Event Report

Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW” in Bangladesh

On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW in Bangladesh” was held at Six Seasons Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The purpose of this event was (1) to introduce Kyushu University’s latest research and to strengthen and expand the university’s network with Kyushu University alumni in Bangladesh, people related to Fukuoka Prefecture, and people in education, business, and government in Bangladesh, and (2) to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between universities, government, business, and local communities in Bangladesh and Kyushu University.

A total of six faculty members from various fields, including engineering, agriculture, education, environment, and economics, presented their research in front of about 80 participants.

This forum was streamed via Youtube(https://www.youtube.com/live/WKxfD3YdxwI?si=1LKv6b_TIfAvyi18), and the archive is still available for viewing.

First, Senior Vice President Akira Harata of Kyushu University, Mr. Tatsuya Machida, Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, Prof. Hafiz Hasan Babu, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Dhaka University, and Prof. Md. Aftab Ali Shaikh, Chairman of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, delivered their opening remarks.

Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW” in Bangladesh

Senior Vice President Akira Harata and Mr. Tatsuya Machida, Minister, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh

Senior Vice President Akira Harata and Mr. Tatsuya Machida, Minister, Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh

Vice President Shuji Shimizu and Prof. Md. Aftab Ali Shaikh, Chairman, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

In the first session, entitled “Humanities and Technology,” Associate Professor Takako Suzuki of the faculty of languages and cultures presented “Education and International Development: Longitudinal Studies to Evaluate Non-cognitive Skills gained through Primary Schools” on the evaluation of non-cognitive skills (autonomous learning, self-esteem, citizen behavior) for elementary school graduates. Associate Professor Yoshinori Hamamoto of the Faculty of Engineering spoke on “Smart Thermal Energy Conversion Technology Using Solar Heat,” and Professor Bidyut Baran Saha of the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research gave a presentation on “Research on Energy-Efficient Alternative Cooling Systems.

Dr. Shintaro UEDA

Assoc. Prof. Takako SUZUKI

Assoc. Prof. Yoshinori HAMAMOTO

Prof. Bidyut Baran SAHA

Assoc. Prof. Masaru MATSUMOTO

Prof. Kazuo ASAHIRO

Assoc. Prof. Kim SCHUMACHER

After a 30-minute coffee break, in the second session on “Agriculture and Environment,” Associate Professor Masaru Matsumoto of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture gave a presentation on ” Microorganisms Associated with Arsenic Release in the Rural Villages of Bangladesh,” and Professor Kazuo Asahiro of the Faculty of Design reported on the results of his research on ” Teknaf Deforestation and Society”. Finally, Associate Professor Kim Schumacher of Q-AOS presented ” The Role of ESG Investing in Scaling Sustainable Development in Asia”.

During the Q&A session, many questions were raised from the floor, and fruitful discussions were exchanged. Closing remarks were made by Dr. Sikder M. Asaduzzaman, President of the Bangladesh Kyushu University Alumni Association (KUAAB), and Professor Shuji Shimizu, Vice President of Kyushu University.

Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW in Bangladesh” held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on March 5, 2024

The forum was followed by a networking reception at the same venue, which was attended by about 100 people, including more than 50 alumni. The event was also attended by more than 10 Bangladesh-based Japanese nationals, including members of the Japanese Association of Dhaka. The participants deepened their friendships over Bangladeshi cuisine, formed new networks, and strengthened ties between university faculty, alumni, and community in Bangladesh.

Networking exchange meeting with participants after the Kyushu University Forum “KYUDAI NOW”

At the offices of BIJT Corporation (March 6, 2024)

On the following day, Wednesday, March 6, participating members from Kyushu University visited BJIT Corporation, a company that transmits and produces IT technologies and sends skilled engineers from Bangladesh to Japan. Mr. Yasuhiro Akashi, Executive Vice President COO, talked about the history of BJIT, explained about corporate collaboration and the initiatives of the BJIT Academy, and discussed further possibilities for industry-university collaboration with Kyushu University.

Next, we visited the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, the research center of Dr. Sikder M. Asaduzzaman, President of the Bangladesh Kyushu University Alumni Association (KUAAB), and had lunch at their guest house.

At Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (March 6, 2024)

We visited Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), where we had a lively discussion with President Satya Prasad Majumder, Professor Muhammad Anisuzzaman Talukder, Director of the Center for Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering, and Dr. Jivan Poddar, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, about the future of collaboration. The importance of the perspective of how research can contribute to solving problems in Bangladesh was raised.

At Dhaka University (March 6, 2024)

 After the visit to BUET, we visited Dhaka University (DU) to exchange information and discuss the possibility of future research collaboration and exchange. The visit was followed by a tour of the laboratories, where the participants were introduced to the latest research results of Dhaka University.

Residence of the President of Dhaka University. It is a historic building built during the British colonial period (March 6, 2024).

And at the end of the day, we were invited to the residence of Dr. A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, The Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, to discuss the future frontiers of research collaboration between Japan and Bangladesh.

Thus, Kyudai Now in Bangladesh provided a valuable opportunity to share Kyushu University’s latest research findings in a wide variety of fields and disseminate valuable information to the Bangladeshi community at large, especially alumni. It also served as a platform for deepening ties and mutual understanding with the Japanese community and provided new networking opportunities for participants.