UIU Launches Nexus Seminar Series to Bridge Academia and Industry Sectors

Photo Collected

A+ A A-

United International University’s (UIU) School of Business and Economics has launched the “Nexus Seminar Series,” a strategic initiative designed to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and the broader economic landscape. The program, which held its inaugural session on the university campus this week, aims to provide students with research-based policy insights and practical industry expertise to navigate contemporary challenges, including global economic instability, banking sector pressures, and rising operational costs.

During the launch, Iftikhar Mostafa, a senior agricultural economist at the World Bank, delivered a keynote address focusing on innovation, value chains, and public-private partnerships as catalysts for structural reform. Drawing on developmental models from Australia and Africa, Mostafa emphasized that fostering an innovative ecosystem and strengthening global value chains are essential for inclusive growth. He noted that integrated incentive structures serve as critical drivers for meaningful economic transformation.

The discussion also addressed the complexities of Bangladesh’s impending graduation from the least-developed country category. Professor M. Omar Faruk, head of the Department of Economics at UIU, argued that to effectively integrate into global value chains, the nation must gain a more nuanced understanding of value creation, extraction, and distribution. He underscored that systemic reform requires a combination of “systems thinking,” capacity building, and an interdisciplinary approach to higher education.

Driver Alleges Former MP Used Government Contracts to Cover Up Affair

Read More

Reflecting on the nation’s economic trajectory, Professor M. Niaz Asadullah, the convener of the Nexus series, observed that Bangladesh’s traditional growth model has reached its structural limits. He asserted that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a collaborative effort between the government, the private sector, and academic institutions is necessary to implement scalable, innovation-driven solutions.

The event concluded with remarks from Professor Emeritus M. Rezwan Khan, executive director of UIU’s Institute for Advanced Research, and Professor Salma Karim, director of the BBA program. Both emphasized the institutional necessity of maintaining consistent, research-led policy dialogues to ensure that academic curricula remain responsive to the evolving requirements of the global market.