The 28th Senate Session of the National University was held at the university's Senate Hall in Gazipur on Saturday (June 27, 2026). The meeting was chaired by Vice-Chancellor and Senate Chairman Professor Dr. ASM Amanullah.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor outlined several initiatives aimed at improving the quality of higher education and making graduates more competitive in the job market.
Among the major initiatives are the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with more than 150 universities, research organisations and industrial institutions in Bangladesh and abroad, including institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom. The university also announced an international-standard apprenticeship programme with a target of training 50,000 apprentices.
To strengthen language skills, the university is expanding opportunities for third-language learning through the Multi Language Learning Institute (MLLI). Courses include Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Italian, Spanish and French.
Other initiatives include developing skills-based and technology-oriented curricula, revising academic syllabuses, modernising teacher training programmes, making English and ICT courses compulsory at the undergraduate level, and promoting environmentally friendly campuses. The university has also set a target of planting 20 million trees over the next five years for its approximately four million students.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university is implementing the "Learning with Happiness" programme to promote moral and humanistic education through sports, cultural activities and other co-curricular programmes across the country.
Addressing the Senate, Professor Dr. ASM Amanullah said universities must prepare students to succeed in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a knowledge-based economy. He said higher education institutions should focus on producing graduates who create knowledge, generate employment and lead change, rather than simply earning degrees.
During the session, University Treasurer Professor Dr. ATM Zafrul Azam presented the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year and the revised budget for 2025-26.
The Senate unanimously approved a proposed budget of Tk 801.04 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year and a revised budget of Tk 664.08 crore for 2025-26.
According to the approved budget, projected revenue income for 2026-27 is Tk 617.14 crore, resulting in a budget deficit of Tk 183.91 crore. For the revised 2025-26 budget, projected revenue income stands at Tk 625.03 crore, with a deficit of Tk 39.06 crore.
The session was attended by National University Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor Lutfar Rahman and Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, chairpersons of education boards, college principals, around 80 Senate members, educationists and invited Syndicate members. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration Md. Ehsanul Haque, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek and divisional commissioners joined the session virtually through Zoom.
