Shaping a generation ready for the world

Bangladesh's education system is at a crossroads. With thousands of students pursuing higher education abroad and a growing wave of returnees bringing fresh ideas home, the country is quietly reinventing how it learns, works, and connects with the world. 

In this special supplement we explore how universities, educators, and returning graduates are building bridges between global knowledge and local talent, preparing young Bangladeshis to thrive in a fast-changing world.

"Bangladesh's education system faces deep-rooted divides, an overemphasis on grades, and a teacher crisis," says Prof Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University (NSU). "If we truly want to transform our nation, we must start with education. That takes courage, commitment, and time—but without it, no amount of infrastructure or industry can create a forward-looking society."

Prof Hannan's career spans North America and Bangladesh. From earning his Master's and PhD in the United States to teaching in Canada, he has seen firsthand how international exposure shapes both students and institutions. Returning home, he helped grow NSU's business school from a small, vibrant community into one of Bangladesh's leading universities. Today, NSU hosts students from 22 countries—a lively mix of cultures, ideas, and perspectives where learning goes far beyond textbooks.

"The challenge isn't having multiple educational streams—Bangla medium, English version, English medium—but the lack of convergence in higher education," Prof Hannan explains. "Students remain divided in skills and mindset, and society has built biases between these groups. Internationalisation helps bridge these gaps, fostering tolerance, adaptability, and global thinking."

Prof Daniel W Lund, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), stresses a similar point. "Are we building a Bangladeshi university, a Western-style university, or something in between?" he asks. "Each institution must find its own balance: meet international benchmarks while staying rooted in local culture. Only then can students succeed at home and abroad."

Returnee graduates are at the forefront of this transformation. UNESCO reports that 52,799 Bangladeshi students studied abroad in 2023—more than double the number a decade ago. Many return with the ambition to apply international standards locally, raising the bar in industries ranging from marketing and journalism to entrepreneurship and culinary arts.

Take Aldin Bin Amin, who studied marketing in the UK. He returned to Bangladesh to bring structure and strategic thinking to the advertising sector. Fahim Ahmed, after completing his MSc in Canada, founded a chemical company in Dhaka with a focus on sustainable practices. Chef Fahim Jamir, trained in Singapore, is redefining culinary education for aspiring chefs. Their common goal is not just personal success but meaningful impact on Bangladesh's economy and society.

But knowledge alone is no longer enough. Employers increasingly value what has become the new global currency: soft skills. Communication, critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence now matter as much as grades or certificates. 

A 2023 World Economic Forum study found that while 84% of UK employers rate critical thinking as crucial, only 69% of workers felt confident in this skill. Collaboration, adaptability, and cross-cultural awareness are also essential in a world where work spans borders and time zones.

"Education must go beyond exams and GPAs," Prof Hannan insists. "We need to nurture curiosity, analytical thinking, and creativity. In a world where automation handles routine tasks, soft skills are what make humans indispensable."

Universities are responding. Through experiential learning, group projects, alumni mentorship, and international partnerships, they are equipping students to navigate both local and global landscapes. "Education isn't about choosing between local and global," Prof Lund concludes. "It's about blending both. A modern Bangladeshi university must be rooted in local values while open to global ideas. That's how we prepare students for the world—and bring the world closer to Bangladesh."

Connecting Global Classrooms speaks about this evolving ecosystem, where education, skills, and international collaboration meet to nurture the next generation of Bangladeshi leaders—globally competent, culturally aware, and ready to shape a nation on the move