Professor Dr. Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, has urged the inclusion of issues arising from social and behavioral changes, along with strategies for their resolution, in higher education curricula. He also encouraged university faculty members to conduct more research on Social and Behavioral Change (SBC).
Dr. Hossain made this appeal on Tuesday, January 14, during the inauguration of a training program held at BRAC CDM, Savar. The two-day training was jointly organized by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the UGC.
Moderated by UGC Deputy Director Mohammad Nazrul Islam, the training was attended by 40 faculty members and researchers from 20 public and private universities. Senior officials from UGC and UNICEF, including ICD Senior Assistant Director Khondokar Sabahath Rizvi, were also present.
In her remarks, Jasmine Parveen, Director of UGC’s International Collaboration Division (ICD), emphasized the initiative’s potential to foster SBC-related activities in universities. These activities could include fellowship programs, short-term courses, training sessions, seminars, and workshops on behavioral science, as well as measures to ensure child and maternal health, nutrition, and social protection.
Addressing the event as the chief guest, Professor Dr. Anwar Hossain highlighted the need for a comprehensive policy to address problems caused by social and behavioral changes, particularly for integrating marginalized communities into the mainstream. He also emphasized the pivotal role of university teachers in advancing women’s and children’s rights.
UNICEF’s SBC Section Chief, Bridget Job Johnson, pointed out the critical role that university educators and researchers can play in promoting awareness of social behavior changes. She stated, “With research-based knowledge and communication skills, they can influence public attitudes and bring about behavioral transformation in society.”
Johnson also expressed gratitude to UGC for bringing university educators onto a unified platform to address SBC issues.
The training concluded with a shared commitment to equip university faculty with the capacity to address social and behavioral challenges effectively.
