U.S. Embassy Dhaka Announces 2026-2027 Fulbright Foreign Student Program Application
U.S. Embassy in Dhaka is launching the 2026-2027 Fulbright Foreign Student Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The program offers scholarships for young professionals to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. The program is open to junior faculty members working at higher education institutions in Bangladesh and junior to mid-level employees at research organizations, think tanks, and NGOs.
Program focuses on American studies, energy, security, migration, business, economics, international relations, public administration, public policy, education, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Eligibility requirements include having a four-year bachelor’s degree with an outstanding academic record from an accredited public or private university in Bangladesh, not having a degree from a U.S. college/university or enrolled in a current degree program in the United States, not holding a master’s degree from any foreign country, having at least two years of full-time professional experience relevant to the proposed field of study, being fluent in English with a minimum iBT TOEFL score of 90 / IELTS 7.0, and being a Bangladeshi citizen residing in Bangladesh at the time of application.
To apply, applicants must submit a completed online application, academic transcripts and certificates from each post-secondary institution attended, three recommendation letters, an academic records information form, a valid TOEFL/IELTS score, and a GRE or GMAT score. Applications are due on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. BST.
For TOEFL, IELTS, GRE and GMAT online and offline preparation practice, you can contact us at Bright Admission Coaching.
Japanese universities with a strong international focus have climbed the national rankings this year, as outbound student exchanges continue to recover at varying rates following the pandemic.
Tohoku University retains its position as Japan’s top institution in the Times Higher Education Japan University Rankings 2025. Tokyo Institute of Technology has moved up two places to second, while The University of Tokyo has dropped to third.
Akita International University returns to the top 10 for the first time since 2020, alongside other internationally oriented universities that have improved their standings, such as Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Kanda University of International Studies, Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, St. Luke’s International University and Miyazaki International University.
However, not all globally focused institutions saw gains—Kyoto University of Foreign Studies fell 18 spots to 97th place and International Christian University slipped from 10th to 11th.
Japan University Rankings 2025: Top 10
Rank
Previous Year Rank
Institution
1
1
Tohoku University
2
4
Tokyo Institute of Technology
3
2
The University of Tokyo
4
5
Kyoto University
5
6
Kyushu University
6
3
The University of Osaka
7
8
Nagoya University
8
7
Hokkaido University
9
9
University of Tsukuba
10
15
Akita International University
Japan’s Push for Internationalization
This year’s data paints a complex picture of internationalization in Japanese higher education, as policymakers work to strengthen the country’s global presence through its universities.
A key component of this effort is encouraging more Japanese students to study abroad—whether for full degree programs or short-term exchanges. In 2023, the government set an ambitious target: sending 500,000 students abroad annually by 2033.
Given that only 220,000 Japanese students went abroad in 2019, this goal presents a significant challenge.
“The target is very ambitious,” said Tatsu Hoshino, executive secretary of the Japan Association of Overseas Studies (JAOS).
However, the reasoning behind it is clear.
“Japan’s population is shrinking, and with the globalization of business, Japan’s international competitiveness is on the decline,” Hoshino explained. By sending more students overseas, policymakers hope to strengthen Japan’s economic ties, improve national development, and foster a more outward-looking society.
Recovery from the Pandemic
Outbound student numbers plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recovery has been uneven across institutions.
Universities with a history of high student mobility have rebounded the fastest. Among the 27 universities where over 10% of students previously studied abroad, outbound mobility has returned to 90% of pre-pandemic levels.
Institutions that had less than 3% of students studying abroad before COVID have recovered to 86%.
Universities in the middle range have seen the slowest recovery.
But simply returning to pre-pandemic numbers won’t be enough to reach the government’s ambitious goal.
Barriers and Opportunities
To accelerate outbound student numbers, Tokyo’s local government is preparing grants to support study abroad. However, Hoshino argues that financial aid alone won’t be enough—employers also need to place greater value on international experience to incentivize students to pursue it.
Despite these challenges, Hoshino remains optimistic.
With Japan’s domestic market shrinking, businesses are expanding internationally, making graduates with global experience more desirable.
“Japan is an island nation with a considerable economic scale, and until now, people could lead fulfilling lives within the country,” Hoshino said.
However, demographic shifts and pandemic-driven changes have altered this reality.
“Japan’s young people are starting to realize that it’s no longer possible to live without connections to the outside world.”
Department of Social Relations at East West University in collaboration with the East West University Health and Well-Being Club (EHWC) hosted a seminar titled “Cervical Cancer Awareness” in the S. M. Nousher Ali Lecture Gallery
The Department of Social Relations at East West University (EWU) in collaboration with the East West University Health and Well-Being Club (EHWC) held a seminar on cervical cancer awareness on 27 February. The seminar, chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Mobarak Hossain Khan, featured external speakers Dr. Sanjida Ahmed Soma and Dr. Marzia Zaman Sultana. The seminar aimed to raise awareness among young females of reproductive age, who are a vulnerable group for cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer has become a major public health problem in Bangladesh, with an increasing number of patients, related deaths, and case fatality rates. In 2022, over 660,000 women were estimated to have been diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide, and about 350,000 women died from the disease. Bangladesh has a population of 64.0 million women aged 15 and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer.
Dr. Sanjida highlighted the World Health Organization’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, launched in November 2020, with the goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2100. To achieve this, all countries must reach and maintain an incidence rate of fewer than 4 new cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 women per year. Three key pillars and their corresponding targets are vaccination, screening, and treatment.
The seminar ended with a vote of thanks from the program chair, emphasizing the importance of public awareness of cervical cancer and its vaccination, especially for young adults. Female students were eager to learn and asked many questions about the topic. The seminar was a valuable opportunity for the EWU Health and Well-Being Club to raise awareness and accelerate the pace of elimination of cervical cancer.
A Former Student of UAP Achievement at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, USA
Md. Saqline Mostaq a former student of the Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific (UAP) and a current Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Cancer Biology at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, USA presented groundbreaking research at Research Day 2025, focusing on cancer drug resistance and p53 mutations. His findings include targeting Glucosylceramide Synthase, inhibiting GCS and identifying novel RNA modifications.
On February 28, 2025, Saqline presented his groundbreaking research at Research Day 2025, hosted by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), Monroe. His poster, titled “Inhibition of Glucosylceramide Synthase Reactivates p53-Suppressive Effects on Cancer Stem Cells through m6A Modification at p53 R273 Mutant Codon,” earned him the 2nd Runner-Up award in the Biomedical Research category, along with a certificate and research grant.
🔬 Research Highlights:
✅ Targeting Glucosylceramide Synthase (GCS) sensitizes p53 R273H-mutant cancer cells to chemotherapy. ✅ CRISPR-Cas9-mediated UGCG knockout (GCS inhibition) significantly reduces drug resistance, suppresses cancer stem cells, and decreases tumor growth. ✅ A groundbreaking connection between ceramide metabolism and m6A RNA modification was identified, uncovering a novel strategy to counteract drug resistance in p53-mutant cancers.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Yong-Yu Liu, Saqline is pioneering innovative solutions to overcome drug resistance in p53-mutant colon cancer, a major challenge in cancer treatment. His research holds immense promise for more effective therapies in the future.
AIUB admission schedule has been announced with the online application opening on March 13, 2025, and the deadline for submission and payment on April 29, 2025. Admission written examination will be held on May 8, 2025, with the final result expected on May 18, 2025. Viva examination will be held on May 14-15, 2025, with a specific schedule to be published. Admission and registration will be held on May 19-21, 2025, except for government holidays. An orientation schedule will be published later.
Bright Admission Coaching offers preparation programs for various private university admission tests, including those for the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB). To enroll in our AIUB Summer Admission Test preparation course, call us today.
IUB Faculty Members Awarded International Grant for Climate Adaptation Research
Three faculty members from Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) have secured an international research grant exceeding USD 36,780 (over BDT 44 lakh) under the Resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Program (RAMP) by SOAS University of London, UK. This interdisciplinary project investigates the role of digital technologies in enhancing climate adaptation for vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
Titled “Leveraging ‘Climate Technologies’ for Transformative Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable Communities in Bangladesh,” the project is led by Dr. Md. Khaled Saifullah, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Economics. The research team also includes Dr. Md. Taslim Uddin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Finance, and Md. Ekhtekharul Islam, Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science and Management.
The study examines how digital platforms—such as social media, crowdsourcing, and financial technologies—can bolster climate resilience. Key areas of focus include mobile financial services, digital cash management, microfinance, crop insurance, e-banking, and peer-to-peer sharing. By analyzing the effectiveness of these technologies, the research seeks to address critical knowledge gaps and strengthen adaptive capacity in climate-vulnerable regions of the developing world.
Hosted at the Department of Economics within the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the research will benefit from the expertise of Dr. Md. Mizan R. Khan, Technical Lead of the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change (LUCCC), who serves as a co-investigator. This initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IUB and SOAS University of London in January 2025, facilitating collaborative efforts in climate resilience research.
This grant underscores IUB’s commitment to advancing climate change adaptation through academic research and technological innovation.
Murdoch University and Southeast University have signed a MoU
Murdoch University, Australia, and Southeast University, Bangladesh have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance academic collaboration and foster global engagement.
The agreement was signed virtually on 20 March 2025 by Professor Simon McKirdy deputy vice chancellor of Global Engagement at Murdoch University and Prof. Dr. M. Mofazzal Hossain vice chancellor of Southeast University.
This partnership aims to promote research, teaching, curriculum development, student and faculty exchange programs, and cooperative academic activities, reinforcing both institutions’ commitment to excellence in higher education. The MoU establishes a framework for future collaboration in research training, faculty development and joint academic projects.
Marking the beginning of a long-term partnership, this agreement will create new pathways for academic innovation and cross-cultural exchange, benefiting students, faculty and researchers from both universities.
A seminar titled “Collaborate to Innovate: Bridging Academia with Industry—Seminar on the Development of Management Skills” was held at Syndicate Hall, North South University (NSU), Dhaka 17 March 2025
A seminar titled “Collaborate to Innovate: Bridging Academia with Industry—Seminar on the Development of Management Skills” was held at North South University (NSU) in Dhaka on 17 March 2025.
It organized by the NSU School of Business and Economics with the Human Resources Professionals Society of Bangladesh (HRPSB) aimed to enhance students’ management competencies and career preparedness. Speakers included Prof. Mohammad Khasro Miah founder president of HRPSB and Shahariar Rahman senior manager and head of HR at Ulkasemi Pvt. Limited.
The seminar focused on essential management skills and innovative strategies for professional success, emphasizing strategic self-assessment and the development of key management competencies for corporate success. Speakers encouraged students to embrace adaptability, continuous learning and proactive networking to stay competitive in the dynamic job market. It reinforced NSU’s commitment to equipping students with practical skills and knowledge for future leadership roles in the corporate world.
Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and Design (SoAD) at Brac University recently hosted the 151st lecture of its Angan Lecture Series
Department of Architecture at Brac University hosted the 151st lecture of its Angan Lecture Series featuring an engaging talk by architect Rajon Das. Das graduated from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2006 and established his practice KSHITI STHAPATI in Sylhet in 2008. His work focuses on reestablishing vernacular architectural features and integrating socio-cultural archetypes of the Sylhet region in northeastern Bangladesh.
Das highlighted his significant works, particularly those commemorating the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the 1952 Language Movement. He is dedicated to designing for middle- and lower-middle-income communities, believing they embody both the realities and aspirations that shape society. Das aspires to explore the rural landscapes of Sylhet, reconnecting the lost architectural and cultural connections of the region. It was hosted by Zainab Faruqui Ali chairperson at Department of Architecture, SoAD, BRAC University.
Department of Computer Science and Engineering Organized an Orientation Program at Brac University
Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Brac University held an orientation program for freshers in the spring 2025 semester. The program aimed to provide students with insights into academic expectations, industry and career opportunities.
Sadia Hamid Kazi, chairperson and associate professor of the CSE department, highlighted the importance of academic excellence, innovation, and extracurricular activities. A comprehensive presentation was given to first-year students, introducing them to the department, academic policies, faculty members and resources. Guest speakers Mohammad Azmal Huda chief product and technology officer of bKash Limited and Intekhab Sadekin executive vice president and head of the department of organizational effectiveness and employer at bKash shared their experiences in securing jobs in the industry and emphasized the importance of continuous learning, communication skills and adaptability.
