into a multinational's Dhaka office and operate seamlessly with colleagues in Singapore, Dubai or London. It means students are being trained not just to compete but to contribute in a global context—something public education has yet to fully replicate.

Private universities were once seen as simply alternatives. Now they're leading a quiet revolution in how Bangladesh prepares its young people for a world that doesn't pause at national borders. They are producing graduates who can think globally, act locally and thrive anywhere in between. And that mindset, more than any degree or job title, is what defines modern education.