In a landmark move to foster research-led solutions to pressing global development issues, Brac University (Bangladesh) and SOAS University of London (UK) have jointly launched a pioneering PhD program in the political economy of development. The initiative, grounded in equity and mutual collaboration, aims to cultivate a new generation of globally engaged scholars committed to transformative development research.
The program is a collaboration between Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and SOAS’s Departments of Economics and Development Studies. It reflects a deepening of the long-standing academic relationship between the two institutions and represents Brac University’s first doctoral-level partnership with an international university.
Students enrolled in the joint PhD will engage with critical areas such as sustainable governance, inclusive economic growth, and social development. The program is designed with flexibility and inclusivity at its core—students can choose to be based in Dhaka or London and will be jointly supervised by faculty from both universities. Extensive fieldwork opportunities will be available through Brac’s research and operational infrastructure across Bangladesh.
Since planning began in mid-2023, both institutions have worked closely to develop an international quality assurance framework, ensuring the academic rigour and global relevance of the programme. By removing barriers to accessibility, the collaboration particularly aims to expand doctoral-level opportunities for students in Bangladesh and other parts of the Global South.
The program officially launched on June 16, 2025, with simultaneous ceremonies held at SOAS in London and Brac University’s Merul Badda campus in Dhaka. In London, the signing ceremony featured Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson of Brac University’s Board of Trustees, and Professor Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of SOAS, with Her Excellency Abida Islam, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the UK, in attendance as an honorary guest.
In Dhaka, the celebration was led by Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice-Chancellor of BRAC University, and attended by key dignitaries including Professor Syed Muhammed Abul Faiz, Chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh; Her Excellency Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh; and representatives from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education and the British Council.
Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, praised the initiative, calling it “a wonderful collaboration” and wishing it “a grand success.”
Tamara Hasan Abed noted, “This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to promote equitable development through evidence-based research. It offers an unparalleled opportunity for students—both Bangladeshi and international—to engage deeply with real-world development challenges.”
SOAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Habib added, “Our collaboration reflects a shared vision to break down barriers to research and support inclusive approaches to global development. Together, we’re creating a platform for scholars to shape the policies of tomorrow.”