CHITTAGONG INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY

CHITTAGONG INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY

CHITTAGONG INDEPENDENT UNIVERSITY

About IGDIS

Institute of Governance, Development and International Studies (IGDIS)

Chittagong Independent University (CIU) established a non-teaching research institute to conduct research, training programs, and short-term certificate programs for the professional, non-professional, and academic personnel in the areas of governance, development, and international studies since 2017.
 
 
 
Objectives

Research—To conduct research in the areas of local and national governance in Bangladesh; development issues at local, national, regional, and international levels; and contemporary international affairs.
 
Policy Prescriptions—To prescribe policy to the local and national governments, to corporate houses, and to the regional and international organizations in the above-noted areas.
 
Training – To impart training to various national, regional, and local government leaders; officials; NGO workers; officials of academic organizations; and corporate officials.
Message from the Director

A warm welcome to the Institute of Governance, Development, and International Studies (IGDIS) website of Chittagong Independent University (CIU), Bangladesh! As a non-teaching institute, IGDIS started its journey in 2017 to conduct research, offer policy prescriptions, and impart training in governance, development, and international relations. Since its inception, our institute has been dedicated to fostering excellence in governance, development, and international studies. We believe in equipping our stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to tackle the complex challenges of our rapidly changing global landscape.

We also organize seminars, symposiums, webinars, and talks on various important issues of the contemporary world. We are ready to collaborate with any national and international institutions, donor agencies, think tanks, and the broader community to explore new knowledge horizons and contribute to a brighter future.

Looking forward, IGDIS aims to remain at the cutting edge of rigorous research and become a valuable bridge among social scientists, policymakers, bureaucrats, corporate leaders, technological innovators, and civil society representatives in and beyond Bangladesh.

Professor Dr. M.  M.  Nurul Absar
Vice Chancellor
Email: nabsar@ciu.edu.bd
 
 
Functions

  • To identify problems and issues in the areas of governance (public/private/corporate), environmental, economic, international relations, legal and policy matters;
  • To conduct qualitative and quantitative research on the above areas;
  • To organize seminars, workshops, interactive dialogue, colloquiums about local issues;
  • To publish occasional papers, research-based books and journals;
  • To provide research fellowships to graduate students so they can conduct research;
  • To design and offer training and short-term certificate programs.
Collaboration

IGDIS has established a collaboration with Seoul National University Asia Center (SNUAC), South Korea.
 
The collaboration aims at:
  • Encouraging exchanges and visits for faculty members, researchers, and postgraduate students.
  • Organizing joint conferences and research activities.
  • Enhancing the network for future potential research collaborations.
Events
April 2, 2026

 

University Social Responsibility: Australian Practices and Lessons for Bangladesh

The Institute of Governance, Development, and International Studies (IGDIS) at Chittagong Independent University (CIU) successfully organized a webinar titled “University Social Responsibility: Australian Practices and Lessons for Bangladesh” on Thursday, April 2, 2026, via Zoom. The keynote speaker, Dr. Fazlul Rabbanee, an associate professor at Curtin University, Australia, shared valuable insights on how Australian universities integrate social responsibility into their academic and institutional practices. The session was graced by Dr. M. Ayub Islam, Honorable Member, UGC Bangladesh, as the chief guest. The webinar was chaired by Dr. M. M. Nurul Absar, honorable vice chancellor of CIU, who spoke about the importance of integrating social responsibility into higher education in Bangladesh and highlighted the initiatives CIU has taken in this area.
 
The webinar witnessed active participation from faculty members, students, and management officials. An interactive question and answer session allowed participants to engage directly with the speaker and gain deeper insights into the topic.  

Talk on Social Equity and Sustainable Development Held at CIU

CIU hosted a talk today on “Social Equity and Sustainable Development” by Prof. Dr. Shahjahan Bhuiyan, Professor and Associate Dean, Department of Public Policy & Administration, The American University in Cairo. The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. M. M. Nurul Absar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, CIU, and moderated by Prof. Dr. Moslehuddin Chowdhury Khaled, Professor, CIU Business School. Ms. Charmain Rodrigues, Assistant Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, introduced the guest speaker by reading a brief biography of Prof. Dr. Shahjahan Bhuiyan.
 
In his thought-provoking presentation, Dr. Bhuiyan emphasized that social equity is a cornerstone of good governance, requiring fair treatment and inclusive decision-making. Dr. Bhuiyan stressed that equity lies at the heart of sustainable development. It ensures that progress benefits all segments of society, regardless of gender, ethnicity, income, or social status, by promoting fairness, justice, and equal access to opportunities. He highlighted that sustainable development is not merely about economic growth or environmental preservation but also about building inclusive systems that empower individuals. Integrating equity into policies, institutions, and governance structures strengthens public trust and fosters more resilient, just, and peaceful societies.
 
The event was attended by CIU faculty members and concluded with the closing remarks of Prof. Dr. M. M. Nurul Absar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor. The participants also observed one minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic air crash at Milestone College, Dhaka.

The South Korean Education System: Lessons for Bangladesh

Following the successful completion of the webinar with the University of Twente, Netherlands, on “The Art of Change Management” on Thursday, May 8, 2025, and in line with the strategic goal of internationalization, Chittagong Independent University (CIU), under the banner of the Institute of Governance, Development, and International Studies (IGDIS), in collaboration with Seoul National University Asia Center (SNUAC), organized a thought-provoking webinar titled “The South Korean Education System: Lessons for Bangladesh” on Monday, June 23, 2025.
 
A significant highlight of the event was the confirmation of the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CIU and Seoul National University Asia Center for another five years. Under this agreement, both institutions will continue to collaborate on faculty and researcher exchanges, joint conferences, research activities, and future joint research collaborations.
 
The webinar commenced with the opening remarks from the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of Chittagong Independent University (CIU), Dr. M. M. Nurul Absar, who emphasized on the significance of learning from globally successful education systems to enhance the quality and competitiveness of higher education in Bangladesh, particularly the South Korean model, citing its remarkable transformation over the past few decades as an inspiring example of how strategic reforms, innovation, and alignment with industry needs can elevate a nation’s education sector and contribute meaningfully to its socio-economic development.
 
Two distinguished scholars from Seoul National University Asia Center, Dr. Sung Yong Kang, director, Center for South Asian Studies, and Dr. Joonhwa Cho, research fellow, Asia-Africa Center, served as keynote speakers. They shared valuable insights into the evolution, structure, and strategic success factors of South Korea’s education system, highlighting key policy lessons and frameworks that could be adapted by educational institutions in Bangladesh. The speakers also emphasized the need to organize and strengthen Bangladesh’s technical education sector to better meet industry demands and adapt to the rapidly evolving global employment landscape in the era of artificial intelligence.
 
Dr. Syed Manzur Quader, Dean, CIU Business School, participated as the discussant and shared his perspectives on the relevance of South Korea’s educational practices for Bangladesh’s higher education sector. He emphasized the need for Bangladesh to review and align higher education curriculum with industry expectations, minimize the existing skills gap, and work towards strengthening the country’s industrial ecosystem to support sustainable economic growth.
 
The session was moderated by Dr. Aseef Iqbal, Dean, School of Science & Engineering, CIU, and attended by CIU faculty members, students, and invited guests, and was streamed live on the CIU Facebook Page. The recording will also be available at the CIU official YouTube channel for viewing.
 
This event is another milestone in CIU’s commitment to strengthening global academic partnerships and expanding opportunities for cross-border academic collaboration.

The Art of Change Management

IGDIS and CIU successfully hosted a webinar on “The Art of Change Management” on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Dr. Julia Wijnmaalen, Assistant Professor, University of Twente, Netherlands, presented key note speech on strategies and real-world insights on change management, while Dr. M. Nazmul Islam, Associate Professor, BRAC Business School, BRAC University, offered valuable local perspectives as the discussant. Dr. M. M. Nurul Absar, Vice Chancellor, CIU, provided opening remarks, and Dr. Moslehuddin Chowdhury, Professor, CIU Business School, moderated this engaging session. The webinar provided valuable takeaways on navigating change for faculty, students, professionals, and the wider community interested in the topic. The session was relayed live on the CIU official Facebook page.
 
 
Webinar on AI and Higher Education Successfully Held at CIU

The Institute of Governance, Development, and International Studies (IGDIS) at Chittagong Independent University (CIU) hosted a highly informative webinar titled “AI and Higher Education: Possibilities and Challenges” on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The event attracted significant attention from academia and industry alike, focusing on the transformative potential and challenges posed by artificial intelligence in the realm of higher education.
 
The session commenced with opening remarks from Prof. Dr. M. M. Nurul Absar, honorable vice chancellor of CIU, who emphasized the far-reaching implications of AI in the educational sector. Dr. Ridoan Karim, a distinguished lecturer from Monash University Malaysia, served as the keynote speaker. He stressed the importance of developing AI skills to remain relevant in the modern world, arguing that AI is a complement to human capabilities rather than a replacement.
 
Dr. Rubell Sen Goopta, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering at CIU, contributed valuable perspectives on AI’s impact within the engineering sector. The session was expertly moderated by Dr. Abu Sufian, assistant professor in the Department of English at CIU, who also provided thoughtful commentary on the discussions. The webinar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, allowing participants to explore the topics in greater depth.
 
Overall, the event was a resounding success, promoting a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights on the future of AI in higher education.
Publications

  • Expansion and Profitability of Bank Branches: A Study on Selected Rural Branches of Bangladesh

    Syed Manzur Quader, Mohammad Nayeem Abdullah, Nahin Israt Shamsi 

    Published at Macroeconomics and Finance in Emerging Market Economies (Volume 13, 2020 – Issue 3) by Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

  • India’s NRC and CAA may take Bangladesh closer to China

    Emon Kalyan Chowdhury

    Published at Diverse Asia by SNUAC. 
  • Sovereignty of Bangladesh and China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ Project
    Mohammad Belayet Hossain
     
    Published at Diverse Asia by SNUAC.
  • Belt and Road Initiative and China’s “Love” for Bangladesh: What Bangladesh Could Actually Expect from It
    Iffat Ishrat Khan
     
    Published at Diverse Asia by SNUAC.
Contact Us

Rooma Dass
Assistant Registrar, CIU
roomadass@ciu.edu.bd