Academics Advocate SBC Curriculum with Virtual Society Integration
Academics have emphasized the need to integrate the concept of virtual society into Social and Behavior Change (SBC) curricula, underscoring its growing influence on people’s lives.
Speaking at a workshop organized jointly by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh and UNICEF on Sunday, September 28, UGC Member Professor Tanzimuddin Khan said, “In designing the SBC curriculum, it is important to take into account the context of Bangladesh. The virtual society has an impact on various aspects of our lives. Therefore, the use of virtual society should be incorporated into the SBC curriculum.”
Professor Anwar Hossain noted that specific goals have already been achieved under the SBC project, including the creation of a research repository and the development of 12 course curricula, which have opened avenues for further research on the subject.
Professor Dr. Mashuma Habib described curriculum development on SBC as highly timely, adding that, “It is essential for both university teachers and various stakeholders in society to have a clear understanding of the problems arising from social and behavioral changes and the strategies to address them.”
Professor Ayub Islam highlighted the importance of integrating SBC curricula into diverse higher education fields such as health, environment, and education. “SBC curricula are essential to make community engagement meaningful and effective. Universities should have the flexibility to choose the courses they need from the SBC curriculum as required,” he said.
The workshop, held at the UGC auditorium, was attended by 33 faculty members with expertise in SBC from different public and private universities. Special addresses were delivered by Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Professor Dr. Mashuma Habib, and Professor Dr. Mohammad Ayub Islam.
Additional remarks came from Jasmine Parveen, Director (Current Charge) of UGC’s International Cooperation Division, and Md. Badrul Hasan, UNICEF’s SBC Program Manager.
UGC Chairman Professor Dr. S. M. A. Faiz, who presided over the program as chief guest, called upon teachers and students to “rise above personal interests and work together for the welfare of the country.” He praised the sincerity and brilliance of the country’s young generation but noted, “In the post-July movement period, the youth could not be properly engaged.”
He also cautioned that, in many cases, the personal interests of teachers are being prioritized over those of students. Professor Faiz provided a series of recommendations to make higher education institutions more student-friendly, strengthen student-teacher relationships, and address broader challenges facing the sector.
