BRAC and Cambridge Collaborate for Community Change

BRAC University and the University of Cambridge, UK, will work together across the fields of health, education, human welfare, social inclusion, industrial development, and responsible use of technology. The two universities aim to collaborate on effectively applying research-based knowledge to real-world societal challenges.

Recently, delegations from both universities participated in discussions at Cambridge University. The discussions focused on combining BRAC University’s experience in working with communities and fostering innovation with Cambridge’s research excellence to create sustainable solutions for real-world problems.

One of the key objectives of this collaboration is to establish a structured process from discovery to practical application, enabling rapid testing, transparent learning, and effective implementation of solutions that are both sustainable and scalable.

Bangladesh is recognized globally as a model for social innovation. This partnership will create opportunities for joint research and solution design in real-world environments, managed through a co-creation lab. Cambridge has already proposed an action plan to accelerate initial projects in alignment with BRAC University’s strengths and expertise.

Priority areas for the collaboration include forming a joint governance structure and establishing success metrics for pilot projects in education, health, safety, and inclusion.

Representing BRAC University at the meeting were Vice-Chancellor Professor Farhat Anwar, Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director of the Institute of Governance and Development, Registrar Dr. David Dowland, and Jema May, Government Relations and Policy Lead at BRAC Europe.

From Cambridge University, attendees included Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, John Danesh, Head of the Public Health and Primary Care Department, and Dr. Nazia Habib, Director of the Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development.

Joining directly from the UK House of Commons was former Minister The Right Honourable Sir Andrew Mitchell MP, who praised BRAC’s work and highlighted its global significance.

This collaboration between BRAC University and the University of Cambridge will contribute significantly to the progress of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically:

• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being

• SDG 4 – Quality Education

• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

By jointly pursuing innovation and research-driven initiatives in health, education, social inclusion, and responsible technology use, this collaboration will further enrich Bangladesh’s tradition of social innovation and open new horizons for equitable and sustainable development.