Campus Life

Successful Completion of the International Symposium 2024 arranged by the Department of English

ENG | 12-Feb-24

The Department of English in collaboration with the Center for Language and Cultural Studies (CLCS) has successfully organized a day-long International Symposium Program on 07 February 2024  in room no: A 302. This International Symposium 2024 was titled "EFL/ESL Teacher Education, and Use of Technology in Bangladesh: Present State and Future Directions."

The program was scheduled including two workshops, one by Professor Dr. Maria Villalobos of Rider University, USA and the other by Professor Dr. Richard Smith of Warwick University; two keynote papers by Professor Dr. Rubina Khan, Department of English, University of Dhaka and Dr. Arifa Rahman, Professor and  Director, Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka. Apart from these, there was a panel discussion by five distinguished professors of English in the country- Professor Hamidur Rahman, former Director, Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka; Professor Dr. M. Shahidullah, Chairperson, Department of English and Dean (Acting), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, GUB; Dr. Md. Maniruzzaman, Professor and former Chairperson, Department of English, Jahangirnagar University; Dr. Shamsad Mortuza, Professor, Department of English, University of Dhaka and former Pro Vice Chancellor, ULAB and Dr. Shaila Sultana, Professor and former head, Department of English Language, Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka, currently working as a professor and director, Institute of Languages, BRAC University.

The inaugural ceremony was held at 9.30 am, which was graced by the Chief Guest Prof. Dr. Khawza Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor (Acting), GUB and Distinguished Guest Prof. Dr. Md. Golam Samdani Fakir, Distinguished Professor, Green Business School, GUB. We missed our honorable Treasurer Prof K.M. Wazed Kabir's presence as a special guest at the program and wished him a quick recovery. Respected guests from other universities were also present. Moreover, our in-house guests honorable Deans, Chairpersons, Section Heads, and Faculties from other departments also enjoyed this day-long Symposium. Faculties and the students of the Department of English were also there to be illuminated by the insights of these renowned international and national academicians. 

After the inauguration, the main event of the Symposium started with Prof. Dr. Rubina Khan's keynote speech. Then, Prof. Dr. Maria Villalobos conducted a lively workshop. Prof. Dr. Richard Smith's workshop was started after the first health break. After finishing lunch, Prof. Dr. Arifa Rahman shared her insights as the keynote speaker. After each session, the session chair handed over the crest to the speaker. Finally, our five-panel discussants presented their speeches and exchanged their valuable ideas with the audience. The panel discussants received their crests from the chief guest Prof. Dr. Khawza Iftekhar Uddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor (Acting), GUB.