1.Introduction
Southeast University (SEU), one of the best private universities at the core of Bangladesh, has been at the forefront of student development and quality education since 2002. Underlying the vision to universalize higher education and bring forth budding leaders of tomorrow, SEU has brought up an active learning community with meticulous care that marries challenging courses of study with experiential learning, innovative research, and numerous co-curricular activities. SEU has expanded its academic breadth and infrastructural development over the years but has established itself as an outstanding institution committed to developing balanced graduates equipped to address challenges of the modern era as well as to contribute to the socio-economic uplift of Bangladesh and the world at large.
2. A Journey of Vision and Enlargement: History and Background
The founding of Southeast University in 2002 was driven by an ardent passion to address the increasing demand for available and quality higher education within Bangladesh. Current Vice-Chancellor is Prof. Dr. Yusuf Mahbubul Islam and Pro Vice Chancellor is Prof. Dr. Md. Mofazzal Hossain.
2.1.Vision of the funders:
SEU founders rooted in the vision of the dedicated educationist and philanthropists. In fostering a happy and prosperous Bangladesh recognizing the critical significant of higher education. By establishing a private university which committed to advancing knowledge and delivering quality education in a peaceful and conducive academic environment. Responding to the growing demand for the modern, specialized education in Bangladesh. Utilizing education by serving society, operating with commercial motives, making higher education accessible and affordable, by implementing a globally-aligned curriculum, achieve global recognition as a world-class university.
2.3.Social-economy of it’s establishment
It was clear that for higher education in Bangladesh need to create more opportunities and private universities emerged to supplement the capacity of public instructions. Founders aimed to cater to students from middle and lower-middle-income families, economic realities faced by a significant portion of the population in Bangladesh. Also they think about modern and specialized education, developing human capital. Most important reasons for establishing is meeting the growing demand for quality higher education, providing access to higher education at an affordable cost, imparting world-class education, contributing to national development, moral and ethical values and also preparing student meet the challenges of the 21st century. SEU began as humble endeavors but progressed along the way of steady development, with purposeful expansions of study fields, academic prowess, and infrastructures.
2.4.Initial courses of study:
The initial courses offered SEU’s inception in June 2002 focus based on the typical offerings of private universities, established around that time in Bangladesh and SEU’s subsequent development. The initial academic thrust foundational programs with high student demand and relevance to the job. Those are,
•Business Administration
•Computer Science and Engineering
•English
2.5.Evolution of courses of study
SEU has significantly expanded it’s academic portfolio, reflating the evolving needs in job market, technological advancements and also the university’s growth. Several evolutions like introduction new disciplines, specialization within disciplines and emphasis on interdisciplinary studies.
Its steadfast commitment to student-centered learning, nurturing scholarly excellence, and imparting values has been the essence of SEU’s development, setting the tone, no less than the tempo, for it to become one of the finest institutions of higher education in Bangladesh. The namesake choice of the university, indeed, is representative of an aspiration to be at the focal point of scholarly activity within the nation’s southeastern zone as much as beyond it, to contribute to developing intellectual and professional awareness among the nation’s youth.
3.A Tapestry of Disciplines: Academic Programs
Southeast University has an advanced and carefully conceived portfolio of academic programs that span an interdisciplinary range. The undergraduate programs and graduate programs are carefully conceived to address job market needs around the world as well as academic needs internationally. The university is usually organized by independent schools or faculties, each of which is intended to specialize in some fields of study.
3.1.Faculty of Business & Economics:
A prime faculty at SEU, it offers the whole gamut of courses to equip students with the requisite knowledge and expertise to perform better with changing times in the world of business and economics. Undergraduate courses typically include Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with specializations such as Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Management Information Systems, and Accounting. The modules of study place due priority on an integration of theoretical concepts, case studies, project work, and industry interactions to provide students with an overall understanding about the fundamentals of business as also best practices. There are some courses which provide traditionally has Master of Business Administration (MBA) along with specialist master’s courses such as Economy, Finance, and Marketing for professional students. It help students who want to develop career advancement or gain specialist competencies. All faculty members actively engaged in research, also encourage student to be entrepreneurial spirit among students.
3.2.Departnment of Engineering and Technology:
Having fully appreciated the pivotal position occupied by technology and engineering to reach out to the nation at large, SEU’s School of Engineering and Technology offers high-intensity courses with the aim to develop innovative thought leaders along with efficient working professionals. The undergraduate courses commonly consist of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) courses in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), Civil Engineering, and Architecture. The courses offer strong foundation of fundamentals backed by proper hands-on experience at laboratories, workshops, design projects, and hands-on acquaintance with industry-grade software and technology. The courses are periodically brought up to date to present emerging trends and breakthroughs in the rapidly emerging fields. Master of Science M.Sc. and M.Eng. programs are generally offered at the postgraduate level to prepare students who want to acquire an overall knowledge about some fields of the discipline to carry out high-level research. Very high importance is given by the faculty to research and innovation, and students and faculty are involved in various projects that deal with real-world problems.
3.3. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
The faculty is tasked with cultivating critical thought, communications skills, as well as an advanced level of knowledge of society as well as culture. The undergraduate studies provide Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) as well as Bachelor of Social Sciences (B.S.S.) majors in English, Law, Sociology, Public Administration, as well as Journalism as well as Mass Communication. The courses provide students with an adequate liberal arts background, develop analytical skills, communications, as well as an advanced level of knowledge of societal, political, as well as cultural affairs. The course of study usually includes research projects, presentation, as well as discussions to cultivate critical thought as well as communications skills. Faculty can provide Master of Arts (M.A.) as well as Master of Social Sciences (M.S.S.) degrees at postgraduate level, special fields which helps students to perform higher academic researches as well as intellectual contribution to debate. All faculty members actively engaged in research, aspects which related to social problems, policy research, as well as research into culture.
3.4.Faculty of Science and Health Sciences:
Keeping with the growing importance of healthcare as well as science research on wellbeing at the community level, SEU’s Faculty of Science and Health Sciences has courses to raise scientifically educated individuals as well as prospective health professionals. May be offered courses are Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), including Biotechnology, Environmental Science and other similar fields. These courses providing strong foundations in science theory, like laboratory, research works and also for Pharmacy internship practice experience at the level of pharmacy practice. The courses aim at addressing the evolving needs of the healthcare as well as the science profession. Postgraduate courses, that is, Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm.) or Master of Science (M.Sc.) courses at specialist levels may be offered as well, with the potential of higher studies as well as research at specialist levels. The faculty actively promotes research work at related fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, as well as environmental sustainability.
The learning process at SEU across all the courses is student-centered. The teachers use various methods of instruction such as interactive lectures, group discussions, presentation, case studies, and project work to engage students actively as well as develop critical thought. The university is aware of learning by doing, too. The university organizes internship, industry visits, and workshops to get students in touch with reality as well as develop their competencies at the applied level. Each course material of every course is periodically reviewed by subject matter specialists as well as industry specialists to make it current, relevant, as well as aligned to the best practices as well as current trends.
4.Understanding The Academic Landscape: Nomenclature And Grading
Southeast University follows a semester educational system, commonly having two major semesters – Spring and Fall – each of an equally predetermined number of instruction weeks before examinations. A Summer semester is available occasionally to offer students the chance of retake courses, speeding up the process, or completing special scholarly requirements.
The university has an advanced system of grading to evaluate students’ performance for all the programs into which they are enrolled. The system is letter-grading, where letters correspond to bands of numerically obtained marks on tests. The typical letter grades are-
Photo:Grade
The level of student learning is usually established by an integration of various factors, including:
Assignments: Regular individual or group work to reinforce learning and measure understanding of course material.
Quizzes: Short, periodic tests to measure immediate comprehension of key concepts. Mid-Term Exams: Comprehensive tests administered at the midpoint of every semester, covering work up to that point. Final Examinations: Comprehensive final examinations at the conclusion of each semester covering the entire course syllabus.
Project Work and Presentations: Practical assignments and presentations where students can relate theory to practice and exercise communications skills.
Class participation: Consistent attendance at discussion classes and activities, typically forming part of the final mark.
Practical work in the laboratory (science and engineering modules): Laboratory experiments and recording of results, as necessary for the development of technical expertise.
Each course has different relative weights placed on these evaluation elements and each program has different weights given to these elements. The GPA for one semester is calculated by multiplying the course credit hours by the course grade point value, summing up products for classes for the entire semester, and then dividing by the credit hours undertaken for the semester. The CGPA is a cumulative measure of performance across all the semesters enrolled.
Southeast University typically has clear academic policies detailing minimum levels of CGPA of academic performance to be classified as being in good academic standing, probation policies for those who fail to have minimum levels of performance, and graduation requirements. Such policies are typically available to students through the university website or academic affairs office, so there is transparency and an overall awareness of the academic requirements and procedures.
Photo: Campus
5. A Center for Knowledge and Development: Campus and Facilities
SEU has proper planned and evolving study, research and also have a friendly campus environment. It is aware of the significance of providing students and faculties with up-to-date and maintained support education and extracurricular activities
5.1.Academic Infrastructure:
The central part of SEU’s campus comprises lecture theatres and classrooms of state-of-the-art infrastructure that are typically equipped with audio-visual aids such as projectors and sound systems to enable students to learn interactively and dynamically. The university has discipline-wise specialist laboratories like computer science laboratories equipped with the latest hardware and software, CMOS laboratories, physics laboratories, chemistry laboratories, biotechnology laboratories, and laboratories for civil engineering with material and structural testing labs. The laboratories provide students with much-needed exposure to the practical world along with the opportunity to convert theoretical knowhow into useful applications.
5.2.Library Facilities:
Usually it has an inviting as well as conductive learning as well as research environment, available space for reading, carrels for studying and also group discussion space. Electronic resources such as electronic databases, electronic books, electronic periodical books and so on also available. In the library many assistance like research help, inter-library loans which can provide instructions about information also available.
Photo: Library
5.3.Information Technology Infrastructure:
To achieve the vision of technology integration into education, SEU has invested significantly in an appropriate IT infrastructure. The university is majorly Wi-Fi enabled, with teachers and students having an uninterrupted internet facility. Well-equipped computer laboratories have sufficient computers and software for learning, research, and internet learning. The university is equally able to undertake the utilization of an Learning Management System (LMS) for internet-delivery of courses, teacher-to-student communication, and submission of assignments.
5.4.Support Facilities and Services:
SEU offers different support services and facilities to cater to students’ welfare and interests. These may be anything from dining hall or cafeteria with different cuisine options to student lounges to relax and interact, and may be on-campus or off-campus living arrangements. Student counseling and career guidance facilities are available as part of the university to support students’ personal development as well as professional development. A first-aid facility or health center is generally available to address common healthcare needs. Transport facility may be provided to facilitate students’ commute. Facilities for disabled students are generally provided to make the learning environment inclusive.
5.5.Recreational and Extracurricular Space:
In an understanding of the requirement of an overall educational experience, SEU always offers space for extracurricular activities and sports. These range from sport grounds or courts for football, cricket, basketball, and volley-ball, to name only a few, to indoor game centers. Auditoria and seminars are made available for academic use, cultural activities, as well as student body meeting space. Student club and organization space may also be provided, adding vibrancy to campus life.
The university continuously endeavors to increase and develop its infrastructure to cater to the increasing needs of its scholarly community so that it remains an able and conducive venue for learning and development.
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6.The Pillars of Knowledge: Teaching Staff and Research
The intellectual reputation and academic status of Southeast University have deep roots in the commitment and qualification of the faculty members. The university boasts an experienced faculty of professional teachers and professors who have an appreciation for teaching and are dedicated to building intellectual capability among students. The university is largely made up of highly educated individuals with higher degree levels in their specializations, holding doctorates along with comprehensive research exposures.
Faculty of SEU are control by professional teachers who perform diverse roles as teacher, mentor, advisor and researcher. Not all but some of them involve developing and instructing engaging and effective activities, employing effective pedagogy through assisting student learning. Faculty members typically supervise student research, providing academic advice and also engage in intellectual works at the University by seminar, workshop and publication.
6.1.Research and Innovation:
Southeast University emphasizes heavily on cultivating research culture. Southeast University encourages research work by the faculty members in multiple ways, including providing research grants, creating connections with other institutions and industrial partners, and providing research activity support facilities. The faculty members carry out active research work under different disciplines, leading to knowledge generation as well as solution to major societal problems.
The research activity of the faculty is mostly evidenced through publication in refereed journals, presentation at international and domestic conferences, and development of innovative solutions and technologies. The university may have institutes or research centers focused on one subject of research or another to provide the setting for inter-disciplinary research and joint research.
Research into the university educational studies most of the students learning process through exposing them to the current advices in the relevant field. By giving them an opportunity to be like participatory research under the guidance of the faculty members. They familiarizing them with the subject, responsible for developing their critical, analytical and also problem solving skills.
6.2.Beyond the Classroom:
Extracurricular Activities Southeast University believes that learning does not happen only within the confines of the schoolroom but is part of the total grooming of the individual student. Consistent with this philosophy, the university actively encourages and fosters numerous extracurricular activities through student-run clubs and organizations. These offer students the forum for nurturing interests, creating additional sets of skills, forming social networks, and enhancing 1 overall personality. The extracurricular activities of SEU tend to be diverse to cater to the interests of an array of different students:
Business Club: For students interested in business and entrepreneurship. This club helps to create the future leaders in their respective professions. They offer an exclusive platform where the students can grow their leadership qualities and develop interpersonal skills. Their purpose is, developing leadership attitude within club members, transforming club members into human resources through skill development and also supporting personal and professional development.
Cultural Clubs: Art, heritage, and culture manifest themselves here in whatever manner they wish to make themselves known. They may manifest themselves anywhere from concerts of music, drama, and dancing to exhibits and multicultural festivals, where students get an opportunity not only to showcase one’s talent but to be introduced to the richness of cultures.
Social and Community Services Clubs: These clubs aim at benefiting society by doing voluntary work and community service. They participate in many activities such as blood donation camps, conservations camps, charitable fundraising activities, reach-out programs with below-poverty-line communities, developing citizenship among students, and making students socially more responsible.
Sports Clubs: Students gets an opportunity to play both indoor and outdoor games, develop physical fitness, spirit, as well as sportsmanship. Also they have the opportunity to arrange inter-department or inter-university level tournaments for cricket, football, basketball, badminton, as well as table tennis.
Debating and Public Speaking Clubs: Debating and Public Speaking Clubs instill critical thinking, argument, as well as public speaking skills in students by exposing them to debating, extempore talks, and public speech workshops. These prepare the students to communicate better with clarity of thought and to engage more actively in healthy discussions.
Interest-Based Clubs: Apart from this, there can be other interest-based clubs related to photography, film, literature, technology, and entrepreneurship, etc., where students with similar interests have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals and engage with one another on the basis of shared interests.
These extracurricular activities are central to developing an active university lifestyle. students can gain leadership skills, team-working skills, planning skills, and people skills – skills that employers recognize and essential to success both personally and professionally. Being involved with these activities also gives students the opportunity to develop lifelong friendships, increase social networks, and develop feelings of belonging to university. Southeast University proactively develops and encourages these student connections and student associations, recognizing the potential to provide depth to the student experience.
Photo:Clubs
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7. A Legacy of Excellence: Reputation and Achievements
Southeast University has achieved great success throughout the course of time it has been operational, with an established reputation as an esteemed university within the higher education framework of Bangladesh.
Accreditations: Mention any international or domestic accreditations received by the university or by one of the programs for the excellence of education.
Awards & Recognition: Provide the awards or recognitions won by the students, faculty, or university for academic performance, research efforts, or contributions to society.
Scholarship Opportunity: Southeast University offer full tuition fee waiver based on outstanding HSC or A-Level result. Which students ranked each semester from every department based on GPA gets partial financial assistance. They need to keep their GPA more than 3.00 per semester.
Rankings: In case the university has appeared on either domestic or international university rankings, list it along with the reasons why it has been ranked so.SEU holds several ranking from different organizations, including national, Asian and global.
•World ranking: Ranked 9,339 among 14,131
•Asia ranking: Ranked 3,703 among 5,830
•National ranking: SEU ranked 70th among 129 universities in Bangladesh
•Dhaka ranking: Ranked 33 among 62 universities in Dhaka
Featured Graduates: Highlight the achievements of distinguished graduates who have been successful in their career objectives to demonstrate the worth of an SEU degree.
Grants for Research and Projects: Report details of large research grants to the university or to researchers at the university, as well as significant research projects that have been undertaken.
Collaborations & Partnerships: Seek to identify other university, research institution, industry partners to demonstrate the outreach of the university to the outside academic and professional world.
Notable Faculty members:
•Businessman: Syed Alamgir
•Bangladeshi competitive programmer and computer scientist: Shahriar Manzoor
•Renowned Architecture academician and General Secretary of the IAB: Masud Ur Rashid
•News presenter and Media personality: Nujhat Afrin
•Treasurer and professor(Textile Engineering): Arun Kanti Guha
•Dean of Southeast Business School and Professor: Md.Serajul Islam
Alumni
•Actress: Bidya Sinha Mim, Pritom Hasan,Keya Payel
•COO at SSL Wireless( former CSE student): Iftekhar Alam Ishaque
•QA Manager at Lucas Meyer by Clariant, Australia (Alumnus with a PhD): Dr. Manirujjaman Monir
•Working at TU Chemnitz ( Pharmacy department alumnus): Shamin Asfa
These laurels collectively contribute to the growing reputation of Southeast University as an institution of academic excellence and students’ choice for high-quality higher education in Bangladesh. The professional achievement of SEU alumni in their respective fields of specialization is another element that confers value added and significance to an SEU degree. The university’s commitment to continuous development, combined with an uncompromising commitment to providing an overall education, accounts for the esteem in which it is held by students, parents, employers, and the academic community at large.
8.Being part of the world: Affiliation and membership
8.1.International Collaborations and MOUs:
Southeast University is actively involved in the national as well as international academic and professional communities via various memberships and affiliations with national as well as international institutions. Southeast University (SEU) has international collaboration or MoU signed with some universities,
•University of Manchester; UK
•Yunnan University of Finance and Economics; China
•Wuhan Textile University; China
•Shinshu University; Japan
•Kunming University of Science and technology; China
8.2.Membership in Professional Bodies:
SEU is the members of some prestigious professional bodies including,
•Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB)
•University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC)
•Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB)
•Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh (PCB)
8.3.Collaboration Opportunities and Global Academic Networks
All these networks help to get facilities partnerships for joint research projects, curriculum development and also the opportunity of sharing the best practices in teaching and learning. These membership in consortia which provide the access to a wide network for conferences, workshop and also for the collaborative project.Lots of opportunities can grab from these collaboration. Not only students but also faculty members can benefit from all these networks and collaboration opportunities, they can lead to professional growth and development by jointing projects and can distributes knowledges.
Conclusion
This era of defending rapid change and lots of opportunities, important of quality education cannot be overstated. Southeast University(SEU) prove itself that to be a leading force in delivering, unwavering commitment to academic excellence,innovation and student development. SEU stands as a symbol of hope and progress in Bangladesh’s educational sphere.
SEU has not only provided thousands of students with access to higher education but also empowered them with the skill, knowledge and confidence which is mandatory to succeed in a competitive global environment. This university continue to expand its horizons and embrace the demands of 21st century. Also it remains grounded in its mission like to enlighten minds, inspired innovation and create a better future for all. The journey of national development, institutions like Southeast University are not just participants but they are pioneers shaping the minds that will shaped the nation.
Reference
Wikipedia
Southeast University
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SEU Alumni Association
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