Brac University Vice-Chancellor Highlights Student Leadership in Advancing UN SDGs at United Nations Forum
Brac University vice chancellor Syed Ferhat Anwar delivered a keynote address at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, spotlighting the transformative role of higher education in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The speech was part of a special session of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, under the theme “Creating a Better World: Contributions of Higher Education.”
In the “Institutional Reflections” segment, Professor Anwar highlighted how Brac University students are leading impactful SDG initiatives through academic research, community engagement, and youth leadership. He emphasized the university’s growing global reputation as a hub for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.
Brac University alumnus and Millennium Fellow Srijan Banik also spoke at the forum, sharing his personal journey of leadership and service. His experience as a Millennium Fellowship participant underscored the power of student-led community projects to drive measurable change aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This event was co-hosted by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Millennium Campus Network (MCN), drawing representatives from globally recognized institutions, including Oxford University, Minerva University, De Montfort University, and Lagos State University. Diplomatic representatives from the Czech Republic, Malta and Nigeria also addressed the forum.
Following the presentations, Professor Anwar participated in a Q&A session alongside fellow university leaders, discussing how higher education institutions can drive progress on global issues such as climate change, poverty alleviation, and equitable access to education.
The Millennium Fellowship a highly selective global leadership development program run by UNAI and MCN, empowers undergraduate students to implement community-based projects advancing the UN SDGs. Brac University made national history in 2021 by hosting Bangladesh’s first Millennium Fellowship cohort, and has since expanded its participation, cementing its role as a leader in youth-driven sustainable development.