University

Commencement of the WTO regime along with the incredible advancements of information & communication technology (ICT) and the Internet had brought forth diversified opportunities and challenges especially for the developing countries of the world. In a response to the changing landscape of knowledge and education, the then government of Bangladesh, during the 1990s, had revised its education policy to privatise tertiary education in order to make-up the supply deficit of skilled manpower in the country. And the concomitant shift in government’s education policy, which came into effect with the enactment of the Private University Act (PUA)-1992 (later repealed by the PUA-2010), had resulted in mushrooming of private universities in the country with majority being positioned in the capital Dhaka.

During that period, there was only one state-funded university for the vast population of Sylhet—the north-eastern administrative division of the country. Due to its limited capacity that lone university could not accommodate all the aspirant students into its undergraduate and Master’s programmes as a result of which students from the economically solvent families had either been going abroad or to the private universities in Dhaka to pursue tertiary education. But the high costs of overseas education and the exorbitant fee structures of the then Dhaka-based private universities had left majority of the students of Sylhet region outside the purview of the then-existing tertiary education system.

In such a backdrop, Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury , a renowned banker and an entrepreneur, in conjunction with a number of renowned educationists from both home and abroad, had initiated the establishment of Metropolitan University with a vision to offer quality tertiary education at an affordable cost. The university had started its journey on 3rd May 2003 with only seventeen students enrolled in two departments, Business Administration and Computer Science & Engineering; the former offering both undergraduate (BBA) and Master’s (MBA) degrees while the latter offering only undergraduate (B.Sc.) degree programme. With the passage of time, however, some 3000 students have already been graduated from different departments and programmes while around 3500 students are currently pursuing undergraduate and Master’s degrees in various subjects under different departments of the university.

It is a rare phenomenon to have a moneyed man exhibit keen interest in education! Fortunately this rarity has come true at Metropolitan University. A graduate in Economics from University of Dhaka and a PhD in Development Economics from the USA, Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury had more than twenty years of practical experience in Banking. He was the Chairman of Board of Directors and a sponsor Director of a leading private commercial bank as well as the Vice-Chairman and a sponsor Director of another private commercial bank. Dr. Chowdhury is an extensive traveler and a researcher by choice. His book Bangladesh in Perspective : the Political Economy of Corruption has been taught in different universities in the country as a textbook on governance & public policy. A visionary by nature, Dr. Chowdhury—currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Apex body of the university—has been leading the university from the front towards its vision. A statement by Dr. Chowdhury resembles the core of the university’s business model: ” the sight of young, beautiful minds roaming around to acquire knowledge is a far more pleasant feeling than having trillion bucks in the bank account … we learn from our mistakes and step forward … complete customer care is our religion .”

Initially, the university started its operation in its city campus located at the heart of Sylhet city. With a space of 50,000+ sft. the city campus at present houses six academic departments and eight undergraduate and Master’s programmes.

However, in a bid to keep pace with the burgeoning numbers of students, the university’s permanent campus is being built on a land area of 8.5 acres. Situated outside the city, the permanent campus would be the most comprehensive and architecturally iconic campus in the region, and is expected to be operational by December 2018.

At present, the university has four Schools of Studies each having separate academic departments offering full-fledged degree programmes as stated below:

School of Science & Technology:

There are the departments under the School of Science & Technology viz.

Department of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE)

Software Engineering

Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE)

 

Opening of the Department of Architecture is taking place very shortly.

 

School of Business & Economics:

Two departments offer academic programmes under the School of Business & Economics:

Department of Business Administration

Department of Economics

 

A new department Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management ” is under processing to be established.

 

School of Humanities & Social Sciences:

Currently the School of Humanities & Social Sciences has only one department i.e.
Department of English under it although it is going to open the
Department of Bangladesh Studies and
Department of Media Studies & Journalism very shortly.

 

School of Law:
At present, Department of Law offers academic programmes under the School of Law.

 

Institute of Business and Information Technology (IBIT):

IBIT is an affiliated independent institute of the university. Prior to the establishment of the university IBIT had been hosting undergraduate programmme on Computing & ICT offered by London Metropolitan University. IBIT was the platform from which the university started its journey back in 2003. Currently IBIT is offering various short courses on ICT and Computer Technology.

At the very outset, it needs to be noted that we offer our undergraduate and graduate degree on a full time basis yet in a flexible manner. Every trimester students can take courses according to their choices, likings, and preferences. We hold weekend classes for the students who do jobs or other income generating works. This flexibility allows our students continue their education while earning their livelihoods. At present, the university offers the following degree programmes:

Department of Computer Science & Engineering :
This department offers the B.Sc. Engineering in Computer Science & Engineering (CSE)

Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering:
The B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE) is being offered from the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

Department of Business Administration:
One undergraduate programme i.e. Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) and a graduate programme i.e. Master of Business Administration (Regular & General) are being offered from the Department of Business Administration. Both the degrees are offered in a number of Major areas.

Department of Economics:
The Department of Economics offers an undergraduate programme BSS in Economics and a graduate programme i.e. M.Sc. in Economics.

Department of English:
The Department of English offers an undergraduate programme i.e. B.A. (Honours) in English , and two graduate programmes i.e. M A in English (Preliminary & Final) and M A in English (Final).

In every trimester the Department of English conducts an extensive English Language camp of three months for the newly admitted students of every department free of cost. This enables the students overcome their inherent weaknesses especially in communicative English.

Department of Law and Justice :
The Department of Law offers LLB (Honours) and LLB (Preliminary) at the undergraduate level and LLM (for Honours graduates) and LLM (for pass-course graduates) at the graduate level.

Department of Computer Science & Engineering:

Professor	03
Associate Professor	N/A
Assistant Professor	06
Senior Lecturer	04
Lecturer	16

Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering:

Professor	03
Associate Professor	01
Assistant Professor	05
Senior Lecturer	08
Lecturer	02

 

Department of Business Administration:

Professor	03
Associate Professor	05
Assistant Professor	09
Senior Lecturer	14
Lecturer	09

 

Department of Economics:

Professor	04
Associate Professor	N/A
Assistant Professor	02
Senior Lecturer	N/A
Lecturer	04

 

Department of English:

Professor	01
Associate Professor	N/A
Assistant Professor	07
Senior Lecturer	07
Lecturer	05

 

Department of Law:

Professor	02
Associate Professor	N/A
Assistant Professor	04
Senior Lecturer	06
Lecturer	06

In addition to the full-time faculty members, we also bring experienced professionals from government, corporate, and NGO sectors as well as from the public universities from across the country to teach as adjunct faculty members.

Besides the faculty members every department has its own designated support staff responsible for the administrative functioning of the respective departments.

From a hierarchical point of view, the Office of the Vice Chancellor stands on the top followed by the Office of the Treasurer, Office of the Pro Vice Chancellor, Office of the Controller of Examinations, Office of the Director of Finance & Accounts, Office of the Administration & Students Counseling, and Office of the Proctor. The Office of the Registrar acts as the administrative hub of the university and it coordinates all the administrative aspects of the university.

Because curricular exercises alone cannot ensure total development of the students the university has been hosting a good number of clubs, societies, and forums including the following:
MU Sports Club
MU Cultural Club
MU Business Club
MU Law Forum
MU Blood Donation Club
Rover Scout Group
MU Music Club (named “Flames”)
Leadership Development Forum

Taken together, these clubs and forums actively promote social service and community-based programmes conducted by the students. True to say, these organizations act as the heart of the university. They regularly organise exhibitions, seminars, symposiums, workshops, campaigns, and dialogues participated by leading personalities from respective fields from in and outside the country.

Metropolitan University regularly observes all the national and international days, festivals, events, and occasions.

At this age of digitisation and globalization, mere classroom-based theoretical education alone does not suffice. In order to enhance the students’ skills and capabilities, the university has a number of labs equipped with state-of-the-art machines, equipments, and apparatus. Fully air-conditioned and spacious, these labs give round the clock high-speed Internet access to the students.

The university has a rich library with a collection of around 50,000 books, journals, and periodicals. The university regularly subscribes to leading scholarly journals in the fields of Computer Science, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Business & Economics, as well as Law & Justice. Students can take books and other reading materials from the library for a certain period free of cost. In short, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible support and resources.

At present the university provides hostel facility to the female students who come from outside the city area, and some 60 female students are now living in the university’s hostel. The hostel facilities would be expanded at the permanent campus.

Every trimester the university awards the Chairman’s Merit Scholarship and the Vice Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship to the student(s) who stand(s) first in the undergraduate and Master’s classes in the previous trimester. These awards include full tuition waiver and a certificate. In addition, every year Chancellor Award is given to the student(s) who stand(s) first in the terminal examination from each School of Studies. This award includes a gold medal, cash, and a certificate.

As part of its policy, the university gives waiver of up to 100% to the female students, students with disabilities, wards of freedom fighters, ethnic minorities, students from the same family, and students from poor economic background.

A special waiver is awarded to the students who represent the university in various local, national, and international sports competitions. Metropolitan University actively works to promote the game of Cricket in the country. It not only sponsors sport events but is also going to set-up a full-fledged sports academy and the Department of Sports Science in its permanent campus.

The university regularly publishes a newsletter named “Metropolitan University Barta” to furnish updated information on various aspects of its activities and operations to the interested parties. All the direct and indirect stakeholders of the university can get necessary information, facts, and figures of the university from the newsletter.

While imparting education, the university also puts high emphasis on creation of new knowledge which is done through various research projects conducted by the faculty members of the university. As a means of disseminating the new knowledge created by the faculty members, the university regularly publishes the following journals:
Metropolitan University Journal (4 volumes) published biannually.
Metropolitan University Journal of English (published annually).
Metropolitan University Journal of Computer Science & Engineering (published annually).

The university has established this centre to foster research and development on various practical areas including education and macroeconomic issues. The first output of the centre came in 2007 with the publication of a research-based book entitled Readings in Rural Development by the university Treasurer Professor Khandker Mahmudur Rahman. This volume contains a broad spectrum of issues pertinent to rural development of the country.

In April 2017, the university has published An Independent Review of the Existing Education System from Primary to Higher Secondary Levels in Bangladesh (Study Area: Sylhet Division). Conducted by the senior faculty members of the university, this exclusive research-based publication has brought forth new insights on the problems and prospects of the existing education system of the region, which is expected to help the policy planners of the country in general and the university authority in particular to devise future plan of actions to stimulate need-based academic programmes at the university.

Funded by both the university and the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) under the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) of the Ministry of Education, the IQAC monitors the academic upgradation of the teachers, students, and departments through curriculum development, pedagogic advancement, and faculty enrichment etc.

With the passage of time, Metropolitan University has become one of the most preferred destinations for the students who want to pursue quality tertiary education within the country. This has been possible due to some salient characteristic features including—but not limited to—the following:
Employment oriented curriculum
Efficient and qualified faculty members
Well furnished and education-friendly campus environment
Active outside-the-classroom student counseling by the teachers
Strong industry links and Internship, placement, and career guidance services
Small and cozy class size
Comprehensive customer care and strict adherence to quality standards,
Extra focus on teaching the ideals of manner, etiquette, and patriotism, and
Regular contact and sharing with the guardians.

The uniqueness of Metropolitan University is reflected in a recent comment of the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the university, “Quality is a thing of no compromise at our university and we tirelessly endeavour to track best practices in the Industry in order to upgrade our quality standards and benchmark.”

Students from various departments have already won a good number of prizes and awards at various national and international competitions and Olympiads.