ULAB’s global collaborations: Creating real opportunities for students
Global engagement at ULAB goes beyond ceremonial MoUs. The university focuses on partnerships that deliver measurable benefits, from research breakthroughs to career-ready graduates
At the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), we believe that international collaboration must go beyond ceremonial agreements — it should create real, measurable benefits for students, faculty, and society. From the very beginning, ULAB has sought partnerships that translate into tangible, student-centred outcomes.
A good example is our partnership with the University of Portsmouth in the UK. It has already produced a dual degree program in English at both undergraduate and graduate levels, alongside internship exchanges that expose students to different academic and professional cultures. We're also in advanced discussions to establish a joint PhD program in the Social Sciences — which would be a milestone for Bangladeshi higher education.
Our approach is to make these collaborations part of the everyday learning experience. Agreements like those with Yunnan Open University in China and Venturas Ltd. (Japan/Bangladesh EdTech) have resulted in real opportunities — from faculty and student exchanges and short-term study programmes abroad to Japanese language training and job placements in Japan. Likewise, through our collaboration with UNESCO MGIEP, we've embedded the SEEK programme into our curriculum to strengthen social-emotional learning and global citizenship.
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These engagements enhance academic quality and the competitiveness of ULAB graduates. They help our students develop adaptability, cross-cultural understanding, and digital literacy — skills that are critical for both the Bangladeshi and international job markets.
We also see strong research and faculty development outcomes. For example, our collaboration with the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Ecology in Germany has led to joint marine science research, while partnerships with institutions in Indonesia, China, and the Philippines have fostered faculty exchanges, guest lectures, and co-authored publications. Such networks bring new methodologies, like digital humanities and AI-driven research, directly into our classrooms.
We recognize that many Bangladeshi universities face challenges in turning MoUs into action — due to resource limitations, calendar mismatches, or language barriers. At ULAB, we've addressed these by ensuring every partnership has a clear implementation framework, supported by our International Affairs Office. We also integrate global programmes into our core curricula instead of treating them as optional add-ons.
Ultimately, these collaborations are about preparing globally minded graduates who can compete anywhere — while remaining deeply rooted in Bangladesh's development needs. Looking ahead, we're focusing on partnerships in East Asia, Europe, and the Global South, with an emphasis on dual degrees, industry-academia linkages, and research addressing shared global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and media literacy."
